About Learn to Play Recorder

Mission

Learn to Play Recorder is a comprehensive, free educational platform designed to teach recorder from absolute beginner through advanced levels. Our goal is to make quality recorder instruction accessible to everyone, anywhere, without cost barriers.

Philosophy

We believe that:

• Quality music education should be free and accessible
• Technology can enhance learning without replacing good pedagogy
• The recorder is a serious musical instrument deserving serious study
• Self-directed learning is powerful when properly supported

Pedagogical Approach

Our curriculum follows established best practices from respected method books and recorder education research:

• B-A-G sequence for beginners, with alternative G-E track
• One new concept per lesson to prevent overwhelming students
• Mastery-based progression rather than time-based advancement
• Integration of theory and practice in musical context
• Historical awareness for Baroque and Renaissance repertoire

Technical Features

• Interactive music notation powered by VexFlow
• Auto-transposition between soprano and alto recorders
• Visual fingering diagrams with toggle visibility
• Responsive design for mobile, tablet, and desktop
• Offline functionality after first visit
• No tracking or data collection - complete privacy
• WCAG Level AA accessibility for inclusive learning

Curriculum Scope

The complete curriculum includes 90+ lessons spanning:

• Absolute Beginner (0-3 months): First notes through simple songs
• Early Beginner (3-6 months): Complete first octave and musicality
• Lower Intermediate (6-12 months): Keys, ornamentation, Renaissance music
• Upper Intermediate (1-2 years): Advanced articulation, Baroque sonatas
• Advanced (2+ years): Major Baroque works, virtuoso technique

Technology Stack

This site is built as a standalone, durable web application:

• HTML5, ES6 JavaScript, CSS3 - Modern web standards
• Bootstrap 5 - Responsive UI framework
• VexFlow 5 - Music notation rendering
• Custom Web Components - Reusable educational modules
• Hash-based routing - Full navigation with browser history
• localStorage - User preferences persistence
• No build tools or dependencies - Pure static HTML

Open Source

This project is open source and free for educational use. View the source code, contribute improvements, or deploy your own instance.

Acknowledgments

This curriculum draws from established pedagogical methods including:

• Hugh Orr's Basic Recorder Technique
• Mario Duschenes' Method for the Recorder
• American Recorder Society educational resources
• Historical treatises by Quantz, Hotteterre, and Ganassi

Contact

Questions, suggestions, or want to contribute? Visit our GitHub repository or contact us at: [contact information]