Hi, I play the recorder and the other day someone said they were useless in bands because of their lack of volume. Can the recorder be amplified and when it is amplified, does it still sound nice? Please reply, ive allready been put down by other peoples views on the recorder beforehand, i don't want to again.

Egads! Don't worry . . . THE RECORDER IS A REAL INSTRUMENT.

and yes, it can be amplified/recorded. =)

It's not useless. In a jazz band, maybe. But in chamber orchestras, pit orchestras, and baroque orchestras it definitely has its place.

Does it still sound nice implies that it sounded nice in the first place. Secondly, if it needs to be amplified then that is an admission that it is useless (for the purpose that it is being used for). The 2nd Brandenburg concerto uses a recorder as well as a trumpet for example (Saxophones need not apply here).