I am a music student, focusing on performance at university. I have previously been playing on a pear wood recorder, however I much prefer the sound quality and sonority of sound on this recorder. I like this recorder, because the lower register sounds stronger and louder than other recorders I have played. It does feel heavier in the hands due to the type of wood, but I find that it is worth it for the clearer and more sprightly sound that this recorder produces. It has taken a while to break in the high notes, I find this particular recorder did not mix well with high Fs and F#s at first. This recorder does need to be broken in properly and carefully, so that it does not 'stuff up' as quickly.