Sopranos can really carry. A few weeks ago, I was playing a soprano recorder in church. At the same time, a grand piano was going full bore, the congregation was singing, and a flutist was playing.

My husband was in the attic, 40 feet up and 50 south, with the church ceiling and insulation between us. He heard the soprano recorder best of anything.

Another observation - when I played along with a church choir, the leader wanted me to play melody (rather than indulging in descants) because the clean, high sound of the recorder showed the congregation what the melody was.

When I play for country dance, I won't use a microphone. I could hurt somebody.