Klarinet Archive - Posting 000697.txt from 1996/04

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: High school appropriateness (Re: Rab
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 12:58:03 -0400

B HUDSON wrote:

> without careful reading. But I'm suddenly struck with a question of
> why the clarinet or possibly wind instruments should be so different
> from everybody else. Surely we've all attended high school level
> concerto competitions in which violinist and cellist play some of
> the most difficult repertoire for their instruments. And under my
> own roof I've watched my then 7th grade son work up the fast
> movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (2nd movement I think).

Could it possibly be that wind instruments (in general) are started
later in life? All my sons started piano between 4 and 6 years old
(and there's no way my oldest, a 15 year old, could get through the
3rd movement - the fast one - of the Sonata at speed - congrats if
your then 7th grader could do it! ) but the clarinet & trumpet playing
boys both started their instruments at 11 years old - 6th grade is
where bands in school start over here.

Also, the clarinetist in the family didn't start lessons (and many
of the kids never do ) until he was 13 (and he missed playing at all
when he was 12 - the school cut the music program out. I moved to a
different school district partly for that reason). I learned my
lesson and started the trumpet playing son with lessons even before
he got to middle school.

The 6 year old in the house wants to become a percussionist (he
learned the difference between a drummer and a percussionist from
his older brothers & decided drums, marimbas, bells, and vibes would
be a lot more fun than just drums) and I'll start him up on lessons
before he's 7.

I try & spread the word to all the parents I come in contact with -
keeping your kids on music keeps them off of just about everything
else as long as you stay serious about it.
--
Mark Charette "Languages come; languages go--only Fortran is for
Mika Systems, Inc the ages." - Jim Glass
charette@-----.com/clarinet