Chichester u3a Recorder Group

There’s been a lot of talk in recent months about RECORDERS! Maybe you saw some of it on TV, heard some of it on the radio, read some of it in newspapers. 

It seemed be spreading misinformation, if not downright disinformation! Recorders on the way out? Come off it – look around you : The Society of Recorder Players has 50 branches with 1500 members, there are large numbers of u3a recorder groups, students fill the recorder departments of colleges and conservatoires, and there are numerous amateur recorder orchestras and ensembles up and down the land, conducted by professional players. 

You think nothing like that happens in Chichester? Well, then you haven’t been to concerts given by Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia or seen performances by the Parnassian Ensemble! Or know about the Wessex branch of The Society of Recorder Players. And what’s more, you’ve overlooked the Chichester u3a Recorder Group that has been around since 2007!

It’s true that successive governments have failed to sufficiently promote music in schools – it’s as important as sport, the arts & crafts and the great outdoors for the mental health of young people. But it’s also true that increasing numbers of folk in mid-life and later are wanting to resume playing or take up a musical instrument for the sheer pleasure of music-making in a group. 

So – if you once played the recorder and would like to take it up again seriously, why not join the Recorder Group? It isn’t a beginners group, though there’s a very good teacher in Chichester if you want to learn – it’s best to get the basics from a professional! 

You need to know how to play basic scales and arpeggios on at least two of these four recorders: descant, treble, tenor, bass. This is (a) because players like to swap instruments and not be restricted to one and (b) because the most interesting music is in four parts. You’ll need your own instruments and a music stand, of course.

And, yes, you’ll need a basic ability to read music (preferably treble & bass clefs), have a sense of rhythm and the ability to count and hold your line against others. Over time, you’ll learn more and have the pleasure of coordinating your playing with the rest of the group. 

The group meets every Tuesday afternoon 2pm-4pm where I live on the Hornet. Buses 51 & 700 pass the door and there are two car parks under 10mins walk away (one is free for 3 hours). We play in a large lounge on the ground floor, so no access problems. 

We meet every week so that members have maximum opportunities to improve. Whilst we take account of holidays and, of course, the unexpected etc, regular commitment is looked for and the group isn’t suited to casual or occasional attendance.  

We play all kinds of music from early to modern in arrangements suited to the group. It’s all sight-reading and most of the time from parts. Players don’t take music away to practise because there’s some unreliability about that! You can, however, borrow music to play at home. And players are committed to improvement, so we do work hard at enjoying ourselves. Once a month we invite a local professional player along to conduct us. 

If this sounds like your kind of group, please read more on the Groups page of the Chichester u3a website 

https://www.chichesteru3a.org.uk/interest-groups/groups-by-day/entry/79

or contact me by email glrecorderensemble@mail.chichesteru3a.org.uk