Klarinet Archive - Posting 000204.txt from 1997/08

From: trbaun@-----. Baun)
Subj: Re: How young is too young?
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 16:56:00 -0400

According to what i was taught in Wdwd. Tech...A student is ready to
begin clarinet when: 1) he can hold the clarinet in guide position (low
"G") and cover all of the tone holes; 2) if his little fingers can
reach the keys in a natural position; and 3) if he can hold the
instrument up without resting it or his arms on any thing. I hope I
helped!

Rob Teitelbaum wrote:
>
> I have a 7-year-old brother (yes, it's a large age gap--what can I say,
> we're weird?) who appears to have a good deal of "natural" musical
> ability (he can identify pitches and melodies better than anyone else in
> the house!), and has been interested in learning clarinet for several
> years now. While I certainly haven't discouraged this interest, I have
> previously told him that I thought he needed to wait until his lungs and
> fingers developed a little more before trying to start on the instrument.
> Now my mother thinks he's old enough to begin learning, and is
> considering having him take clarinet lessons. I myself began playing when
> I was 9, which did not cause me an inordinate amount of difficulty, but
> I'm wondering what all of you think--is 7 years old too young to begin
> playing?
>
> TIA,
>
> Rob Teitelbaum
> rteitelbaum@-----.com