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Yamaha YRS-302B
by SoadFan
~Yamaha YRS-302B - A good little recorder~
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I have bought and played a number of musical instruments including a small range of recorders such as the Yamaha YRS-302B. This useful soprano type recorder is one which I found easy to source, as it is widely sold and is available from most ... reputable music stores. Having bought the Yamaha YRS-302B and other recorders ( as well as other instruments) from this maker, I feel that I understand why the Yamaha brand are so well respected. In my experience Yamaha offer well priced and well made instruments across this particular product range.
I feel that the Yamaha YRS-302B recorder has a nice easy to play quality about it. The recorder is quick and easy to put together ready for use and just as easy to handle once it has been set up ready to play. The 3 parts that make up the recorder slot together well and are quick and simple to separate after use, which makes storing the recorder easy. The product comes with a nicely made zip style storage pouch that has just enough padding so as to protect the instrument from harm when not in use and I feel this is a useful addition to the product that you get without having to pay extra money for.
The materials used to make the recorder are smooth, solid and well balanced, making the recorder feel easy to handle, being sturdy yet not overly heavy when in use. The simple blend of off white cream and deep brown black ABS resin plastics make for a smart and uniform look that is continued throughout the Yamaha recorder range. I rather like the look of these simple colours as they don't fade or become dull over time and remain smart and neat looking. The finish of the exterior surfaces of the recorder are smooth and well formed, so as to make playing the instrument really comfortable and easy to work with.
The mouth piece works well and is easy to clean as and when required, the main recorder body is well balanced and allows for easy finger positions, making this a good choice for a beginner or younger recorder player. The resin body of the recorder is durable and easy to clean and in my opinion also ensures a nice even clear tone when playing the recorder. The recorder comes with a small fold up printed fingering chart which is easy to look at and refer to as and when needed. In my opinion the inclusion of the chart should be fairly helpful to those just starting out with the instrument.
The set up comes with a simple recorder cleaning rod which can be flushed through the recorder body when needed so as to maintain it. This well made soprano/ descant recorder has a nice even clear tone when played and if handled with care it should be something that will last for many years once purchased. This recorder can be bought and played by both young and old alike and I feel it has been made for players with a wide range of musical ability.
~Rating/ price~
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The cost of the recorder is around £10 to £12 which is not overly expensive in my opinion. My rating for this product is 4 stars as I feel it is well made, produces a nice clean clear sound when played and is easy to look after and maintain.
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Aulos 205A
by Coffeetiere
I had my Auros recorder when I was about 7 and still have it now, over 25 years later! I think these recorders are made to last as mine is pretty much as new bar a few bite marks on the mouthpiece!
About the Recorder
It's a basic recorder suitable for beginners and for a number of years afterwards. If you are going to ... buy a recorder buy an Auros one as they are by far the best in sound and quality and not just cheap and nasty like some other brands.
The recorder is made from plastic and is a rather striking black and cream design. The design has hardly changed in years, if at all - mine looks exactly like the one in the picture. The picture shows the standard size recorder everyone begins to learn on and is called the descant. Auros also make all the other sizes of recorder from piccolo to bass.
The recorder comes in a cloth orange cord-like bag with a draw string on the top plus a rod to clean it with. The recorder is in 3 pieces and can be pulled apart for cleaning purposes, which is advisable as they get pretty disgusting inside! As it is all plastic the best thing to do is to wash it in soapy water in the sink, using the cleaning rod and kitchen roll to get inside. The 3 elements of the recorder are the top, which is the mouthpiece, the middle, a long section with holes for the notes and a small bottom section which is the bell and has the holes for the lowest notes.
Playing the Recorder
Top tip - don't blow too hard! This is what most beginners do and it sounds rather shrill. If played nicely the recorder can actually sound quite nice, believe it or not, although I still can't seem to accept it as a "serious" instrument despite seeing professionals play from my time a music college. I should also point out that professionals use hand crafted wooden recorders and not Auros plastic ones!
To play the recorder is quite easy, however to play it really well is actually quite a skill. This recorder is easy to blow and get a sound from and it is easy to learn the finger patterns for just over an octave range of notes. The holes are easy to reach with little fingers, hence this is such a good starting instrument for children around 6 or 7.
The descant recorder's lowest note is C, an octave above middle C and it can go to two octaves above this. However on the Auros it would be difficult to get the highest notes, as it is not made to be used by players that advanced. The recorder sounds an octave above what it is written on the page, so what is read as middle C comes out an octave higher.
Music
There is a vast array of music for recorder players of all stages and countless teaching books on how to play. The recorder is quite easy to teach yourself as an adult, much easier than guitar or piano. Traditionally the recorder was very popular in the Baroque period, hence there is loads of Baroque music available for advanced players. There isn't then a lot of repertoire until the twentieth century, where more recently writing for the record has come back into fashion, although most of the music is avant garde!
Cost
I have no idea how much mine cost, but I was surprised when I just did a search that they sell for around £10. This is an absolute bargain and I think it is worth getting a child one of these even if it is only used as a toy to being with. Most schools offer recorder lessons in class and it is much nicer to use your own rather than some revolting one that half the schools has spat down!
Overall
This is the best basic recorder out there for price sound and quality. They are very durable, they can be dropped, although I wouldn't advise it as it might mess with the tuning. They are easy to clean and easy to learn to play and Auros has by far the best sound and most accurate notes for a cheap recorder.
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Yamaha YRS-24 B
by trayrope
As a child I used to play the recorder in Junior School. I was quite an accomplished player (sounding a bit olde fashioned now) playing three different sizes, Descant, Treble and Bass I believe. The one I played the most was the Descant and it was something I thoroughly enjoyed and was encouraged in by my Mum who believed it would help ... my Asthma. As I progressed into senior school I did not continue playing, so when my daughter put in a request a few years ago to start playing I was most enthusiastic and purchased the Yamaha YRS24B Descant/Soprano Recorder.
The recorder is similar to the one pictured in the Dooyoo catalogue apart from the fact that it is dark brown. The recorder comes in a nice fabric, drawstring bag that offers the recorder a little protection while being transported around in school bags and the like. Also supplied with recorder is a cleaning rod, the rod is like an oversized sewing needle where a strip of fabric can be threaded through the 'eye' and then be inserted into the recorder to clean out spittle accumulated while playing.
The recorder is made of strong, dark brown plastic and can easily be separated into three parts, enabling easier cleaning. I used to clean my recorder a few times a month by taking it to pieces and washing it in warm soapy water and allowing it to air dry. I did the same for my daughters.
The finger spacing on the recorder is very comfortable; the holes are very smoothly finished. The bottom hole can be twisted around to a comfortable position for the little finger.
The sound produced by the Yamaha YRS24B is nice and clear and seems to take very little effort to produce a smooth tone. The mouth piece is nicely sized and again very smooth, which is essential as it goes in the mouth and any rough edges could cause sore lips or accumulate dirt.
As a first school recorder I can find nothing wrong with it. It is well made and able to take nocks when in a school bag. The cleaning rod and bag are great extras when you consider the low price £6.45 with free postage on amazon.co.uk, I think I paid slightly more for my daughters as it was purchased through the school. The sound is easy to produce and is nice and clear.
My daughter did not play the recorder for long but it did produce an interest in music which resulted in her playing the flute for a while, that has gone out the window since starting secondary school though, but I hope she picks it up again at a later date as I think the ability to play a musical instrument of any sort should be encouraged and is very rewarding.
Thank you for reading.
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