Klarinet Archive - Posting 000372.txt from 1997/08

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: How young is too young?
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 12:09:32 -0400

My E flat certainly does *not* have the same fingerings as my B flat - not
if I want to play anything like in tune in the top register. So what am I
doing wrong?
Roger Shilcock
#

On Sat, 9 Aug 1997, Jonathan Cohler wrote:

> Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 19:49:08 -0400
> From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: Re: How young is too young?
>
> Craig Countryman wrote:
>
> >C Clarinet may be a possibility, but how many of those are availible to
> >be sold on demand. It is a hard to find instrument these days.
> >Further, why should someone invest in a smaller clarinet, only to buy a
> >bigger one a couple years later?
> >
> >Eb Clarinet music is very hard to find also. You could use Bb music I
> >suppose, but it is not always suited to the special properties of the
> >Eb. If my statement is so invalid then why hasn't such a method popped
> >up for clarinet?
> >
> >Just my thoughts. Take them or leave them. I just can't see teaching a
> >kid on instrument only to make him learn a whole other one a year or so
> >later.
> >
> >----------------
> >Craig Countryman
> >cegc@-----.net
> >http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1711
> >
> >Quote of the Day:
> >
> >"Conscience is the inner voice which warns us
> > that someone may be looking." -H. L. Mencken
>
> 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.
>
> To answer some of your specific comments above:
>
> Both C clarinets and Eb clarinets are readily available from all of the
> major manufacturers.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Again, these differences matter not at all to a beginner who is just
> learning how to hold, blow, finger and read music.
>
> 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.
>
> The younger the better. No question about it. It has been proven over and
> over again.
>
> -------------------
> Jonathan Cohler
> cohler@-----.net
>
>
>