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

Most of us learn to play recorder on inexpensive plastic instruments. There is nothing wrong with that. Frankly some them (such as Eastar's own) sound and play amazingly well. -Far better than the plastic instruments of not too many years ago. But that said, there is nothing like the sound and feel of a well crafted wooden recorder. -Especially when playing the lower notes which can come almost alive with a sonorous bottom and sweet overtones. The hold back for many players -- the thing that has kept them using plastic instruments -- frankly has been the cost. But to my (and I expect many player's) amazement, even that is changing. This Eastar is made from solid maple. You see it and feel it even before you hear it. And it is thing of beauty. And yet the cost is very reasonable. The Eastar ERS-31M comes in a nicely fitted case. A case that also holds a cleaning rod (provided) with a soft head and a small container of sealing and protecting lubricant for the cork used where the three parts of the recorder attach to one-another. Oh, and that brings to mind another nice feature of the Eastar... It is a three piece unit -- and its lower bout rotates allowing for custom placement of the lowest hole allowing for correct placement for those with shorter or longer little fingers. (Once set, however, the two lower parts can remain as one even when the recorder is taken apart for storage.) Tuning and pitch on my example seemed pretty close to "right on." Although that depends in part on the player's technique. And those used to plastic instruments may have to get the feel for this (and other) wooden ones to assure clear notes free of 'lisps' when playing down low. Eventually every serious player starts to feel ready to upgrade to a wooden instrument. Now with the Eastar ERS-31M cost need not be so much a factor. Highly recommended.

I own a half dozen recorders. This is the one to get if you're getting a cheap recorder. It's much sweeter sounding than the "good" plastics such as the yamaha ecodear, the zen-on stansby jr, or the aulos haka. The only way you're going to get better sound is to go to a hybrid such as mollenhauer prima or dream recorder with plastic mouth piece and wood body. I can easily play low C up to high "E", which is 2 notes above the standard written range. I can play high C sharp without closing the bell and it's pretty close to being in tune. with fngering: X CXC CCCC where X is 80% covered tone hole leaving a crack and C is completely closed. I can do this because the tone holes on this recorder are spaced out more like a professional recorder, rather than being closer together like on most plastic recorders. Honestly, skip the plastic recorder unless you're getting a basic straight windway yamaha for a 5-7 year old or your child is playing in a school group and they all need the same basic yamaha or aulos. If your kid is 8 or up, get them this. If you are looking for a first recorder on a budget, get this. The Mollenhauers mentioned above (and some competitors by Moeck) basically cost the same or less than the top plastic already mentioned. In addition, for not much more than top plastic, you can get an all-wood recorder in maple or pear from Kung, Mollenhauer, Moeck, or a few other manufacturers. Visit antique sound woodshop or thomman usa Here is what to get at various price points: 5-7 year old child: Basic cheap Yamaha with straight windway, don't waste your money on anything nicer. Let them pick their color. $20 or less: Get this. If you wear it out, get another one. If you get a bad one, and you know it, send it back for an exchange. $40 or less: Mollenhauer Prima or Dream $100 or less: Entry level all wood from Kung, Mollenhauer, or Moeck.

I know when you buy these cheap Chinese instruments you're taking a gamble, and for most people I would recommend a similarly priced Yahama or Aulos plastic recorder to get started on. I had recently purchased a pocket trumpet from Eastar to toy with, not expecting anything out of it, and was pleasantly surprised at how well it played, so I thought I'd take a shot with this recorder as I already have and am planning to learn on a Yamaha alto model. Surprisingly the recorder I received is well tuned. The wood feels fine and the woodworking itself is mostly quality. The inside of the recorder was a little rough with some loose woodchips that were easily brushed out but this implies there isn't a ton of quality control going on as you'd expect, so if you do decide to buy one keep in mind you might have to make a return if you get one from a bad batch. I however have been pleasantly surprised with Eastar both times I've purchased instruments for them. I only bought them for fun and while they of course would not hold up against serious instruments in a performance setting they're good enough for practice and I wouldn't be ashamed to play them casually for other people. All in all it's a very attractive wooden recorder with a nice case that plays very easily and sounds at least as good as plastic recorders in the same price range. Definitely worth the price tag which is virtually nothing for a wooden recorder. Although it has some kind of varnish on it I think it will improve with oiling.

Sound is warmer than plastic, definitely.

This product is well made and sounds wonderful. Super easy to play with the baroque fingering style. However, unlike other reviews , I have found the case that comes with this does not shut very well, and was lacking the little container of cork grease.

A great upgrade from plastic recorders, has a fantastic tone, and low notes boast a fuller sound. But important to be careful with it, it scratches easily!

Some holes seem to make no difference whether closed or open. I haven't read the docs yet, but that's my initial take. Looks nice, feels nice, not sure about accuracy. Product is probably fine, I just don't know how to use it properly yet.

La he disfrutado mucho, tanto que compré otra para regalar