Klarinet Archive - Posting 000046.txt from 1998/09

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Children and Clarinet Playing
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 11:12:46 -0400

On Wed, 2 Sep 1998, Jack Kissinger wrote:

> 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.

I believe that what is being referred to is not that the Eb is any more
diffcult because of the fingering system, but because the smaller
instrument makes control of pitch, tone and response more critical. The
tolerances as to variability are greater on a larger instrument. The same
holds true, for example, in the piccolo as compared to the flute or even
the alto flute, the contrabassoon as compared to the bassoon, the English
horn as compared to the oboe, etc.

Any parallels to Suzuki violin are tenuous at best, because of the fact
that the breathing mechanism is required to produce a sound on a wind
instrument, and a certain degree of physical maturity is required in order
to control the inhalation and exhalation, the pressure and velocity of the
air. Suzuki-type instruction exists for the flute, but my observation is
that the jury is still out on this one. Some believe strongly in it, some
others question its effectiveness. Even so, the breath pressure required
to play the flute is very different than that required for the clarinet
and even more so the Eb clarinet.

> [.....] 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.

Here I am completely in agreement.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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