Evaluate your level
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!
No previous experience necessary.
The Montreal Recorder Society invites you to learn how to play the recorder and to discover its marvelous repertoire, from medieval times to the present day. No previous knowledge of music is required.
Once you have learned the basic elements, you can join the group Intermediate I.
This group concentrates on the basic elements of recorder playing in order to help you acquire the ability to play in an ensemble: rhythm, phrasing and interpretation. This group is also recommended for experienced musicians who are learning to play the recorder as a new instrument.
The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To know the basic fingerings of at least one type of recorder (a recorder in C or in F);
- To play comfortably in keys having one sharp or one flat;
- To be capable of reading simple rhythms that consist of whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes with a time signature of 4/4.
This group is meant for those who:
- Have never played in an ensemble before;
- Already know the fingering of a soprano or an alto and want to learn that of other recorders;
- Have difficulty playing the whole range of their instruments.
Learning objectives:
- To play two instruments (one in C and one in F) among the soprano, alto and tenor recorders;
- To play with an ensemble;
- To play pieces in a key with two sharps or two flats;
- To learn to play in 2/2 or 6/8 time;
- To learn to listen to others and to follow the tempo of the conductor.
Here is an example of a piece that you should be able to play without too much difficulty to be admissible to this group:
Intermediate II «HARMONIA»
This group is meant for recorder players who have mastered the learning objectives of the group Intermediate I and who wish to give themselves a new challenge.
The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To produce an even and well-sustained tone;
- To be at ease in keys having up to two sharps or two flats;
- To be capable of playing at a moderate speed (for example, to play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 68 beats per minute);
- To be more and more attentive to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances) and to try to react to them promptly;
- To write down the indications stated by the conductor (for example, tempo, breathing, articulation and phrasing);
- To listen to the other musicians;
- To play the soprano, alto and tenor recorders.
Learning objectives:
- To learn the bass recorder;
- To learn to transpose the alto recorder up an octave;
- To play complex rhythmic figures in double and triple time (for example, triplets, off-beat rhythms, syncopation);
- To play in 2/2 time with the conductor beating half notes and in 6/8 time with the conductor beating dotted quarter notes;
- To play pieces in keys with up to three sharps or three flats:
- To increase the speed at which you can play;
- To try to cover the whole range of the instrument (2 octaves and 1 tone);
- To learn the basic elements of phrasing and to apply them;
- To quickly realize if you are lost and to find your place quickly;
- To play a part alone comfortably (in rehearsal, not in concert);
- To begin working on tuning and tone quality;
- To practise regularly to keep up with the progress of the group.
Here is an example of a piece that you should be able to play without too much difficulty to be admissible to this group:
Intermediate III «Flute en suite»
This group is meant for recorder players who have mastered the learning objectives of the group Intermediate II and who wish to give themselves a new challenge.
The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To play soprano, alto, tenor and bass recorders;
- To cover the entire range of the instruments (2 octaves) easily;
- To produce an even and well sustained tone;
- To be capable of playing at a moderate speed (for example, to play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 76 quarter notes per minute);
- To be at ease with keys ranging from four sharps to four flats;
- To practice tuning and to be able to adjust to 440;
- To be at ease with 2/2 tempos and all the ternary tempos;
- To be more and more attentive to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances) and to try to react to them promptly;
- To listen to the other musicians;
- To practise regularly so as not to slow down the progression of the group;
- To take note of the instructions of the director (e.g. tempo, breathing, articulation, phrases);
- To be able to transpose music an octave up for the alto and to read in the bass clef on the tenor;
- To increase the speed as needed.
Learning objectives:
- Interpretation: produce a good sound and listen carefully while playing;
- Phrasing, articulation, breathing in the right places, complex rhythms;
- "Historic" interpretation: articulations and ornamentation according to the style (renaissance, baroque, French baroque, modern);
- Research the "sense" of the music.
Here is an example of a piece that you should be able to play without too much difficulty to be admissible to this group:
Intermediate IV «La Follia»
This group is meant for recorder players who have mastered the learning objectives of the group Intermediate III and who wish to give themselves a new challenge. At this performance level, most of the pieces will have at least one part for the bass recorder. In the interest of fairness, a musician taking part in this group must play the bass recorder.
The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To play the soprano, alto, tenor and bass;
- To play the entire range of the instrument easily (2 octaves and 1 tone);
- To produce an even and well-sustained tone;
- To be capable of playing at high speed (for example, play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 88 quarter notes per minute);
- To be at ease in keys having up to three sharps or three flats;
- To play in tune, to be able to adjust to concert pitch (A = 440);
- To be at ease with sight-reading;
- To be at ease with the time signature 2/2 and all the ternary time signatures;
- To play a part alone comfortably (in rehearsal, not in concert);
- To be constantly attentive to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances) and to react to them promptly;
- To listen to the other musicians at all times;
- To quickly realize if you are lost and be able to find your place quickly;
- To be able to practise regularly in order not to slow down the progress of the group;
- To write down the indications stated by the conductor (for example, tempo, breathing, articulation and phrasing);
- To be able to transpose music for the the alto recorder up an octave easily.
Learning objectives:
- To increase significantly the speed at which you can play;
- To develop the phrasing according to the principles of the musical rhetoric.
- To blend with the group
Here is an example of a piece that you should be able to play without too much difficulty to be admissible to this group:
Guerrero Francisco - Todo quanto pudo dar
You should be able to play each line :
Soprano, Alto octave up, Tenor and Bass
Jean Sébastien Bach - Die Kunst der Fuge
You should be able to play each line :
Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass