Klarinet Archive - Posting 000040.txt from 1998/09

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Children and Clarinet Playing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 09:31:18 -0400

Matt Palasik wrote:

> Eb are more dificult to play then a Bb. Just becase they are smaller doesn't make them better for smaller people.

I have to disagree here. Eb clarinets have the same fingering system, don't they. While it is true that they have a smaller bore, a parent/teacher can compensate for this by using a close mouthpiece and soft reed. Fingering may be
more difficult for adults with large hands, but the Eb's smaller mouthpiece and finger spacing actually make the eefer "fit" smaller children better in many cases.

> A younger student is best served learning on a Bb. for several reasons.
> 1 it is the most used of the clarinet family

But anything learned on the Eb BY A BEGINNER PLAYING MOSTLY IN THE CHALUMEAU AND LOWER CLARION REGISTERS is transferrable. By your reasoning children shouldn't be able to do very well if they start on small-sized violins. The Suzuki
school disproves that. My daughter started at age 9 on a Bb but, on occasion, I have let her play my Eb and she has no trouble making the transition -- in particular, no difficulty producing a good tone.

> 2. it is in my oppinion the easiest to play

For adults, perhaps. In the upper clarion and altissimo ranges, perhaps. But not necessarily for someone with very small hands/fingers working in the lower range of the instrument.

> 3. There are many student models at low cost available for Bb. I have
> never heard of a student model Eb

Oh yes you have. See (4). Also, Selmer used to make plastic Bundy Eb's and, I believe Yamaha still does.

> 4. there is a type of beginer clarinet called a Kiddie Clarinet.
> I dont know too much about them but I have heard they are designed a
> little different so younger smaller children can play them more easily.

The "kinder" clarinet available through e.g., the Woodwind and Brasswind is, in fact, a plastic eefer with a somehat simplified fingering system.) The Lyons (any relation to the original poster?) children's clarinet, made in England,
is pitched in C.

> What age depends on the child.
> The child must have these qualifications
> 1. the responsibility to take care of the instrument
> 2. The childs muscles must be developed enough to push the mechanisms
> and maintain an emobochure
> 3. The childs hand eye coordination must be developed enmogh to read
> music and play at the same time.
>
> Most public schools start children around the 4th grade Around 10 or
> 11. This is a safe number. BUt depending on the child a year or two
> younger would be possible.
>

I agree and, despite all I've said above, I think children are better served starting young on the piano for an instrument and/or a recorder for a wind instrument. That said, IMNSHO, if a child is really motivated to play clarinet at
an early age (say 5,6 or 7, perhaps by a parent or sib who plays the instrument) and if an Eb is available (and, as I recall, at least one list member here keeps two of them to loan to her smaller students) or the parents are willing
to bear the cost, there is no reason not to let a child experiment with an Eb. Just make sure you keep the practice sessions very short in the beginning and give the child good supervision.

My two cents.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

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