Newsletter of the American Recorder Teachers ARTAfacts Association ARTAfacts Vol. 10 Nos. 3 & 4 Dec 2005 Editor: Charles P. Fischer Production: Bill Behrmann ARTA members stay in touch online through an e-mail H A R D C O P Y discussion list. To join the ARTA/ERTA discussion list, by Sara Funkhouser contact Yvonne Miller Nixon at [email protected] Plastic Recorders for Kids Would it help to send your thoughts and information I learned about the Peripole Angel recorder this sum- to Adriana Breukink? I met her at the ARS Confer- mer and one source was really high on them. I've ence and now have her email address: been using the Yamaha sopranos for my Recorder [email protected] I don't know if she has Kids and was considering changing to Peripole until I any clout with decision making once Mollenhauer got other input saying the Peripoles don't play in tune. takes over the manufacture, but it is worth a try. I be- Unfortunately, I didn't get to try one myself! lieve their price for the plastic Dream is about $28 Does anyone have experience with them one way or now. — Rosi Terada the other? — Sue Roessel It was fascinating to hear Adriana B. tell her story, I can't answer the question about the Peripole Angel, (during the recent ARS Festival/conference at Regis but just want to mention that Adriana Breukink's Univ.), of how she became interested in recorder- (Mollenhauer's) Dream recorder now also comes in making, and specifically how she developed the plastic. They are around $25. — Eva Legene Dream flute design. [Ed. Note: While the profile of the Peripole Angel I have had mostly good experiences with wooden recorders resembles that of a renaissance recorder, Dream flutes (purchased by my students.) I like the the bore is still the narrow conical one of the baroque availability of an affordable large- bore instrument, style. The Dreamflutes are true wide-bore instru- which is great for the husky young kids who like to ments, but play the full two octave and a note range] put "oomph" (lots of air) into their lower range pieces, and also for the kids who need a first I tried the plastic Dream recorder in January. It has a renaissance-style instrument. One draw-back I find: lot of potential. It looks and feels good. My two big the huge size of the finger holes, which are difficult complaints are the tuning of the B-flat, and the tone to cover with the narrow, delicate finger tips of overall, which was poor. The wooden Dream record- younger kids. Also, the more tapered beak of the ers are a very interesting design, though inconsistent. plastic dream flute is easier to work with than the A good master mold would fix that. They advertise, thicker beak of the wood instrument. and it's true, that you can play all plastic, then gradu- ate to a plastic head with a wooden body, then all This kind of recorder is a wonderful idea; I hope wood. Unfortunately, I could not get the plastic body Adriana will keep tweaking the design as she gets to fit with the wooden head, which would have given feedback from all of us who are using her recorders me a good tone with good intonation (except for that in the trenches. — Mary Halverson Waldo B-flat). Picky picky. They are so close to getting it right, and there is a big need for this kind of recorder. The pads on the plastic Yamaha bass for my Recorder I need to write Mollenhauer an encouraging letter. — Kids are bad and our funds are limited. Can I bring it Patrick O'Malley to a local instrument repair shop or do I have to ship ARTAfacts Vol. 10 Nos. 3 & 4 Dec 2005 Editor: Charles P. Fischer Production: Bill Behrmann Page 2 Hard Copy (continued) it to a recorder shop? Pads seem rather straight for- In re: to Peter Grahame's question, TMJ stands for ward repair but your advice will be appreciated. — "Trans Mandibular Joint" (the joint hinge junction Sue Roessel between the upper and lower jaw) - J. Siegrest New ARTA Website Regarding TMJ, one of the effective treatments not Dear ARTAnauts, Thanks to the expertise of Christo- mentioned is acupuncture. It relaxes the muscles pher Barry, our web manager, the ARTA web site has around the jaw and allows the inflammation to sub- found a new home. Christopher is still working on side, which means pain relief — Edith R. Davis this, and I will notify you again when all updates have been made. What I need to do is send updates I've found the discussion about TMJ and the re- on memberships, the teacher list, the composer/ corder interesting since I have a very busy adult arranger list, etc to Christopher. I thought, before I student who only continues lessons because it did this, I'd send a quick request for address updates, helps her TMJ. I don't know whether it has to do phone number changes, etc. I plan to send updates with all the long tones with absolutely relaxed face sometime later today (Dec 5). Then, we will try to do that I have my students do, whether it's her imagi- monthly updates. Our new address is www.ARTA- nation, or whether there is something else at work recorder.org. It is not case sensitive, but I think the here. — Judy Whaley ARTA looks nice in the caps! Best to all, Sue ALSQ Recital in Florida Suzuki Recorder Website The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet will give a Please check out the following website recital on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. at www.suzuki-recorder.com and the links on it. St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key. The address is: I would be grateful for any feedback from you: 5616 Midnight Pass --typos Sarasota, Florida 34242 --obvious errors --suggestions, Considered to be “one of the world's most talented --requests to be included on the Suzuki Teacher page recorder quartets,” their repertoire includes the clas- sic concert music of the Renaissance and Baroque I still have many pages to create, and am working on periods, significant works of the 20th century, as it by and by. — Irmi Miller well as compositions written specifically for the group. They have assembled a unique collection of Finger Coordination aka “blurps” over one hundred recorders ranging from the eight- inch sopranino to the sub-contrabass, measuring I've been talking about 'blurps' in my recorder classes over nine feet. and wonder if there is an actual term for this. I dubbed a blurp being an unwanted note that occurs A lecture/demonstration will be given by the quar- when you have to move more than one finger to get tet for interested players on Saturday morning, Feb- to the next note. For example you can blurp an A or ruary 18th at St. Boniface church. thumb C# when slurring from B to C on a C instru- ment. — Sue Roessel If you are interested in more information about this event, contact Seth Wertz at his office at the church I call them by the very sophisticated term "blips" or (941)349-5616x26 or Lynelle Williams at home Sloppy Fingering. — Mary Halverson Waldo (941)493-4322. Dealing with TMJ for Wind Players ARTAfacts Vol. 10 Nos. 3 & 4 Dec 2005 Editor: Charles P. Fischer Production: Bill Behrmann Page 3 Hard Copy (continued) BloomingToot Spring Weekend Workshop kept fairly “straight” by design for the aid of begin- ners. For more information about the genesis of this Unicorn Music is offering a Spring Weekend project and the origins of the Suzuki Recorder School, Workshop at the new house of Charles Fischer in see Kathy White’s article on pp. 14-16 Bloomington, Indiana. The dates are Friday April 21 through Sunday April 23rd, with eight 75 minute Scott Reiss Memorial Set coached sessions for recorder consorts. This is for upper intermediate to advanced players one or two We are saddened to announce to you that Scott Reiss, to a part for 3-5 part music. Please contact Charles co-founder of Hesperus and a member of ARTA, died Fischer at [email protected] for further details. Dec. 14. Scott leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Tina Chancey, his parents, his sister, a wealth of friends, re- New Suzuki Recorder School Materials cordings, and fond memories of a masterful musician and loving human being. There will be a Memorial Marion Verbruggen, recorder, Arthur Haas, harpsi- Concert/Hesperus Fund-raiser on Saturday January 28 chord, and Mary Springfels, viola da gamba have at St. Columba's Church, in DC. (703) 525-7550 for finished recording the music for levels 5-8 of the info. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to HES- Suzuki Recorder School in April of 2005. There is PERUS (3706 North 17th St., Arlington, VA 22207). no firm release date yet for the new materials, Please mention that you are contributing as an ARTA which still need to undergo final. proofing and edit- member. You can find out more about the concert and ing. According to Marion Verbruggen, the recorded read articles about Scott at interpretations for levels 5-8 are a bit more flowing http://www.hesperus.org — Sue Roessel and stylish than the first four volumes, which were From left to right: Arthur Haas, harpsichord; Mary Springfels, bass/descant viols; John Phillips, harpsichord maker/tuner; Katherine White, SAA Teacher Trainer/Originator/Arranger; Peter Nothnagle, recording engineer/editor; Marion Verbruggen, soprano and alto recorders.