Learn to Play Recorder

Lesson 6: Reading Notation and Rhythm

  • Read the treble staff fluently up to D5 without thinking about it.
  • Read the treble staff fluently up to G (on your alto staff) without thinking about it.
  • Distinguish whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes by feel.

You read music the way you read English: at first letter by letter, eventually phrase by phrase.

Notes on the staff name pitches; the shapes of the noteheads name durations. Everything else is decoration.

The staff

The recorder reads in treble clef: lines, bottom to top, are E·G·B·D·F; spaces are F·A·C·E. Memorise them — don't count up from the bottom every time.

The notes you can play (C4 to D5) range from one ledger line below the staff up to the fourth line.

The notes you can play range from the ledger lines below the staff (low F) up to the second line (G); the line mnemonic is identical for both instruments.

Note durations

In 4/4 time, the durations you know are:

Whole note · w
Four beats; open notehead, no stem. Count ta-a-a-a.
Half note · h
Two beats; open notehead with stem. Count ta-a.
Quarter note · q
One beat; filled notehead with stem. Count ta.
Eighth note · 8
Half a beat; flagged or beamed in pairs. Count ti-ti.

Counting with syllables

Clap or speak the syllables before you play — rehearsing the rhythm without the recorder is faster than fixing it with fingering loaded on top.

Tap your foot on quarters and clap three bars: ta · ti-ti · ta · ta, then ta-a · ti-ti · ta, then ta-a-a-a.

Hear how the duration transforms the line.

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Play: a chorale and a jig

Two pieces on the same five notes with contrasting rhythm — read them off the staff, don't memorise.

Hold each note exactly its full length; the breath between bars is your rest.

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Keep the air steady and tongue lightly.

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Now play these

Bingo
Strong rhythmic shape; mark beats with your foot.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Read it off the staff this time.
Lightly Row
A study in stepwise motion.

When you can sight-read a four-bar tune in C major using whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes, you are ready for Lesson 7.

When you can sight-read a four-bar tune (in F major on your alto staff) using whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes, you are ready for Lesson 7.