Klarinet Archive - Posting 000333.txt from 1997/08

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: How young is too young?
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 23:35:42 -0400

Craig Countryman wrote:

>I didn't say that you couldn't get an Eb, but I do believe Cs aren't all
>that common.

If by common you mean on the shelf at the local music store, I suppose you
are right. But they certainly are readily available from all manufacturers
and their resellers. Just a phone call away.

>
>Also, I don't see why anyone would want to invest in one instrument,
>simply to have to invest in another a short time later. It just doesn't
>make sense to buy two instruments, when you only need one.

What does need mean? You don't actually "need" any, if you don't want to
play the clarinet.

The discussion here is about how young is the optimal time to start a
clarinetist for the best possible results on average. However, as I have
already stated, it is empirical fact (not opinion) that wind players who
start younger do better on average. Furthermore, it is a physical fact
that the Bb clarinet holes etc are too large for most five-, six- or
seven-year-olds.

>
>I maintain my statement that the Eb Clarinet is a different animal.
>There are many techniques you use for it that don't work on Bb, and vice
>versa.

Not true at a beginner's level. And generally not very true at any level.
I think I can play the Eb pretty respectably, and I have never made any
large or significant adjustments (other than the same types of adjustments
I would make in going from one Bb clarinet to another Bb clarinet).
Certainly, any of the adjustments that I make are of absolutely no
consequence (or even within the realm of the possible) for a beginner.

>
>"In fact, it is exactly the same instrument - just a smaller, higher
>pitched version thereof."
>
>I disagree. It is not exactly the same instrument, and if you treat it
>exactly the same way you just aren't going to have the success you would
>if you recognized the differences between them.
>

Saying so, doesn't make it so, unfortunately. Again, the Eb has the same
holes, the same fingerings, the same mouthpiece, reed, etc. And you blow
it the same way. It is the same instrument of a smaller size (just like a
Suzuki 1/8 size violin is). I challenge you to name (specifically) one
single difference between the Eb and the Bb clarinet that is of consequence
to a small beginner.

>I am opposed to starting kids as early as physically possible, because
>there just isn't a reason in my opinion. I started clarinet at 12, and
>I compete against people who started at 9 and younger; I'm pretty happy
>with how I'm doing. That's just my opinion, and that's how I would
>treat the situation.
>

The fact that you see no reason for starting kids younger is irrelevant to
the discussion. Reasons have already been presented in this discussion,
the key one being that on average the players turn out better. Anecdotal
evidence is irrelevant in discussing what is best on average. I started at
age 10, but so what! The facts are the facts, what you or I did has no
bearing on them. And you are also welcome to be opposed to starting kids
as early as possible, but the fact that you hold this opinion does not
change the fact that starting younger IS better from the point of view of
developing better musicians.

>If, however, I did want to start them as early as possible I wouldn't
>start them on another instrument. It just doesn't make sense. Start a
>kid on the instrument they want to play and then they can stick with
>it. Saying that two instruments of different size are exactly the same
>is simply not true!! There is an adjustment. Why make a kid who is
>learning the basics of technique, tone, and articulation have the added
>concern of adjusting to a new instrument?

We've been over this ground a few times.

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