Recorder Methods
The
Recorder From Zero, Vol 1
is a the best method for beginners on the soprano recorder which treats
the instrument in its proper historical context. This revised and expanded 2nd
edition contains 107 pieces
of carefully graded original, folk, renaissance, and medieval music as well
as an introduction to renaissance tonguing and a brief introduction to modal
theory. Although RFZ is intended to be used with a teacher, who
guides the student and plays the bottom part of the duets, the mature
student who has had some previous musical training can also use this method
for self-study. Take a look at
Lessons 1-10, which you can print out for free and and try
with your student/s (if you are a teacher) or with your teacher (if
you are a student) or with your partner if you are an experienced player
already - it’s all great music!
From reviews of the 2nd edition, vol. 1 (2001):
Information for both the teacher and pupil is commendable and up-to-date.
The fingerings include those which might be necessary alternatives on
renaissance recorders. The Recorder From Zero strikes me as a well-conceived
concept and a thorough introduction to playing the soprano recorder.
Adam Dopadlik in The Recorder Magazine, Spring 2002
The Recorder From Zero was welcomed by the recorder-teacher community in
1975 as a method using Medieval and Renaissance Music. I called this method
a ‘must buy’
at the time. I am very much pleased to discover that Charles Fischer has put
out a second edition, completely re-set in Finale. Improvements in this
edition include a much more readable and expanded musical content. I like
Mr. Fischer's emphasis on wide-bore recorders (now beginning to be
affordable by amateurs). This book is for its musical content alone of great
value to recorder teachers and beginning players.
Martha Bixler in The American Recorder, May 2002
Best
method books I own, October 19, 2003 - Reviewer:
"b__2" (Albuquerque,
NM USA)It's easy for beginners to get the feel for
what early music and recorder playing is really like. I strongly
recommend these books. If you are an adult beginner with access to a teacher
then I suggest you look for volume 1 for the alto recorder, if and when it
is available. Altos are easier and more fun to play than soprano recorders
if your hands are bigger than an 11-year old's.Best
Recorder Instruction, October 14, 2003 - Reviewer:
Drina Brooke (CA)
Inspiration is a great
motivator, to practice and to really play well. Charles Fischer, himself a
performer of the recorder, has compiled such a beautiful selection of
Medieval and Renaissance pieces,in characteristically eerie modes, that even
beginners may be excited by truly beautiful music. This book is organized in
step-by-step progression, from simple drills which very quickly graduate to
really nice music, using simple finger combinations to more progressive,
adding rhythm drills and theoretical instruction. Fischer has mastered the
art of instructing with beauty, and artfully combined this with pure common
sense. To combine artistic instruction with pedagogy is a challenge, indeed,
and Fischer has done a beautiful job. I would highly recommend this book to
anyone who enjoys Early Music. --Drina Brooke, recorder
instructor/performer, author, trained with internationally-acclaimed Eva
LegeneCan't
say enough good things!, July 11, 2002 - Reviewer:
Brent (Manitoba, Canada)
I've been
using the revised edition of Volume 1 for almost a year now in my private
teaching and in a University setting. Most spectacularly, I used it as an
'introduction to the recorder' for a music education class earlier this
year. One of the commonest complaints I hear from music education
students is that they don't know where to turn to find good repertoire when
they want to introduce recorders into their classrooms. Students have been
singing Hot Cross Buns since Grade 1, and are easily bored with it by the
time they're in Grade 4! With Fischer's book, teachers can use authentic
recorder material that follows the same sequence of notes as the earliest
songs use, and a large class can be divided up to include percussion and
movement.
At the moment I'm introducing it to students in a Kodaly Level 1 summer course, and the students are having a blast. After 30 minutes this afternoon, four very insecure recorder players were performing 6 Renaissance dances comfortably and musically. Volume 1 is a must-have for any music teacher who deals with recorders, and I can't wait for Volume 2.
The Recorder From Zero, Vol 2 is a systematic approach for intermediate players on the soprano recorder which takes up where volume 1 leaves off. This revised and expanded 2nd edition contains 113 pieces of original, folk, renaissance, and medieval music as well as continuing the introduction to renaissance tonguing and the modes. Volume two covers additional fingerings, playing without bar lines and using more advanced rhythms - including a dozen exercises for various forms of syncopation, modal cadences , hemiolas, and tuning using difference tones. Take a look at lessons 21-26, which you can print out for free and try with your student/s (if you are a teacher) or with your teacher (if you are a student) or with your partner if you are an experienced player already - it’s all great music!
From reviews of the 2nd edition, vol. 2 (2002):
Volume II is pricier than Volume I, but there is more music in it.. The
remarkable aspect of this book is its use of original, Medieval and
Renaissance music... I am pleased to see that Mr. Fischer has put the
ear-training exercises at the beginning of this volume... There are many
pedagogical aids, such as an explanation of "shifting syncopations," often
confused with hemiola. The explanation of hemiola is excellent... I like the
tuning exercises and explanation and practice of modal cadences. I like the
attention to Renaissance recorders and modes. I like beginning to play
without bar lines in Lesson 26. In fact, I like just about everything about
this book...Everyone who plays the soprano recorder, teachers and students,
should own both volumes of "The Recorder From Zero". I look forward to
the edition for alto.
Martha Bixler in The American Recorder, January, 2003
Just
as good as Vol 1., November 9, 2003 - Reviewer:
"b__2" (Albuquerque, NM USA)
I have both
books - my daughter is the student. The wealth of excellent exercises and
non-boring duet material made volume 2 a no-brainer for us. As as said in my
volume 1 review: these are the best method books I own!Inspirational
Tutelage, October 19, 2003 - Reviewer:
Drina Brooke (San
Raphael, CA USA)
As in volume 1, Charles Fischer has compiled beautiful
music selected not only for inspirational content, but for step-by-step
challenges designed for technical growth. This is one of those books which
will inspire as the player learns! As important eartraining for players of
Early Music, Greek modes (ancient "scales" passed down via the Medieval
church) are introduced, and how to construct them intervallically. Ensuing
pieces are identified by mode, to further assist eartraining. Unmeasured
duets provide the framework for each player to practice rhythmic
independence, and to really feel the flow of phrases. Other duets are
measured, and all of them artistically deep. Literature varies from haunting
Troubadour melodies to Renaissance Christmas carols (selections that are
refreshingly new to America, while known in Germany and other parts of
Europe; arranged by Charles Fischer for two recorders), to the plaintively
beautiful rounds of Henry Purcell, to the snakily percussive Tourdion and
Rotta, to many other wonderful pieces! A wide selection of solos and duets
gives opportunity a-plenty for solo or ensemble playing. Only a performer of
the recorder, such as Charles Fischer, could come up with this unique and
gorgeous selection of music ! --Drina Brooke, author, recorder
instructor/performer
Recorder
From Zero is Great Fun, June 26, 2002 - Reviewer:
"jblazar" (Sunnyvale, CA USA)
The author
has over ten years experience teaching recorder to students of all ages. I
read through all the exercises in this book with another player. The upper
line is meant to be played by the student, with the lower line played by the
teacher or a more advanced player. The book consists of graded units of
increasing difficulty. The exercises use actual Medieval and Renaissance
music, as well as English country dances and folk music, with a few original
pieces written by Mr. Fischer. So often, exercises used in method
books are repetitive and boring, making them a chore to work through. The
music chosen in this book is quite appealing, with a lot of variety. I think
this method book would work well for players of all ages, since the music is
fun to play, and is carefully chosen to demonstrate a particular point, such
as modes, rhythms, syncopation, combination tones, etc. Mr. Fischer is
to be commended for producing a refreshing method book, with an easily
readable format and a well-chosen variety of music that demonstrates
valuable lessons for the student.
Alto Recorder From Zero
is a systematic approach for beginners and intermediates on the alto
recorder which treats the instrument in its proper historical context.
This edition contains 120 pieces
of carefully graded original, folk, renaissance, and medieval music as well
as an introduction to renaissance tonguing and a brief introduction to modal
theory. Although AFZ is intended to be used with a teacher, who
guides the student and plays the bottom part of the duets, the mature
student who has had some previous musical training can also use this method
for self-study.
NOTE: Lessons 1-10 for Alto Recorder are now available online. You can print them out for free and try them with your student/s (if you are a teacher) or with your teacher (if you are a student) or with your partner if you are an experienced player already - it’s all great music. The remaining 20 lessons are now ready for online ordering as Part II for lower intermediates (Lessons 11-22) and Part III for intermediates (Lessons 23-30).
Alto
Recorder From Zero is Truly Impressive, March 17, 2005 - Personal
communication from Jim Carpenter
I should take a moment to tell you what a pleasure it is to work with the
lessons. I'm on lesson 6 or 7 downloaded from the Internet, and I am truly
impressed at how musical the selections are. As I work my way thru each one
I can sense immediately what the pieces ought to sound like, and the very
measured pace at which new notes are added is wonderful. When I start a new
piece I find I can play 90 percent immediately--it's only the other 10
percent that needs to be worked on. By the time I've satisfactorily
"mastered" the new piece I can move to the next one, finding that I can play
90 percent of it....etc. I'm working without a teacher, but with other
beginning recorder methods to help me with fingerings, etc...Any reasonably
self-motivated learner can make wonderful use of the lessons. Thank you for
this excellent course.
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PURCHASING INFORMATION: Please mail a check payable to Unicorn Music to:
Unicorn Music
2324 Linden Hill Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401
Alternatively, for faster delivery, please select one of the PayPal buttons below:
Alto Method (sent as .pdf files by email so that shipping is free anywhere in the world!)
Alto Recorder From Zero, lessons 11-23 (lower intermediate) $14.95 Alto Recorder From Zero, lessons 23-30 (intermediate) $14.95
| Telephone: | (408) 569-2781 |
| email: | bizweb5@yahoo.com |
| Address: | Charles Fischer/Unicorn Music 2324 Linden Hill Dr. Bloomington, IN 47401 |
| SkypID: | UnicornMusic |