Klarinet Archive - Posting 000311.txt from 1998/02

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Starting on E-Flat?
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 17:41:22 -0500

Rick Lones wrote:

> Wow - thanks for all the thoughtful responses. I'd like to explain a couple of points about
> where I'm coming from on this:
>
> 1) I tend to agree in principle with those who think that 8 is too young. I thought that 5 was
> too young for her to start piano, but she was the one who brought it up so her mother and I felt
> we should at least look into it. Conclusion after 2 1/2 years: She's serious enough that she's
> stayed with it and is willing to practice regularly. Musically I'd rate her progress
> "satisfactory": Certainly not untalented, and she obviously enjoys playing, but no kind of
> prodigy either. The only reason we'd even consider letting her start clarinet this young is the
> same reason we let her start piano - she asked on her own initiative.
>

We have alot in common here, though the process started for my daughter at ages 7 (with the piano)
and 9 (with the clarinet). (She's 10 now.) If your daughter weren't already playing piano, I would
probably agree with those who have suggested that's the best place to start. Given, her music
reading ability and her interest though, she sounds ready to me. One suggestion (which you probably
already know), keep the practice sessions short at first -- 10 to 15 minutes once or twice a day
until her embochure has a chance to develop.

> 2) If she starts the instrument, then quickly tires of it and puts it down, there's no problem
> with that as far as we're concerned. Maybe she'd pick it up again when older, better to wait
> and see than to force her to continue and risk a lifelong disenchantment with music. There's no
> agenda to create a professional musician or to give her a jump on other kids. It would be kind
> of neat if she stuck with it - town band would be another thing we could do together - but I can
> live just fine with the idea that it may not work out that way.

Our position exactly. And the clarinet, in particular, is "just for fun."

> 3) I don't much buy the notion that the most important aspect of student music is the social
> one. I don't remember it that way for myself, anyhow.
>

I don't remember that the social aspect was particularly important until high school. High school
band was a major social event. But the best musicians were the focus, not outcasts, because they
became the leaders and "insiders."

> 4) My reference to seeing "cons" about the E-Flat idea had to do with reservations that a
> couple of you mentioned, namely whether she would develop persistent intonation problems and/or
> have difficulty producing a good tone. As for the sounds that would be emanating from her room
> - well, if you have a beginning clarinetist in the house, your dog just has to learn to live
> with being jumpy. :) Squeaks will happen no matter what the instrument. I'm inclined to doubt
> that E-Flat squawks are that much worse than B-Flat ones. Could be tragically wrong about that,
> though.

I disagree with those who have responded that the eefer is a different instrument with special
problems. It has the same keys, rings and tone holes (unless you use the "kinder" clarinet a couple
of people have mentioned) as a Bb. The smaller bore may give it a bit more back-pressure but with
an appropriate mouthpiece and the right reeds a child can play it just fine. When Jessie started, I
was concerned that her hands were too small for a Bb clarinet and that the weight might prove a
problem. I suggested an Eb to her teacher (who plays with the St. Louis Symphony, teaches at the

Symphony Music School, and is wonderfully laid back). She said that she had started some young
children on Eb but that she felt Jessie's hands were large enough for the Bb. We used a strap for
awhile to deal with the weight problem but Jessie almost never uses that anymore either. She still
likes to play my eefer occasionally just for fun and has no trouble at all producing a good tone.

I also can't buy into the theories that kids will develop intonation problems if they start on the
Eb. I started on a metal clarinet that was a good (?) half-tone flat (in later years, I've often
wondered if it was really an A) and had no trouble when I finally got a step-up instrument.
Thousands of other kids did too. Does playing a C recorder foul up kids when they take up
clarinet? I doubt it. (Though I've heard there can be problems with children who naturally have
perfect pitch.) Jessie started on a sopranino (F) recorder a couple of years ago (because of her
hand size) and has had no problems switching to soprano (C) for school.

By the way, there may not be as many squawks as you think. Our dog actually stays in the room with
Jessie when she is practicing. Occasionally, the dog may choose to sing along if the notes get too
high or too loud but she seldom leaves. (When I practice, on the other hand, she usually heads for
the hills.)

Warm regards,

Jack Kissinger
St. Louis