3/23/2025 - 12/28/2025
Looking for world class recorder performances online? 'Recorder' is a word that, when entered into a search engine, typically returns a lot of unintended results, such as information about audio recording equipment, or procedure. How frustrating!Struggle no more!! Each week BCRS features a recorder soloist on ensemble by posting a live performance video to our YouTube channel. We strive to provide an interesting mix of styles from musicians all over the world. A new performance is uploaded every Sunday. And it's FREE!
9/11/2025 - 11/27/2025
Have you ever wanted to learn recorder but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you played recorder years ago and are ready to return to it in a friendly, low-pressure environment. Join our brand new Recorder Foundations and Beyond class, taught by experienced instructor Andrea MacDonald. This class is designed specifically for adults with little to no experience — just curiosity, a sense of play, and a love of music. This amazing course is 12 weeks long and registration is now open!
9/24/2025 - 10/15/2025
The recorder is a wonderful instrument for anyone seeking the joy of making music with others,
exploring a wide range of repertoire, and learning to play in a relatively short time. Whether
you're completely new to the recorder, haven't played in years, or aren't yet comfortable reading
music, this course is designed for you!
Join professional recorder player and teacher Marea Chernoff in the American Recorder Society’s four-part beginner course for alto recorder. You'll build a strong foundation as you learn to produce a beautiful tone right from the start. The course covers essential skills such as breath control, hand and finger positioning, articulation, and the basics of note reading and rhythm.
Course Dates:
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 at 4PM ET (3PM CT, 2PM MT, 1PM PT)Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 at 4PM ET (3PM CT, 2PM MT, 1PM PT)
Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at 4PM ET (3PM CT, 2PM MT, 1PM PT)
Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 4PM ET (3PM CT, 2PM MT, 1PM PT)
Do you need to purchase an instrument? You cannot go wrong with a good plastic recorder—they can actually sound better than a poor wooden one! Yamaha and Aulos make very good plastic recorders. Consider purchasing an instrument from one of our business partners:
Honeysuckle Music: 651-644-8545
Von Huene Workshop (The Early Music Shop of New England): (617) 277-8690
Lazar’s Early Music: (770) 366-8596
Recorder Forge: (503) 206-6212
9/27/2025
Short Lives, Lasting LegaciesRobert Parsons, Henry Purcell, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart all died heartbreakingly young — and yet their music continues to resonate with us centuries later. Spanning the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, this playing meeting will explore music ranging from Parsons’ serene Ave Maria to Pergolesi’s poignant and luminous Stabat Mater, and from Purcell’s clever canons to Mozart’s witty rounds. These beautiful selections of sacred and profane music in 3-5 parts reveal brilliant genius distilled into too few years — music that feels at once complete, and yet leaves us with tantalizing “what ifs.” Travel from the Renaissance to the Baroque and Classical eras as we explore humorous rounds, heartfelt laments, and radiant sacred works by composers whose genius burned brightly but briefly.
9/29/2025 - 10/9/2025
If you have never played recorder before, or if it has been eons since you have played, this is the course for you! Build a solid foundation for learning recorder through this 4-part beginners' course for soprano or tenor recorder starting on September 29. Professional recorder teacher Laura Townsend will cover basics such as hand and finger position, tonguing, and tone, and instill good habits for continuing to learn on your own or with a teacher. All ages are welcome, but children should be joined by an adult during the classes.
Course Dates:
Monday, September 29 at 8:00pm, ET (7:00pm, CT; 6:00pm, MT; 5:00pm, PT)
Thursday, October 2 at 8:00pm, ET (7:00pm, CT; 6:00pm, MT; 5:00pm, PT)
Monday, October 6 at 8:00pm, ET (7:00pm, CT; 6:00pm, MT; 5:00pm, PT)
Monday, October 9 at 8:00pm, ET (7:00pm, CT; 6:00pm, MT; 5:00pm, PT)
Do you need to purchase an instrument? You cannot go wrong with a good plastic recorder—they can actually sound better than a poor wooden one! Yamaha and Aulos make very good plastic recorders. Consider purchasing an instrument from one of our business partners:
Honeysuckle Music: 651-644-8545
Von Huene Workshop (The Early Music Shop of New England): (617) 277-8690
Lazar’s Early Music: (770) 366-8596
Recorder Forge: (503) 206-6212
9/30/2025
Bach on the Bass
September 30, October 7, 14, and 21
10:00 am - 11:15 am PT/11:00 am - 12:15 pm MT/12:00 pm - 1:15 pm CT/1:00 pm - 2:15 pm ET
Each session starts with a 15-minute warm-up to work on tone, fingers, and tongue. Then, each week we’ll work on the bass part (for our bass clef work) and the melody part or alto recorder part (for working on playing bass in treble clef) of arias from J. S. Bach cantatas. Pitch: a=440.
Repertoire: BWV 18, 4th movement (Mein Seelenschatz), BWV 106 movement 2b (Ach Herr, lehre uns bedenken), more pieces if we have time.
$100 for all four classes. Classes will be recorded and available to stream for one month. To learn how to register, please write to Tish at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. Music will be sent as PDFs one week before first class.
9/30/2025
An All-Zoom Practice Challenge: A Brief Survey of Repertoire for the Recorder Player, Part ISeptember 30, October 7, 14, and 21
1:15 pm- 2:30 pm PT/2:15 pm – 3:30 pm MT/3:15 pm – 4:30 pm CT/4:15 pm – 5:30 pm ET (note the 15 minute earlier time than usual!)
In this 4-session class we'll start each session on a technique warm-up, then each week we’ll work on sections of a new piece, making a brief survey of repertoire for the recorder player. We’ll focus on effective practice methods for all pieces. For intermediate and up alto and soprano (or tenor) recorder players. Pitch: a=440.
Repertoire - Medieval: dance tune La Quarta Estampie Royal, 16th century: diminutions on Anchor che col partire by Bassano, 17th century: sonata by Frescobaldi, 18th century: Handel Sonata in F major.
$100 for all three classes. Classes will be recorded and available to stream for one month. To learn how to register, please write to Tish at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. Music will be sent as PDFs one week before first class.
10/2/2025
We want YOU to join us in our monthly playing meeting led by Karen Epp. Live in the lower mainland of Vancouver, British Columbia? Join us in person. Further afield? Join us virtually!If you're a BCRS member, it's FREE. Non-member drop-in is $10.
10/4/2025
Recorder players at all levels are welcome. Beginners should be comfortable with either the C fingerings of the soprano and tenor or the F fingerings of the alto and bass. Eventually, beginners should learn both C and F fingerings so that they can enjoy playing different parts of a musical piece.Bring any size of soprano, alto, tenor, or bass recorder that you have. You will have a chance to explore more than one part of each piece. Both plastic and wooden instruments are welcome. Pitch is A=440.
Please bring a music stand. We recommend that you bring a stand light to supplement the ceiling light.
More info: https://www.nyrg.org/
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The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin at 145 West 46th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Manhattan. Meetings are held in St. Joseph’s Hall, a side chapel of St. Mary's. Located in a brick building to the left of the main church, the entranceway is distinguished by the street number 145 displayed on the door.
1:30-3:30 PM. Doors open at 1PM.
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Meeting Fees:
$20 per meeting for members
$30 per meeting for non-members
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FULL SEASON PREPAYMENT OPTION: $180. Includes annual membership dues and meeting fees for the entire 2025-26 season.
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Send payment using Zelle to NYRG treasurer Judith Wink at jwink@nyc.rr.com. Please put your email address in the Notes field. Alternatively, send checks to New York Recorder Guild, 145 West 93rd Street, Apt. 2, New York, NY 10025.
10/5/2025
"Nuts and Bolts: Introduction to Practical Music Theory for Recorder Players"Have you been bored or confused by music theory? Feel like you’re missing something but don’t know what it is? Music theory isn’t an arcane dark art; it’s just the systems and vocabulary we use to describe and identify the patterns and relationships in the music we play. A few theory basics can help you sight read better, learn pieces faster, and communicate with your colleagues more efficiently. In this session we’ll demystify this frequently intimidating topic and get you going on the path toward theory literacy!
Open to all levels and all instrument sizes but reading treble clef is recommended.
10/7/2025
An All-Zoom Practice Challenge: A Brief Survey of Repertoire for the Recorder Player, Part ISeptember 30, October 7, 14, and 21
1:15 pm- 2:30 pm PT/2:15 pm – 3:30 pm MT/3:15 pm – 4:30 pm CT/4:15 pm – 5:30 pm ET (note the 15 minute earlier time than usual!)
In this 4-session class we'll start each session on a technique warm-up, then each week we’ll work on sections of a new piece, making a brief survey of repertoire for the recorder player. We’ll focus on effective practice methods for all pieces. For intermediate and up alto and soprano (or tenor) recorder players. Pitch: a=440.
Repertoire - Medieval: dance tune La Quarta Estampie Royal, 16th century: diminutions on Anchor che col partire by Bassano, 17th century: sonata by Frescobaldi, 18th century: Handel Sonata in F major.
$100 for all three classes. Classes will be recorded and available to stream for one month. To learn how to register, please write to Tish at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. Music will be sent as PDFs one week before first class.
10/12/2025
While beloved in the Renaissance as a solo instrument, the lute was often employed by the finest lutenists to double their pleasure in duets. Trading passages back and forth, the dueling lutenists would challenge each other with increasingly dazzling feats of virtuosity. Two of today’s finest lutenists, Ronn McFarlane and Paul O’Dette, take up this thrilling tradition in a duo recital showcasing works from Italy and England where the lute duet achieved its greatest heights. These sought-after lutenists, both Grammy nominees or their solo recordings, come together for a program of lyrically beautiful and intricately ornamented music by Terzi, Galilei, Piccinini, Johnson, Danyel, and others.
10/14/2025
The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska will be streaming three online Scottish Fiddle Tunes Workshops for violins, violas, cellos, basses, mandolins, and soprano recorders.The workshop will explore tunes from our “Scottish Fiddle Tunes for Two." This curated collection contains 42 traditional Scottish tunes arranged for two players.
The Workshops will be on Tuesday, October 14, 7 PM, Central Time, Wednesday, October 15, 10 AM, Central Time, and Friday, October 17, 7 PM, Central Time. Different tunes will be played at each session. We will read, play, and discuss various survival skills for these tunes.
10/14/2025
An All-Zoom Practice Challenge: A Brief Survey of Repertoire for the Recorder Player, Part ISeptember 30, October 7, 14, and 21
1:15 pm- 2:30 pm PT/2:15 pm – 3:30 pm MT/3:15 pm – 4:30 pm CT/4:15 pm – 5:30 pm ET (note the 15 minute earlier time than usual!)
In this 4-session class we'll start each session on a technique warm-up, then each week we’ll work on sections of a new piece, making a brief survey of repertoire for the recorder player. We’ll focus on effective practice methods for all pieces. For intermediate and up alto and soprano (or tenor) recorder players. Pitch: a=440.
Repertoire - Medieval: dance tune La Quarta Estampie Royal, 16th century: diminutions on Anchor che col partire by Bassano, 17th century: sonata by Frescobaldi, 18th century: Handel Sonata in F major.
$100 for all three classes. Classes will be recorded and available to stream for one month. To learn how to register, please write to Tish at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. Music will be sent as PDFs one week before first class.
10/15/2025
The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska will be streaming three online Scottish Fiddle Tunes Workshops for violins, violas, cellos, basses, mandolins, and soprano recorders.The workshop will explore tunes from our “Scottish Fiddle Tunes for Two." This curated collection contains 42 traditional Scottish tunes arranged for two players.
The Workshops will be on Tuesday, October 14, 7 PM, Central Time, Wednesday, October 15, 10 AM, Central Time, and Friday, October 17, 7 PM, Central Time. Different tunes will be played at each session. We will read, play, and discuss various survival skills for these tunes.
10/17/2025
The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska will be streaming three online Scottish Fiddle Tunes Workshops for violins, violas, cellos, basses, mandolins, and soprano recorders.The workshop will explore tunes from our “Scottish Fiddle Tunes for Two." This curated collection contains 42 traditional Scottish tunes arranged for two players.
The Workshops will be on Tuesday, October 14, 7 PM, Central Time, Wednesday, October 15, 10 AM, Central Time, and Friday, October 17, 7 PM, Central Time. Different tunes will be played at each session. We will read, play, and discuss various survival skills for these tunes.
10/18/2025
Led by the ARS Board President, this meeting will be a great opportunity to learn what ARS has been up to in the past year. ARS members may be wondering where the organization is putting its focus. How does the ARS plan to maintain and build on the progress made in the past couple of years? The Annual Meeting addresses questions such as these and offers a question and answer session between members and the ARS Board.To add an agenda item, please email Administrative Director Susan Burns at director@americanrecorder.org.
Sign up to receive a link to attend the ARS Annual Meeting, held this year via Zoom, on Saturday, October 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. You will receive a link to the Zoom meeting, both in your confirmation email and in a reminder email closer to the event.
10/21/2025
An All-Zoom Practice Challenge: A Brief Survey of Repertoire for the Recorder Player, Part ISeptember 30, October 7, 14, and 21
1:15 pm- 2:30 pm PT/2:15 pm – 3:30 pm MT/3:15 pm – 4:30 pm CT/4:15 pm – 5:30 pm ET (note the 15 minute earlier time than usual!)
In this 4-session class we'll start each session on a technique warm-up, then each week we’ll work on sections of a new piece, making a brief survey of repertoire for the recorder player. We’ll focus on effective practice methods for all pieces. For intermediate and up alto and soprano (or tenor) recorder players. Pitch: a=440.
Repertoire - Medieval: dance tune La Quarta Estampie Royal, 16th century: diminutions on Anchor che col partire by Bassano, 17th century: sonata by Frescobaldi, 18th century: Handel Sonata in F major.
$100 for all three classes. Classes will be recorded and available to stream for one month. To learn how to register, please write to Tish at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. Music will be sent as PDFs one week before first class.