I should have thought you must be blowing it wrongly if it makes your cheeks ache...I've never had the problem and I can play for ages.

I think my subconscious probably builds up finger pattern pictures. If I try to play something consciously I go wrong, but if I leave it up to what my mind and fingers have learnt, it plays itself. I know that my fingers will go to the next correct note even when, if I try to think what the next note is, I can't.

I always reckon that I don't actually play the recorder, I'm just the channel and the instrument or the music plays itself. Jonny Dyer was very sceptical when i suggested that!

Love Lynne