Klarinet Archive - Posting 000651.txt from 2003/10

From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Starting a Youngster
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:24:15 -0400

FWIW, I've worked in programs that started students in 4th, 5th, 6th, and
7th grades. Schools that started in the 7th grade, in one school, had
Tonnette (sp?) and various noise-making "percussion things" in lower
classes, by roving general music teachers. (While it did give them a heads
up on music notation and rhythm, I personally dispise them -- Tonnettes.
Played in a large group, they make my teeth itch.)

The local high school where I live now (and assist with the woodwinds)
starts in the 7th grade. I've recently taken a 6th grade student to start,
and I've got to work with the MS band director to see how he's going to deal
with her next year. They have no 6th grade band classes, and 7th graders
are complete beginners. There is at least one instance here where a 7th
grader moved in from a school that started 6th grade students. The school
accommodated him in the 8th grade band. I'm not sure of the mechanism, and
it was before the latest round of State- and Federally-imposed meddling.

My (very generalized) findings were that because of size of hands and
attention span deficites, the students started in the 4th and 5th grade were
rarely ahead of those in the 7th grade, by the time they got to high school.
The 6th graders actually did demonstrate some level of standing above those
started in the 7th grade. I did not find there was a higher attrition rate
of older students, defecting to sports.

We had a very interesting student, in one school, who played tuba quite
well. He also played football. His father had his uniform waiting in the
dressing room. The coach and I had an accommodation. He would leave the
field five minutes before half-time, get into his uniform, and be ready to
pick up his tuba and carrier from one of the managers, before we were ready
to come onto the field. (Of course, he had to have his uniform cleaned
every Monday morning, due to sweat stains. <g>) He played full-time in
concert season.

We have two students in marching band who also play soccer, now. The coach
& the band director worked out some time-sharing program for these two
students. I was surprised at the level of bon ami between the two
departments, here. The 4th day of band camp, I looked up and saw the entire
football team jogging up the hill toward the band practice field from their
own. A raised eyebrow to the director, and he said, oh, they're coming up
to see the contest routine. And they did. Tucked themselves all along one
side of the field. Were very complimentary of the band. I've watched them
during the games, and if they're not playing, they'll turn around and watch
and listen when the band plays in the stands. A most interesting
arrangement.

Sorry I wandered off the topic. I meant to say, while students can be
started whenever they are physically able and mentally willing to learn. It
is important to determine what situation they are going into at school. If
all they ever intend to do is study with a private teacher and perform in
recitals; whether alone or with other students of the same teacher, then
it's not a consideration. If they're going into the school setting, the
teacher needs to consider that. I can assure you that neither the student
nor the parent has.

Sorry for babbling along so long. Jim Hobby

>From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
>
> ...I still say start em in 4th grade if possible.
>
>I don't think anyone suggested a 4th grader (9-10 years old) couldn't
handle
>a clarinet. It was a 7 year old that had some of us expressing
reservations.

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