Figure 1.--Toin Gauken had a variety of instruments, but about half of the orchestra is playing recorders. substantial accordian section in its orchestras. We are not sure why it was chosen. It is not an easy instrument to learn. These may be simplified version. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the group. One interesting onservation. With the instruments being played (accordian, piano, violin, and xylophon) have a mix of boys and girls. With the recorder it is mostly boys and only a few girls.
Toin Gauken is notable for having almost all the children learning a musical instrument, sort of. This was primarily the recorder. Which was not a proper instrument, but a child's learning implement. The recorder once was a serious instument, but at the beginning of the 20th century we begin to the recirder used in school. Here German composer Carl Orff played an important role. He thought it would be a great idea to use the soprano recorder as a teaching tool and became influential in shaping music education theory in the 20th century. One source reports that "His 'Orff Schulwerk' encouraged learning music through rhythm and creative thinking, methods he thought to be much more effective (and enjoyable) than learning by repetition. The work also called for a wider range of simple, easy-to-play instruments, specifically those with a similar vocal range to a child. Orff figured that if a child could sing the notes they were playing, they'd be more likely to understand it. To him, the soprano recorder's lack of strings, reeds, bow -- or need to develop a good embouchure in order to make a half-decent sound on it -- made it the perfect instrument to inspire children to play music. You could say the same for other teaching instruments, like the glockenspiel or the tambourine." And about half of the children in the Toin Gauken orchestra are playing the recorder. And its simplicity is surely the reason. One interesting onservation. With the instruments being played (accordian, piano, violin, and xylophon) have a mix of boys and girls. With the recorder it is mostly boys and only a few girls.
