This term I've somehow been lumbered with what I consider to be probably the worst lunch time club in the world of primary schools... the recorder club! This is an instrument that I just don't think could ever be called "beautiful" when it's played and I've certainly never heard of any famous recorder playing people! However this doesn't seem to deter the lower junior children at my school, nor their parents who seem to encourage their participation in this club (I can only presume that's because their child doesn't practise the recorder at home) and I've managed to maintain attendance at about thirty children each week.

Now the majority of children have invested in their own recorders (such devout players that they are) but there are a few that borrow one of the school's recorders. These are Yamaha YRS-302B Descant Recorders which have been around for a while now as I can remember owning one while at primary school (before my dad mysteriously broke it one day)! Yamaha is quite a well known brand within the music world and has been producing musical instruments for over one hundred years now. Their recorder range is certainly one of the cheaper items that they currently manufacture - they offer a descant and a soprano model.

The recorders that we use at school are a dark brown and a creamy white in colour, apparently you can also buy them in much brighter colours but these are the traditional colours. There are three main parts - the top area which has the mouth piece attached to it, the middle area with the holes which you cover to play the different notes and the bottom area. They're made from durable ABS resin and believe me when I say they're durable... my recorders have withstood being banged, dropped, played and thrown with hardly a single scratch to them (and that's only what I do to them, never mind the actual children themselves)!

The Yamaha YRS-302B is really easy to assemble, the three pieces just slot together and they take about ten seconds to fully assemble. To play the recorder you simply place your mouth over the mouth piece and blow (no dirty jokes please!) which results in a sound. There are a number of holes down the front of the recorder and also one on the back, by covering these in different combinations you can vary the notes you play. The recorder comes with a simple fingering chart but if you're serious about it it's worth investing in a book which will go into it in much more detail... or simply join a delightful little recorder club!

Now my big issue with recorder club is... germs! With children sharing the recorders you can imagine how germs spread (I bought my own one after the first week as I don't wish to share anymore germs that is necessary)! These recorders come with a cleaning rod which can be used to clean each separate part of the recorder and this does do an okay job. However, to ensure thorough cleaning, I tend to just wash them all in boiling hot water with a bit of fairy liquid to reduce the spread of any nasty germs. It also came with a carrying case which will keep it safe when it's not in use (which will be, hopefully, the majority of time)!

I've seen the Yamaha YRS-302B Descant Recorders at a range of different prices, I think we managed to buy them through school for around £6 each but they seem to be slightly higher online and closer to the £10 price really. They're priced at £8.99 on Amazon which seems a fairly decent price for such a durable and long lasting musical instrument. So if you fancy taking up a new hobby or learning a new musical instrument then you might want to consider the recorder... I'd urge you not to if I'm honest as you might find your family and friends complaining but this model would be an ideal place to start!

Thanks for reading!