Thank you for visiting the web site of the Denver Chapter of The American Recorder Society. We are currently on summer break.

Our monthly meetings will resume in September. Please check back with us approximately the second week of August for our 2008-’09 schedule.

If you would like information about how to join our organization, informal playing groups, recorder teachers, performance groups or any other questions, please click on the link at the bottom of the page webeditor@dr.com or contact Dick Munz at 303 286 7909 or idmunz@gmail.com.

For informal discussions and contacts with our members you may sign up for the Denver Recorder Yahoo Group by clicking on the purple box at the top of the page.

We look forward to meeting you.

NEW--Find information about the free lesson here.

Read memories of a local recorder teacher here.

Local Recorder Instructor List

Several Denver ARS members have been playing recorders at local grade schools in an effort to bring awareness of the recorder to the younger generation. See pictures of a recent performance here and here.

Who we are!

We are the Greater Denver (Colorado) Chapter of the ARS, a national network of recorder enthusiasts. We promote the playing of the recorder among amateurs and professionals, and also encourage the playing of all early instruments such as viols, capped and open reeds, historical flute, lute and harpsichord. Each month we have a meeting with a guest conductor who brings music, usually with a specific theme.

What's a recorder?

An inexpensive early wind instrument, which is versatile enough to play medieval to modern music. Recorders are portable -- you can carry them in your backpack, and it's easy to get started with folk tunes and dances. The instrument has unlimited potential, and is played by professional recording artists as well as amateur musicians. Four sizes are in common use: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass, but larger and smaller sizes are also sometimes used.

Have fun!

Playing the recorder is fun for both beginners and experienced players. Beginners will quickly be enjoying folk tunes and renaissance dances. A rich repertoire of works was composed in baroque times, and other music composed or adapted for recorder provides a lifetime of pleasure. Solo playing is rewarding, and the opportunities for group playing are greatly enhanced by the variety of published music.

Try something new and rewarding!

Develop skills you never knew you had! Enjoy playing music on the recorder and make new friends. Learn history when you work on older music.

Beginner’s Corner

By Janet Handmaker
Chapter President

1. For your first recorder, purchase a high quality plastic recorder rather than a low cost wooden one. Plastic recorders are relatively inexpensive, responsive, pleasing to the ear and will serve as good backup instruments when you are ready to purchase the more expensive wooden instruments.

2. Many teachers recommend the higher priced Yamaha brand instruments as the best choice for a beginners’ plastic instrument. Aulos and Dolmetsch also make good plastic instruments. If price is still an issue, there are many lower priced plastic recorders that are adequate.

Beginners Tip of The Month: When first learning to play the recorder, use baroque fingerings. The movement patterns of the alternative German fingerings may be slightly easier, but they produce a tone that is very out of tune and strident.

Beginners are always welcome!

Denver Chapter Program for the 2007-08 Season 

Sep. 16 Nancy Ekberg: Notes from the Animal Kingdom
Oct. 21 Anne Fjestad Peterson: A Byrd in the Bush
Nov 18 William Adams: Music of Praetorius
Dec 16 Linda Lunbeck: Midwinter Magic
Jan 20 Kaitlin Odil: The Celtic Recorder
Feb 17 Janet Handmaker: Pastyme with Good Company
Mar 9 Play-The-Recorder month "concert"
Mar 16 Carla Sciaky: Dancing Through the Centuries
Apr 20 Connie Primus: La Follia
May 17-18 Spring Workshop (details later)

This month's chapter newsletter

Events Calendar

Contact Us on the Internet

Chapter Music Library
(fairly large - slow at 14400 baud or below)

American Recorder Society (National)