How did I start with the recorder…

This is my first contact with the recorder.

However, my serious playing started at the age of 7. At this time, the recorder in the Czech Republic served as a tool to prepare children for playing some genuine instrument, such as flute, trumpet, or clarinet. No recorder in Czech conservatories and no skilled recorder teachers. Consequently, nobody knew that the recorder was one of the most common instruments in Early music. As a kid, I had always dreamed about a professional flutist career, so, I naturally started with the recorder at the elementary art school. 

My recorder teacher was a professional oboist. Without knowing the basic recorder teaching method, she was able to transmit me the most important: the passion for music. She would sacrifice all possible to lead the children towards the perfect goal. Sometimes, she also danced when she was conducting. Thanks to my teacher, I became motivated and competitive. I could spend all two month-holiday practicing the double tonguing to play as fast as possible, and all my evening to prepare myself for competitions. 

When I was in high school, the recorder became a serious instrument studied in conservatories. When I was deciding about a future college major, my teacher encouraged me to go to the conservatory. In my thought, making life with art could be very difficult, so I decided to do some serious major at the university concomitantly with the conservatory. 

After coming to the conservatory, I realized that my recorder technique learned at the art school was incorrect, so I had to learn from zero all the basics: holding the instrument, producing a good sound, making breathing exercise or expressing emotions. Thanks to the patience of my conservatory teacher, I now understand how important the correct recorder technique is. Actually, the only purpose is to make playing comfortable and to open all the possibilities of expression. Moreover, thanks to my initial incorrect habits, I am able to understand various technical problems and how to deal with them. 

After finishing the conservatory, I was ready to continue and develop to be accomplished one day. However, I realized very soon that the life of a musician means to feel never accomplished. The more I advance, the more I have to practice, so I am condemned to never-ending life research. At this point, I am still feeling like a child starting with the recorder. However, this feeling gives me an openness to new impulses and joy to discover a little by little every day.