Klarinet Archive - Posting 000452.txt from 1999/08

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Earliest Age to Start Playing Clarinet?
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 05:03:29 -0400

Re languages: the late notorious newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell was a
(rare) but conspicuous exception to this (?) rule.
Re clarinets:
the weight of the instrument and the length of arm required to manage it
is also important for small people - it's not just a matter of the reach
of the fingers. Not being able to hold the instrument in a stable fashion
is pretty bad for a developing embouchure.
Roger Shilcock

On Sun, 15 Aug 1999, Maureen Karpan wrote:

> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 17:04:42 -0700
> From: Maureen Karpan <maureen@-----.com>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Earliest Age to Start Playing Clarinet?
>
> Ed Maurey wrote:
>
> >I have a friend who is a professor of linguistics. He told me that if a
> >person learns a second [or third] language after the age of 10 he will
> >always have a dicernable accent. I wonder if learning to "speak" with a
> >musical instrument is in any way similar?
>
> I have often wondered, too, and agree that there are probably parallels. I
> wonder if the "accent" in speaking and learning to play music after the age
> of 10 is due to poorer motor skills, or poorer listening skills. (It can't
> just be slower learning skills. No matter how much exposure you have to a
> foreign language, if you have not started learning it as a child you will
> probably always be stuck with an accent.) I suspect it is decreased ability
> to listen--to absorb the cadence of a language or music.
>
> For example, besides playing some clarinet I play the Cajun accordion. I
> have a friend who plays too, and although he did not start til the age of
> 35, he grew up in Louisiana till age 18 hearing the music in his family and
> culture. He has the most wonderful Cajun style when he plays, which I
> struggle very hard to achieve.
>
> I've always thought that music programs in our schools should focus much
> time on requiring students to listen to music as well as play. It cannot be
> assumed that concert band students are getting exposure to classical music
> at home, or that stage band students are being exposed to jazz.
>
> Maureen Karpan
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
> Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
> Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
> Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org
>
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org