recorder
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recorder
A woodwind instrument from the family of duct flutes with a beak-shaped mouthpiece, often used as a beginner instrument for children and in early music.
In der dritten Klasse lernen bei uns alle Kinder Blockflöte spielen.
In third grade, all the children at our school learn to play the recorder.
The word is made up of 'Block' (block) and 'Flöte' (flute). The 'Block' refers to the wooden mouthpiece inside the head of the flute, which shapes the airflow.
Die Reinigung einer Blockflöte ist wichtig, damit der Block nicht aufquillt.
Cleaning a recorder is important so that the block does not swell.
When talking about playing an instrument as an activity, no article is often used in German. So you say 'Blockflöte spielen' (to play recorder) or 'Blockflöte lernen' (to learn recorder).
Mein Sohn möchte gerne Blockflöte lernen.
My son would like to learn recorder.
In connection with the recorder, the verbs 'spielen' (to play), 'üben' (to practice), and 'lernen' (to learn) are frequently used.
Sie übt jeden Tag eine Stunde Blockflöte.
She practices recorder for an hour every day.
flute
'Flöte' and 'Blockflöte' both refer to wind instruments. 'Flöte' is the more general term and can mean different instruments, for example a recorder or a transverse flute. 'Blockflöte' is a specific type of flute with a beak-shaped mouthpiece, which many children learn first. Learners may confuse the words because every 'Blockflöte' is a 'Flöte', but not every 'Flöte' is a 'Blockflöte'. If the exact type of instrument is important, you say 'Blockflöte'.
In der Musikschule lernen die Kinder zuerst Blockflöte.
At the music school, the children learn the recorder first.
Im Orchester spielt Lena Flöte, aber nicht Blockflöte, sondern Querflöte.
Lena plays the flute in the orchestra, but not the recorder; she plays the transverse flute.