The Recorder from Zero: A Method for Beginners on Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Charles P. Fischer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2001

The Recorder From Zero, Vol 1 is a systematic approach for beginners on the soprano recorder which treats the instrument in its proper historical context. This revised and expanded 2nd edition includes 107 pieces of original, folk, medieval, and renaissance music which are very carefully graded for difficulty. The pieces can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. The book has many duets as well as good solo examples, permitting the book to be used with a teacher or for self study, following the included Teacher's Guide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A well-conceived concept and a thorough introduction to playing the soprano recorder. -- Adam Dopadlik, The Recorder Magazine, Spring 2002

This book is for its musical content alone of great value to recorder teachers and beginning players. -- Martha Bixler, The American Recorder, May 2002

About the Author

Charles Fischer was a professional recorder teacher and performer for many years in Los Angeles. He studied recorder with Marleen Montgomery at the Longy School of Music in Boston, and with Walter van Hauwe in Amsterdam. He is currently a member of the American Recorder Society and is on the editorial board of the Recorder Education Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 27 pages
• Publisher: Unicorn Music (December 2001)
• ISBN-10: 0915888025
• ISBN-13: 978-0915888023
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,185,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not quite from zero, December 11, 2005

By 

Monarch (San Fran Bay area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Recorder from Zero: A Method for Beginners on Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

The name of this book is rather deceiving. I would not call it "from zero" or for absolute beginners. This book assumes that you know how to read music, know where to put your fingers on the recorder for different notes, and probly that you are learning under a music teacher. For the self-taught, true novice like me, this book is useless. I ordered "Fun with the Recorder" by MelBay publications and learned how to read the music, where to place my hands for the notes, and learned one note at a time-- building. Now, as a second book of learning, I can appreciate this book, but certainly not from the beginning.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't say enough good things!, July 10, 2002

By 

Brent (Manitoba, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Recorder from Zero: A Method for Beginners on Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I've been using the revised edition of Volume 1 for almost a year now in my private teaching and in a University setting. Most spectacularly, I used it as an 'introduction to the recorder' for a music education class earlier this year.

One of the commonest complaints I hear from music education students is that they don't know where to turn to find good repertoire when they want to introduce recorders into their classrooms. Students have been singing Hot Cross Buns since Grade 1, and are easily bored with it by the time they're in Grade 4! With Fischer's book, teachers can use authentic recorder material that follows the same sequence of notes as the earliest songs use, and a large class can be divided up to include percussion and movement.

At the moment I'm introducing it to students in a Kodály Level 1 summer course, and the students are having a blast. After 30 minutes this afternoon, four very insecure recorder players were performing 6 Renaissance dances comfortably and musically.

Volume 1 is a must-have for any music teacher who deals with recorders, and I can't wait for Volume 2.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best method books I own, October 19, 2003

By 

Ohmi "b__2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Recorder from Zero: A Method for Beginners on Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I bought both volumes of this book for my daughter then 8 based on recommendations (...). I was intrigued by the idea of starting her with "real" music from the get-go.

The books were a great success - it was a pleasure to work through the lessons with her and now she eagerly plays everything she can in both books.

The books themselves are beautifully printed and easy to read. They are mostly just the music with little or no text interspersed among the pieces. This means that a beginner will need some additional help with some of the basics - holding the recorder, breathing, basic fingering, etc. There are plenty of method books that cover those details, but no other books I know of give you so much interesting music. It's easy for beginners to get the feel for what early music and recorder playing is really like.

I strongly recommend these books. If you are an adult beginner with access to a teacher then I suggest you look for volume 1 for the alto recorder, if and when it is available. Altos are easier and more fun to play than soprano recorders if your hands are bigger than an 11-year old's.