Play-the-Recorder Day 2025: Celebrate with Music in Person!

Happy Play-the-Recorder Season! There are many other celebrations to enjoy at this time of year, but to American Recorder Society members this is the time to meet with fellow members as chapters, consorts, societies, and, most importantly, friends, to express appreciation for our favorite instrument in all its varieties!
 
The 2025 Play-the-Recorder Day (PtRD), to be celebrated on Saturday March 15, will feature “Flight Games” by Harvey Stokes. It’s a sprightly, playful composition that will offer fun as well as challenge to every level of player. The sheet music will be mailed alongside the Winter issue of American Recorder and is available to members online. Be on the lookout for a play-along video featuring beloved recorder teacher Jennifer Carpenter on the American Recorder Society YouTube channel and bookmark the Play-the-Recorder Month page on the ARS website for more information and the link to the video.
 
This year, Play-the-Recorder-Day is shifting its focus back to you - the player. During the dark days of the pandemic, we couldn’t make music together for the safety of ourselves and others. The ARS came to the rescue by turning PtRD into an event that we could enjoy from home, with a live interview, question and answer session, and virtual playing segment. It was a wonderful way to capture the spirit of playing as one while respecting the necessity of keeping apart.
 
Now that many chapters have returned to in person meetings and the pandemic dangers are largely behind us, we’d like Play-the-Recorder Day to take its rightful place with you and your recorder community in person. Meet up with fellow players and take the piece for a test “Flight”. Enjoy the “Games” encountered when tackling a new piece together! Coming together for a live musical moment that can’t be replicated is simply one of life’s great pleasures. Don’t miss it.
 
For those members of our American Recorder Society family who have grown to know and love the virtual event, there will still be a bit of hoopla to introduce the piece on the ARS website. A video, featuring composer Harvey Stokes being interviewed by ARS Board member Eric Haas of the Von Huene Workshop as well as a play along, will premiere on March 15.
 
Merry music making!