Eastar Soprano Beginners Recorder Baroque fingering C Key Maple Descant Recorder Instrument for Kids Adults, 3 Piece Recorder With Hard Case, Fingering Chart, ERS-31BM

Like many people, I was given a recorder when I was at school but I have continued to play into adulthood.I have several recorders, descant and treble and a mixture of wooden and plastic.I have always felt that wooden instruments give a warmer sound and I prefer the 'feel' of wood to plastic.When I ordered this, I really didn't know what to expect, wooden recorders are generally more expensive than this but I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the box.The instrument is well finished with a nice satin finish. Most of the recorders I own come in a cardboard box but it was really nice to have a rigid case. Also supplied are a cleaning mop and some cork grease.I like the sound of the recorder, and would recommend this to anyone who plays. The only very minor niggle I have is that the windway on the mouthpiece is wider than on most recorders but it didn't take long to get used to it.

I wasn't expecting much for the money to be honest but I've found it surprisingly playable with a pleasant tone. Slightly larger than 'school' descants, so good for adult hands. Some tuning is a tiny bit off - eg C# - and high notes above top A can be a challenge but this is true of many plastic recorders that cost a lot more. It appears to be shipped with no wood treatment. A couple of applications of sweet almond oil have done wonders and it is definitely improving as it's played in. Not a Rottenburgh but well worth a punt, I'd say.

The first thing you notice about wooden recorders is that the tone is more rounded/mellow with less sharpness. This is the case with this recorder. It seems to have good intonation and I have not noticed any tonal flaws. It is very enjoyable to play with a great resonance on the lower notes. The only points for comment are that the inside of the head piece is not quite finished smooth. After cleaning with the brush provided, I noticed small wood shavings on the edge of the labium. I don't recommend using the cleaning brush provided, as small particles of fluff from the brush also get stuck onto to the somewhat un-smooth bore. (To maintain good tone, the bore needs to be free from debris). The bore itself is bare un treated wood, (i.e. no oil or wax coating which is often done on more expensive wood recorders). If the bore is not oiled at some point, there is a risk of damage from moisture swelling and then drying leading to cracking in the wood. There was nothing mentioned about this essential maintenance in the user guide provided.Update: having compared the pitch of this recorder to a Yamaha and a Mollenhaer model, it seems that it is not correct. The pitch is too low - about a semitone. So this recorder is NOT tuned to pitch: a'= 442 Hz, the standard pitch.

It is a well-made and nice-looking recorder. I really liked the tone, volume, and overall sound. While playing, it feels very good quality. The store package is well done to prevent any kind of damage and includes a cleaning brush as well as a joint grease, which is great. When compared to my previous plastic recorder, it is a lovely instrument at a reasonable price!

OMG Its really awesome product with awesome voice. I am beginner in this but i love musical instrument. I play guitar so i liked this one so much and its totally value for money thing. I can surely recommend this to others.This is one of the best thing i bought recently and its gives peaceful sound and i am learning it :)Quality is really good :)

This recorder has a lovely mellow sound, and is easy to use. It comes in a compact box. Highly recommended.

I've been playing recorder for, well let's just say several decades. It was the first instrument I ever played and I carried on playing recorder even when I had progressed to orchestral instruments. I've played in ensembles and as a soloist, competed in festivals and played every size recorder possible (there are 5). So, I know my stuff. I got this to teach flute fingering to someone with little fingers, which was a bit nostalgic, and I thought perhaps a wooden instrument would sound better than plastic. When I played it, I found it was really difficult to centre on concert pitch, even with controlled breathing. It was playing a wee bit sharp on concert A, so I naturally thought it was me. I had to fiddle about with the pipe, and there's not much to go on with a descant. It's also difficult to *keep* in pitch, and for new players, where there is a tendency to over-blow, the need for the pipe to compensate is really important. I don't know why this is so difficult to play, but it's not really suitable for a beginner. I think I'd recommend sticking with the tried and tested aulos brand. They're cheaper and, it would seem, more reliable.Update: I followed my own advice and got a plastic aulos instead. Plays perfectly in pitch with an expert(ish) player and even compensates a little bit if the player hasn't got perfect control of their breathing So, I wouldn't recommend this wooden one, and I can't even justify donating it to a friend's music school, as the beginners won't learn from it.

I first played recorder at school, like most kids back then. This one is a budget affiar, bit it is well made and definitely holds at tune, even when I can't. The case is a nice touch, too. It is a hobby that I intend to get into again, together with some other instruments I purchased recently. What else am I supposed to do in this lockdown world we're now living in? A recorder for children and adults alike.