Video transcript
Festival of Instrumental Music 2023 - Recorder repertoire - 06. The High Road teaching tips

[intro music]

SUSAN SUKKAR: So descant 1 part, it's quite tricky, and it's going to give your children quite a challenge. Because they're going to be playing quite fast. The first page is all very fine until we get to letter E. And we've changed also the metre of the piece. So we've gone from 4, 4 into 6, 8. So they're playing triplets rather than quavers. Letter E sounds like this.

[playing notes]

So that's a little bit tricky because they're going up to Es. But they'll find it very motivational because it's the melody, and it's really beautiful to play. So I'm hoping that your children will really get stuck into learning that part. Please, also be careful at letter H because we have F naturals. So from the G section, we're changing key as well-- or just before that, actually. And so at letter H, 2 after H, 127, you have F naturals, which is 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7.

[playing F natural]

So they're playing two B's before.

[playing notes]

And then later on, back to F sharp. So just be careful about that. They have F sharps before. Then F naturals. Then back to F sharps. Similarly, when we get to letter I, or 2 before I, we change key again. And this time, we're in A major, and we've got C sharps.

[playing notes]

Children will be very familiar with those. And also, F sharp, so letter J.

[playing notes]

So high F sharp has no lower finger on. Low F sharp.

[playing low F sharp]

High F sharp.

[playing high F sharp]

Just be careful of that as well. Hopefully, they'll really enjoy learning this piece.

ALEXEI: In the descant recorder 2 part, particularly in section E, there's a leap from A to a low E.

[playing notes]

Be careful with that E to not blow too hard and try and force it out. Otherwise, it might squeak. But relax the fingers. Blow a little softer for that E.

[playing notes]

HANS-DIETER: The treble part is actually quite tricky. There's a few things that you need to observe. The main problem, of course, is to play everything really together. And it's in the ensemble. What helps with that, of course, is breathing. In the tune, the letter B and onwards, you probably want to breathe every second, or even better every fourth bar to be together. Then there is slurs especially after about 38 and 39. Be very careful when you slur from E to F sharps--

[playing notes]

--that you take your fingers off quickly so you don't get the effect of--

[playing notes]

--that the previous notes still sounds or low note sounds in there. In the 6, 8, very careful not to play the notes too long because it's always a problem that people hang on too long to the tight notes and then they're late.

[playing notes]

Not--

[playing notes]

So playing shorter notes helps a lot there. And then, of course, the good old problem with C sharp that you need to tune it with this finger. And I say tune it not automatically put it down, but put it down so the note really sounds best and in tune. Other than that, it's tonguing together and really enjoying the rhythms.

TRACY: For the tenor recorder, at letter E, I have the same counter-melody that Alexei has there at letter E. So that little leap from A to E. And also, through that section, there's a lot of changes from G natural. And sometimes we play a G sharp. So just watch out for that on the music. Sometimes G natural, sometimes G sharp. That's through that middle 6, 8 section.

When we get to letter G, we get the melody. And again, watch out here for the articulation. Because some of it is slurred to and then staccato to. And we get this lovely melody.

[playing notes]

So have a little practice of that. Would be fabulous if you can get that articulation right. Good luck.

ALICIA: For the bass part, if anyone's finding the rhythm at 25 a little bit tricky, you might find adding some words to the rhythm will help you remember it. Something like, 'I like the high road. I like the high road, I like the high road.' So it can make sure we can hear the rest because that's just as important as the notes as well. At H, you finally get to do a bit of a tune. So make sure you bring that out nice and confidently, nice strong tonguing.

[playing notes]

Nice articulation for that. Also, in our piece, whenever we have Fs, they are F naturals. But there is one F sharp that creeps up, and it's in 153. So there's only one little F sharp. So maybe put a circle around that so we don't play an F natural instead on that one note.