We offer many groups, covering different practice levels. You will find below a definition of the desirable prerequisites for belonging to each of the groups.
All members will be accepted into the groups according to the established prerequisites and at the discretion of the musical director of the group concerned.
If you are not sure about your level, if a new challenge tempts you or you wish to lower the tempo a bit, we warmly encourage you to come and try different practice groups and chat with their respective directors. You will surely find the group that suits you!
Beginner «Discover the recorder»
This group is aimed at those who:
- Do not know how to read music
- Do not know how to play the recoder
Prerequisites:
- No prior knowledge of music is required
- Owning at lead one recorder in C, either a soprano or tenor recorder
What will be worked on:
- Music reading and music theory
- Basic recorder techniques
INTERMEDIATE I «Recorder for fun»
This group is aimed at those who:
- Can read music
- Already know at least one the basic C or F fingerings and want to learn the other
- Already played the recorder in the past and want to rediscover it
- Are already confortable recorder players but seek a more casual experience
Prerequisites:
- Know the fingerings in C between low C and high E, or the fingerings in F between low F and high A. Flats and sharps are not required.
- Can read simple rythms made of whole notes, half-notes, quarters notes and eigth-notes
What will be worked on:
- To play two instruments (one in C and one in F) among the soprano, alto and tenor recorders
- Aim to cover the whole range of the instrument (two octaves and 1 tone)
- Play pieces with up to two sharps or flats
- Learn the basics of articulation and apply them
- Learn to read the F clef and play the bass if you own one
- Playing with an ensemble
Intermediate II «HARMONIA»
This group is aimed at those who:
- Mastered the learning objectives of the group Intermediate I and who wish to give themselves a new challenge
Prerequisites:
- Know the C and F fingerings, including the most common flats and sharps
- For bass players, be comfortable reading the F clef and know the bass fingerings
- Own at least 3 of the following recorders: soprano, alto, tenor and bass
- Be comfortable playing with keys with 2 flats or 2 sharps
- Be comfortable playing in an ensemble
- Be capable of playing at an average speed (play sixteenth notes in 4/4 at 76 beats per minutes)
- Ability to follow and apply indications from the director (tempo, breathing, articulations)
- Practice regularly to follow group progression
What will be worked on:
- Learn to play the alto one octave higher than written
- Cover easily the full range of the recorder (2 octaves and one tone)
- Play more complex rythms
- Become confortable playing in keys with 3 sharps or 3 flats
- Detect if lost during performance and catch up quickly with others
ADVANCED «La Follia»
This group is aimed at flautists who have already acquired the notions practised in the Intermediate II group, and who would like to give themselves a new challenge. In the interests of fairness, musicians in this group must play bass.
This group is aimed at those who:
- Wish to give themselves a new challenge.
- Mastered the learning objectives of the group Intermediate II
- Are ready to pratice regularly
Prerequisites:
- Play the soprano, alto, tenor and bass
- Play easily the entire range of the instrument easily (2 octaves and 1 tone);
- Capable of playing at high speed (play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 88 beats per minute);
- Play more complex rythms
- Be at ease in keys having up to 4 sharps or 4 flats
- Be at ease with sight-reading
- Ability to follow and apply indications from the director (tempo, breathing, articulations)
- Listen to the other musicians at all times and adjust pitch when necessary
- Quickly realize if you are lost and be able to find your place quickly
- Be able to transpose music for the the alto recorder up an octave easily
- Practice regularly to follow group progression
What will be worked on:
- Play more complex and difficult repertoire than the other groups
