Klarinet Archive - Posting 000591.txt from 2003/10

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Starting a youngster
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 22:57:07 -0400

I must add my own opinion here and I do agree that 7 is probably too young
for a full-size clarinet. You may have better luck with an eefer but I
would stronly advise starting the child on piano. I'm a bit biased since I
play and teach both instruments but I think all kids ought to start with the
piano. They learn their notation, the keyboard, rhythms and all the other
basics they need to learn to play any instrument. Once they can read the
music, most kids have a very easy time learning to play just about any other
instrument. My daughter knew how to put the clarinet together and how to
make a sound at around 4 or 5 but she was simply not big enough to play it
seriously. I waited until she was in 5th grade and had her start along with
her friends and most of the band director's kids I know do the same. I did
have a student once who couldn't produce a sound on the clarinet for the
first month of lessons. She was a third grader(about 8 at the time).
However, once she did figure it out, she did very well. Christy

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