I have four different sizes of recorder and they can be played at different volumes - but there is a lower and upper limit and the difference is not all that great.

With the Tiny One low volume is a real exercise in breath control, the Big Ones - I can't overblow them for more than a second or two (even though I have lung capacity about 20 percent higher than expected) because they need a lot of air just to make them sound right. They are the ones with the lowest note covered by keys - I forget their official title.

It is usually possible within a group of four players for the parts to be given dominance one after another as a tune is repeated, so the one required sound louder than the other three together.

I have known one person who could/would only play at full bore but I think that was more a mental than physical problem.

Anne