A record number of children in Grolloo and Rolde are receiving recorder lessons. After a slow restart after the corona period, 21 students have registered this season.
The recorder lessons are given by the Crescendo music association from Grolloo. “The association once decided that they should give children recorder lessons in order to get more musicians interested in brass band music and other types of music. And more and more children are coming to those lessons,” says music teacher, recorder teacher and Crescendo member Durk Dikland .
The children receive lessons in groups of a maximum of five at the Jan Thiesschool in Rolde and at Het Markehuis in Grolloo. “They are children of seven and eight years old, a perfect age to start with,” says Dikland. Because playing the recorder is difficult. “Holding those holes closed with your fingers is difficult. Sometimes it squeaks and creaks, but it is easy to learn.
“In addition, the recorder is a light instrument that is not that expensive,” continues the music teacher. “You can start straight away with a flugelhorn or saxophone, but they are very heavy. Then this is easier.”
The children complete their lessons after about twenty weeks and then receive a certificate. Normally they also participate in Crescendo’s spring concert, but this year marks its centenary and has a slightly different program. That is why there will be a special recorder concert in the spring.
Now it is all children who are taught, but people of other ages are also welcome, according to Dikland. “Maybe when you are older you can start with another instrument. For example, we also give saxophone, flugelhorn, brass instrument and percussion lessons. That is also for adults.”