Play-the-Recorder Month

March is Play-the-Recorder Month
Play-the-Recorder Day was held Saturday March 15, 2025

 

Recorder players from across North America celebrate March as Play-the-Recorder Month (PtRM). 2025 marked 33 years of celebrating Play-the-Recorder Month. Many ARS chapters, consorts and recorder orchestras planned creative ways to illustrate the versatility and beauty of this wonderful instrument.

PtRM and Play-the-Recorder Day grew out of a one-day worldwide event on April 1, 1989, during the 50^th anniversary year of the American Recorder Society. Its success caused the ARS to declare an annual celebration starting with Play-the-Recorder Day on March 28, 1992. This single day was later expanded to monthlong activities plus a focus on one day, which is observed on the third Saturday in March.This is a great way to bring energy and excitement to the recorder community, and to gain new members. In 2025, it was held on March 15.

For spreading the word and publicizing local PtRM events, the ARS created helpful documents (PDFs):

• PtRM timeline for planning events
• PtRM press release for newspapers, radio stations, online media, etc.
• PtRM Public Service Announcement (PSA)

The centerpiece of the month is the commissioned piece for Play-the-Recorder Day 2025 by composer Harvey Stokes. The music is entitled Flight Games. It was composed to represent the activities of small birds as they move about communally in their varied aerial activities. ARS members received the piece with the Winter 2024 edition of the American Recorder Magazine, and they can log in and access the piece, along with other PtRM pieces, in our PtRM Music Library.

 

Harvey J. Stokes, PhD is Professor of Music at Hampton University, where he also is the Founder and Director of the Computer Music Laboratory. Dr. Stokes is a recipient of the 2017-18 Edward L. Hamm Sr. Distinguished Teaching Award at Hampton University, and has taught also at Miami University, Christopher Newport University and the College of William and Mary. His degrees are from Michigan State University (Ph.D.), The University of Georgia (M.M.) and East Carolina University (B.M.).

Currently, he serves on the National Council of the Society of Composers, Inc. and is a former President of the Southeastern Composers League. He is the author of two books on music as well as an award-winning composer of numerous works, available from Subito Music Corporation, Ars Nova Music Press, Centaur Records, Albany Records and Harkie Music. His works have been performed recently in Hong Kong, Argentina, France, Canada and the United States.
 

On Saturday March 15 2025, Play-the-Recorder Day, the ARS released a special video. Designed to replace the Covid-era Zoom sessions, this video features composer Harvey Stokes being interviewed by ARS Board member Eric Haas of the Von Huene Workshop.
 

For Play-the-Recorder Month 2025, the score and each part of the PtRM piece are available here. The video below features recorder teacher/professional Jennifer Carpenter conducting and playing all the parts.

Here’s wishing you all Happy Play-the-Recorder Month. Let us know how you celebrated!

 

View past Play-the-Recorder Day Webinars:

Play-the-Recorder Day 2023
Play-the-Recorder Day 2022
Play-the-Recorder Day 2021