Klarinet Archive - Posting 000250.txt from 1997/08

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: How young is too young?
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 11:29:43 -0400

>For whatever it's worth I do think that 7 is to young for the simple reason
>of holding the clarinet to begin with. I would question whether his hands
>are big enough to hold and manipulate the key mechanisims. I would also
>question whether he could make the spread required in the hands to properly
>close the holes. In a person who demonstrates this kind of musical abilities
>and intelligence it might be more harmful to start him and let him experience
>the difficulties that can be expected, than to keep him waiting until his
>body has caught up with his interests. Just my personal opinion. It has
>also been the subject of a study that people who start earlier than 6 grade
>do not show anymore of an improvement over those who start in 6th.
>
>Cheryl

My personal experience in watching hundreds of young wind players develop
over the years is that the younger you start, the better.

The only problem with clarinet is size (and the fact that the wholes are
open). So a small 7 year old might be better off starting on an Eb
clarinet for a little while.

I've known several clarinetists and flutists who started at age 7 and a few
that started at 6, and they reaped great benefits from it.

One of them was the youngest wind player ever accepted to Curtis (at age
12), who is know the first flutist of the Curtis Orchestra at age 15!

-------------------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net