When I can afford to, I collect end-blown flutes and similar wind instruments. Occasionally I manage to play them without totally embarrassing myself.
This is the most recent acquisition, a lovely little Yamaha recorder in translucent aquamarine lucite. For $.99 at a local thrift store. It needs some cleaning and minor repair, but I’m looking forward to trying it out.
So much prettier than the staid black and white plastic recorders I remember from grade school. These instruments get a bad or ‘meh’ reputation from all those bored kids having to play scales on them. It’s worth remembering that recorders are an old musical instrument, with a long history.
Who knows, this one may end up at a local charter school after I refurbish it.
Why did I spend money on it? Hello, it was ninety-nine cents and pretty. But more than that – flutes have a thematic place in the fantasy novel I just sent off to my agent. It seemed appropriate to rescue this one.