Recorder players from across North America celebrate March as "Play-the-Recorder Month." Many ARS chapters plan special concerts and presentations to illustrate the versatility and beauty of this wonderful instrument.

Plan your next celebration of "Play-the-Recorder-Month". See our Timeline (PDF ) for planning your events. May we suggest a Press Release (PDF or Word) to the local media and the use of a Public Service Announcement (PDF or Word) to publicize your events?

Chapters and consorts should submit a Play-the-Recorder Month Contest Entry Form (PDF or Word) on their activities to be eligible for prizes for the "Most Creative Event" contest. The deadline for the contest in April 15th.

ARS has a Membership Special during "Play-the-Recorder-Month". New members, or Lapsed members (have lapsed for more than 2 year), may join the ARS for $35. That's a 25% savings off the normal price of $45. Join online or send your Membership Special Application (PDF or Word) to the ARS office by March 31st.

In addition, this year, for the first time, the ARS is partnering with the National music educators' organization MENC (National Association for Music Education) to highlight the use of the recorder in music classrooms across the country.  ARS board member Bonnie Kelly, a retired elementary music teacher and career-long MENC member, collaborated with the MENC's Creative Director for Special Programs to plan the best way to achieve this cooperation.

They have chosen and received permission from Hal Leonard to use a Japanese folk song "Koinobori" that will be part of MENC's World's Largest Concert. An accompanying recorder part will be included and prepared by students across the country and performed in this spectacular program.
“Koinobori” is a Japanese folk song sung by children in celebration of Children's Day

Download Koinobori     Link to rehearsal track  Learn about Japanese Children's Day

See a Lesson Plan showing how one experienced music specialist, Bonnie Kelly, would approach this material and prepare a class of elementary children to play it.

While this folk song may be aimed primarily at school children, adults can benefit from playing it as well.  "Simple" melodies require enormous control to produce a beautiful tone quality. This lovely song can offer adults the challenge to work on the techniques involved in producing a gorgeous sound.

See entries and pictures from:
2009 Play-the-Recorder Month

2008 Play-the-Recorder Month

For more information about Play-the-Recorder Month, contact the ARS office at
ARS.Recorder@AmericanRecorder.org.