I practice the recorder silently by tongueing the fipple without actually blowing. The small amount of pressure built up is enough to give the ghost of the note, but not sound it.

Tongueing is the act of stopping the hole with the tongue, then releasing and stopping again whilst blowing, giving a staccato note. The fipple is the bit with the mouthpiece and the soundhole in it, professionally known as 'the plastic bit on the end'.

Good luck, and don't give up.

LTS