Klarinet Archive - Posting 000323.txt from 1997/08

From: benevolent1@-----. Horney)
Subj: Re: The younger...
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 23:15:45 -0400

If you will allow me to indulge in borrowing a phrase used frequently
(and correctly) from the talk-radio icon Rush Limbaugh's show, Craig:
Dittos from a Texas kid.

Have fun!

Sarah
benevolent1@-----.com

By the way, on the issue of Bb and A clarinet similarities and
differences. During the summer, when I don't have school, I practice
about 4 hours a day. I practice for 2 hours on my Bb clarinet, another
hour and a half on my Eb, and about another 1/2 hour on my A clarinet for
tuning purposes. Since I play in a Youth Orchestra, I find the minimum I
can practice and still have my pitch right is to practice 1/2 hour a day
on my A. So, in a sense, for me, the Bb and the A are different
instruments that I must devote separate and quality time to. For
orchestral playing, I find people who do not practice on their A
clarinets (at least at my meager playing level) are cheating themselves
and their orchestra out of a quality performance.

On Sat, 09 Aug 1997 22:03:10 -0400 "Craig E. G. Countryman"
<cegc@-----.net> writes:
>I did want to respond a little more to a previous posting... text
>inside
>the quotes is indeed quoted.
>
>Jonathan Cohler writes
>"There seems to be a lot of misinformation about this subject floating
>around the list. This is not really a matter of opinion, but one of
>empirical fact. There is no question that starting students younger is
>better. They should be started as young as is physically possible for
>best average results."
>
>Is it really a fact? It seems to me that the question could go either
>way. Isn't each child different? I don't think that every kid is the
>same. Each has his own needs, abilities, talents, fortes, and
>shortcomings. So can we really make a one-size-fits-all statements
>that
>earlier is always better?
>
>He continues...
>"There is no need to find music written specifically for those
>instruments, because we are talking about a young beginner. Any
>standard
>clarinet methods for a beginner will be fine."
>
>Yes, but I know that many Bb Clarinet things uses the lower register
>of
>the instrument, one that is especially weak on the Eb. These methods
>were written with the Bb in mind, and while they may provide good
>tutelage for the Eb, they would be most useful on the Bb.
>
>He further says...
>"And finally, it is not a different instrument. In fact, it is exactly
>the same instrument - just a smaller, higher pitched version thereof.
>The fingerings are the same, it is blown the same way, and it sounds
>the
>same (at a higher pitch). An Eb clarinet to a 6 or 7 year old, will
>feel
>approximately the same as a Bb clarinet to a 12 year old.
>
>All of the posts on the list about the Eb being 'a different animal'
>etc. is an esoteric discussion of extremely subtle differences that
>are
>of no consequence whatsoever to a beginner. Of course, there are
>subtle
>differences that matter to an advanced player. As there are subtle
>differences between the Bb and the A clarinet, for that matter."
>
>The Bb and the A are not the issue though, the Eb is. Are you saying
>that everyone who has made the statement the Eb and Bb are different
>is
>wrong. Certainly there are noticeable differences between the two
>instruments, and when it came time for a switch the beginner might be
>set back having to re-learn his hand position. Why give a little kid
>anymore set backs than he will already experience?
>
>Further...
>"Again, these differences matter not at all to a beginner who is just
>learning how to hold, blow, finger and read music."
>
>But they will matter when it comes time for the transition.
>
>He continues
>"What does matter is getting musicians started as young as is
>physically
>possible when their learning potential is greatest. That's why
>violinists and pianists start at age two."
>
>Do all these players start at age two? Come on? A two year old needs
>to concern himself more with learning to put sentences together and
>less
>about music. What about the development of these children? Is music
>the paramount thing in their life at this point. NO!! I volunteer at
>an elementary school where we have kids that have problems reading,
>writing, and adding. These are the primary concerns, or should be, of
>an parent of a young child. What good is a virtuoso at age 12 who
>can't
>read his own reviews? There is plenty of time for these kids. And I
>doubt that any sizeable amount of violinists and pianists start at 2.
>
>
>Concluding...
>"The younger the better. No question about it. It has been proven over
>and over again."
>
>Not in all cases. And it has not been proven, in my eyes, by any of
>the
>generalities above. It is clear that there are some prodigies who
>start
>at two and write symphonys (spelling?) at six, but this is a small
>minority. What is really important is teaching a child how to behave,
>how to speak, how to read and write. Music is definitely important,
>but
>not the most important at this age.
>
>Why is it that is a child doesn't start at 5 he will amount to
>nothing?
>That isn't true. It may help, it may hurt -- depending on the child
>--
>but it is by no means essential!
>
>I take this position not to play the devil's advocate, but because I
>feel it is what would be right for the child, and it is how I intend
>to
>treat my own children. It is really the decision of every parent to
>make, and not for me or anyone else to dictate.
>
>Thanks to the list for their indulgence of my long-winded posts on
>this
>issue, but it is one on which I feel very passioniately.
>
>----------------
>Craig Countryman
>cegc@-----.net
>http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1711
>
>Quote of the Day:
>
>"Music is spiritual. The music business is not."
> -Van Morrison
>