Join us in Celebrating Play-the-Recorder Month 2026!

March 21 is Play-the-Recorder Day

As the new year has begun, it’s time to remind you that March 2026 is designated as Play-the-Recorder Month.

This is a great time for recorder players to celebrate by playing with others. Many ARS chapters hold a "show and tell" event to demonstrate the beauties of the recorder and encourage the audience to take it up themselves. They often hold their events on Play-the-Recorder Day which is held annually on the third Saturday in March. It will be on March 21st this year. The ARS will produce a special video on that day -- see more information below.

Planning documents -- a timeline, press release, and Public Service Announcement -- are available on the Play-the-Recorder Month page to help groups to publicize their events.

A Short History of PtRD and PtRM

For newcomers to ARS or Play-the-Recorder Month, Play-the-Recorder Day celebrations began on April 1, 1989, during the American Recorder Society’s 50th anniversary year. Play-the-Recorder Day was celebrated internationally on that occasion, and it was so successful that it became an annual event soon afterwards, in 1992. The third Saturday in March was designated as a day for planning creative events and ways to play and celebrate our favorite instrument. The entire month of March is now designated as Play-the-Recorder Month, affording more flexibility to chapters, orchestras and consorts of all sizes, so that they can plan public events or play-ins when it suits them best.



For more information about publicizing and celebrating Play-the-Recorder Month, please visit the ARS website and specifically, the Play-the-Recorder Month page.

ARS Board member Phil Hollar is the head of the Play-the-Recorder Month subcommittee, part of the Membership Benefits committee. In addition to holding down a full-time job, he is a recorder professional and teacher who lives in Hickory, NC.

How to Join the ARS

Take advantage of our 1/2 price rate for first-time members! Get immediate access to all the information available on our website, as well as other member benefits including the quarterly American Recorder magazine.

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