Basic Recorder Technique Vol. 2 Soprano

The emphasis of this book is on technique, but most of the book consists of music with technical exercises kept to a minimum. Volume 1 in this series covered the low register of the recorder. This volume extends the range of notes up to the third octave D, the highest note commonly written for the soprano recorder.

As in volume 1, the author stresses development of: the ability to play any interval or passage in a tongued legato; the ability to adjust tonguing and breath; pressure in playing wide intervals; a relaxed and relatively motionless hand position; an independent fingering action in which fingers move less than half an inch from the recorder.

This book also focuses on the independent action of the left thumb to develop fluency in changing registers and control over the highest notes. There are rhythm and melody focuses in each of the book's 15 sections. Music selections are primarily renaissance and baroque.

Book sections:

1.   Changing Registers, high E, low F#,

2.   high F, high G

3.   rapid alternation of D and E

4.   left-hand action of the interval  high G-C, 3 new intervals

5.   new intervals

6.  high A, high F#

7.   left-hand action of the interval high G- lower A, 3 new intervals

8.   left-hand action of the interval high G-B, C#

9.   Playing high A after the closed and open thumb positions, high B

10.  high C

11. high G#, left-hand action of the interval F-Bb, 3 new intervals involving this action

12. high Bb

13. high Eb

14. high D

15. new intervals