Klarinet Archive - Posting 000083.txt from 1995/05

From: David Gilman <dagilman@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: The Clarinet for a Late Starter
Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 21:50:15 -0400

>Please can you help me.
>
>I have never studied or played any music before, but now, at the age of 38 I
>am considering learning how to play a musical instrument.
>
>In a state of considerable ignorance I have hit upon the clarinet as a
>likely candidate instrument for the simple reason that I find the sound it
>makes appealing.
>
>Do the subscribers to this list consider that I am making a wise choice
>given my total lack of musical background ? What other instruments might I
>consider as an alternative ?
>
>I am somewhat confused by the different types of clarinet - is there any
>particular type that might me more suitable for a beginner than another ?
>
>I have also wondered about the saxaphone - what are the pros and cons of the
>clarinet vs. the saxaphone in this case?
>
>Please feel free to offer me any advice !
>
>Forgive me if these questions are too 'down-market' for this list, or if you
>have already answered ones like them dozens of times before.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Andrew Martin
>als-am.dircon.co.uk
>
>
Andrew,
You've made the right choice. The clarinet is a wonderful
instrument to start on. Not only does it offer great music by itself, but
it can teach you a lot of skills applicable to all the other woodwind
instruments, especially fingering skills. It will teach you how to cover
holes, which is necessary on all the woodwinds except the saxophone and
possibly the flute; the saxophone will not. Plus, the clarinet requires a
somewhat tighter (but not extremely tight) embouchure (lipping) than the
saxophone, which will help you to build strength. Thus, it's much easier to
go from clarinet to saxophone than from sax to clarinet if you eventually
want to double. Neither one, however, is easy: either one requires a lot of
patient practice to play fluently with a good sound.
As far as the clarinet family goes, just about everybody (except,
perhaps, for some very small children) starts out on the Bb (soprano)
clarinet. It's 26" long and straight, a very manageable size for an adult.
Other members of the family (Eb soprano, A soprano, Bb bass, Eb alto, etc.)
come later.
Find a good teacher, and jump right in. The challenge is very
rewarding. Good luck!

David Gilman

   
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