The best way to learn any instrument is to have lessons from a good, experienced teacher. Although, happily, the number of such teachers is constantly growing, the recorder is still frequently taught by enthusiastic but inexperienced teachers and many players start by teaching themselves.
This series of books sets out to help learners of all ages in all three situations. Experienced teachers, who may choose to disregard much of the text as personal demonstration is always clearer than the written word, will find exercises and fine tunes a-plenty to support their own mathod at each stage. The less experienced willbenefit from many valuable teaching hints culled from long experience and may rely on the books to lead to a sound playing technique and a mastery of simple notation.
Those learning by themseves - and I started in this way - are urged to work carefully and systematically through the books, taking plenty of time to assimilate each point before moving on. For them, without the personal model provided by a live teacher, it is vitally important to listen as often as possible to fine players, in person or on record, so that they have in their mind's ear a clear notion of the kind of sound they would like to produce.
But however they start, I can only wish that all who use these books will derive as much pleasure and musical satisfaction and gain as many lasting and valued friendships as I have through this most subtle, delightful
and sociable of instruments. (Brian Bonsor)

"...this work is likely to become a standart work very quickly and is to be recommended to all schools where recorder studies are undertaken" (Oliver James, Contact Magazine)

Descant Tutors provide a sound-playing technique, a mastery of simple notation and contain 570 tunes including concert pieces by Bonsor, carols, attractive rounds, and melodies by 'early music' composers. Clear line drawings greatly assist the pupil, making them especially suitable for self-instruction.

The best way to learn any instrument is to have lessons from a good, experienced teacher. Although, happily, the number of such teachers is constantly growing, the recorder is still frequently taught by enthusiastic but inexperienced teachers and many players start by teaching themselves.
This series of books sets out to help learners of all ages in all three situations. Experienced teachers, who may choose to disregard much of the text as personal demonstration is always clearer than the written word, will find exercises and fine tunes a-plenty to support their own method at each stage. The less experienced willbenefit from many valuable teaching hints culled from long experience and may rely on the books to lead to a sound playing technique and a mastery of simple notation.
Those learning by themseves - and I started in this way - are urged to work carefully and systematically through the books, taking plenty of time to assimilate each point before moving on. For them, without the personal model provided by a live teacher, it is vitally important to listen as often as possible to fine players, in person or on record, so that they have in their mind's ear a clear notion of the kind of sound they would like to produce.
But however they start, I can only wish that all who use these books will derive as much pleasure and musical satisfaction and gain as many lasting and valued friendships as I have through this most subtle, delightful and sociable of instruments. (Brian Bonsor)

&ldquo....this work is likely to become a standart work very quickly and is to be recommended to all schools where recorder studies are undertaken&ldquo. (Oliver James, Contact Magazine)

These two tutors, with accompanying teacher's books, are for newcomers to the instrument who are beginning on the treble and so assume no previous knowledge either of the instrument or of musical notation.

ISBN 9781609741792. Early American Roots, a companion book to HESPERUS' CD of the same name, presents a cross section of popular instrumental music from the English Colonies and early Federal America; divisions, shape note hymns, country dances and cotillions, arranged for the recorder. When America was still a colony, music in the New World was a welcome link to the settlers' original home; England, Holland, France, Germany, Ireland and Scotland. During the 18th century, as the colonies became independent from England, their music reflected this new freedom in its unusual textures and dissonances. Recorders and flageolets (the wooden predecessor to the tin pennywhistle) were easily carried about and made excellent solo instruments for both the new and old styles of music. They arrived in the New World in pockets, packs and bundles. Scott Reiss, the "mind boggling" recorder player and HESPERUS' co-director, arranges all the tunes on the CD for recorders, writing down every improvised ornament, slur and counter melody. Use this book as a technical study guide as well as a source of performing and arranging ideas. An invaluable guide to a little-known, but lively repertoire.