Klarinet Archive - Posting 000330.txt from 1997/07

From: apod@-----.uk (Audrey Podmore)
Subj: Re: Methods for Young Beginners
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 21:27:41 -0400

Someone asked for suggestions re: methods for young children but I seem to have
saved the wrong message!
I like "Learn As You Play Clarinet" by Peter Wastall (pub. Boosey and Hawkes).
It provides a varied diet of music, from Renaissance to Contemporary, right
from the start. In addition to the usual technical exercises and instrumental
solos there are numerous duets. the book is arranged in three main sections,
each ending at a standard roughly eqivalent to the first three Graded Exams
(UK) and many of the pieces have been set for these exams. At the end of each
section there are Concert Pieces, for which a piano accompaniment supplement is
available.
Pamela Weston wrote a very simple and carefully planned book for the youngest
players, "23 Steps for Young Clarinettists" (pub. Faber). I haven't tried to
get that for years, but it is probably still around. A nice feature is the fact
that fingering diagrams are shown the way things look when the child looks down
the instrument - they do find the usual 'upside-down' diagrams very confusing.
Although Pamela includes a supplement with solos, duets and trios, there is
much less material than in the Wastall.

All the best.

Audrey

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