Klarinet Archive - Posting 000768.txt from 1997/08

From: "Craig E. G. Countryman" <cegc@-----.net>
Subj: Re: doubling instruments
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:08:52 -0400

I agree that kids should probably stick to one instrument for the first
years. I am a doubler myself (clarinet and tuba), and while I started
on clarinet in 8th grade, I had already been playing tuba and done quite
well with it.

I think the first instrument is the hardest to learn (it was for me
anyway), so when kids try other instruments they may have earlier
success than the first time around.

However, with that success, you may forget some things on the first
instrument. In my case, I am better on clarinet now than I will
probably ever be on tuba. Not that I'm the world's greatest clarinetist
(far from it), but because my attention has been diverted from tuba for
so long, it seems like I've outgrown it. I am losing skills already,
because I don't have the time to put all my effort into both
instruments. So, I chose to put most of my time into clarinet. Only
problem is, I've lost so many of those tuba skills, that except for
marching season, it's almost like I only play one instrument. Kind of
defeated the original purpose of doubling, eh?

Kids might have better success if they stick to all woodwinds, or all
brass, but mixing between the two hasn't worked out quite the way I
planned.

Results do vary though, so my personal experience is only one of many
things to consider.

--
Craig Countryman
cegc@-----.net
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1711
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