Could this be the group for you?
Wouldn’t you like to be part of a music-making group? One that plays all kinds of music from medieval to modern times? One where, if you wanted, you could switch sizes of instrument and play different lines of music?
Of course you would! You already know that music-making is the best activity to keep the brain firing on all cylinders. And cast aside any ideas that recorders aren’t real instruments! They are alive and well all over the world and all over this country, including West Sussex and Hampshire! I myself play with the Wessex branch of the Society of Recorder Players and with the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia. (See photo of HRS playing at Boxgrove Priory Church).
If you’ve played in the past and would like to come back to playing, why not join this friendly, supportive group? You’ll need two sizes of recorder from descant, treble, tenor & bass (there are smaller/larger sizes but these are the basic ones). This is because it’s much more fun to change instruments, and current players in the group like to do this and not be stuck on one size.
I’m sorry this isn’t a ‘Recorders From Scratch’ group! You do need to be able to read and follow music, keep to a beat, and be confident with the fingerings for your recorders. Post-beginner or improver levels are fine. Players are happy to brush up their rusty skills by doing some practice of scales and arpeggios at home plus some easy tunes so that they have an ongoing sense of making progress. They’ve surprised themselves by being able to tackle a range of music and gaining confidence over time.
You’ll also need a music stand, regular spare time on a Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm (no occasional appearances please!) and want to make some real progress. Once a month a recorder professional comes along to add an extra dimension to our playing and give you whatever advice you need.
We meet on The Hornet in a comfortable large ground floor lounge with no access problems. Car parks at the Cattle Market and in Florence Road are 5-10mins walk away, and 51 & 700 buses pass the door.
If this sounds like your kind of group, why not give us a whirl? You’d be welcome to come for a taster session when I would tailor the music to match what you tell me you can do. That’s worked for others in the group and could work for you. We’d love to see you!
Contact me at glrecorderensemble@mail.chichesteru3a.org.uk