Klarinet Archive - Posting 000416.txt from 1999/08

From: "Michael D. Moors" <mdmoors@-----.us>
Subj: Re: [kl] Earliest Age to Start Playing Clarinet?
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 01:06:11 -0400

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On the subject of age,

Many students are ready in 5th grade to start clarinet, some in 6th. Why do I
say that???? Of course there are exceptions, but consider the following:

1. Motor skills are more refined at the 5th and 6th grade level.
2. Younger students usually don't have the concentration skills that the
upper
elementary student does. It is a good possibility they will become bored and
frustrated and then quit. It takes discipline to progress at an instrument.
3. You have to take into consideration the ability to cover the tone holes.
I'm not convinced that many parents would buy an eb clarinet, even if it was a
good option. There is a kinder clarinet on the market now, in all honesty
I've
never played one. It still won't help motor skills. Tapping your foot, using
your fingers, reading music and tonging uses your entire brain. It takes
concentration too.

I believe that it's better to wait until upper elementary to undertake playing
a clarinet. It's hard enough to get a practice routine going then. I think
fewer bad habits will develop. Kids are pulled so many ways with sports,
peer
pressure and MTV!! hehehe Btw, I teach elementary band in addition to my
clarinet addiction.

Mike Moors

At 06:06 PM 8/14/1999 -0600, you wrote:
>I started playing just after I turned 8. I've never had any problems of any
>sort, physically, nor while playing. I was fairly accomplished (the school
>pushed us hard), by nine.
>
>
>At 08:43 AM 8/15/99 +1000, you wrote:
>>Tara Nicole wrote:
>>"I've been playing the Bb for nine years...I'll be 18 in January."
>>
>>This prompts a question which has long intrigued me.
>>Is there any earliest age before which it is inadvisable for someone to
>>begin playing a clarinet?
>>I've heard of 9 year-olds (never younger) successfully taking up the
>>clarinet and going on to become accomplished professionals eg. Emma Johnson.
>>However, I've also heard teachers claim that 12/13 years should be the
>>earliest age to start for various reasons, such as the instrument is too
>>heavy to handle earlier, and the mouth and teeth not properly strengthened
>>for effective embouchure development.
>>I realise that different physical structures will be a factor, but is there
>>an informed common view on this?
>>Michael
>>
>>
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>
>
>-Michael J. Lu
>MJL@-----.com
>
> "Don't suck, blow."
> -Mike Snell, 1998
>
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/ O
Michael D. Moors
http://edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu/~mmoors/

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