How To Reduce Overblowing In Recorders
Submitted by Gretchen Taylor, Illinois
Idea posted 2003-01-08
I discovered something that might prove useful for overblowing with recorders. In my recorder classes, I always pass out a large fuzzy pipe cleaner or chenille thing (10 pack for .99 @ Walmart) to all my students for cleaning their recorders after class. They simply run them in and out of the entire chamber. Well, I tried running one in and leaving it there (some is still sticking out of the bell). When the recorder is played there is no sound.
So, I thought, if someone is deliberately and continuously overblowing, they can insert their cleaning fuzzy and keep right along playing/fingering with the class. There's also a little bit of resistance created by the fuzzy inside, and unless the student enjoys blowing against this resistance to where s/he tuckers himself out, s/he may just lighten up on the blowing all together.
After a little while, the fuzzy can be taken out and the student given another chance to breathe more properly into his/her recorder.
A few other things I've discovered are:
1. When I keep the recorded accompaniments volume down rather low, the overblowing eases up big time. They simply can't hear the CD when they're playing too loud.
2. When I provide small group/individual playing opportunities during class, there is usually no overblowing. I'll often divide a piece by phrase, line, measure, etc. and assign groups to each (boys/girls, different rows, red belts vs. brown belts, etc.). My sparring activities have also worked well to alleviate overblowing problems. The kids, when put on the spot a bit in front of the others, are not as willing to overblow and reveal any obvious inadequacies.
(I'm speaking here more of those who deliberately overblow to get attention.)
