Klarinet Archive - Posting 000663.txt from 2003/10

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Starting a youngster
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 23:28:35 -0400

Stacy-Michelle wrote:

> I wonder where Julian Bliss would be today if people thought 4 was too young...
>

Stacy does make something of a point.

However, Karl's point is not to say that the age of seven is ABSOLUTELY
ALWAYS too young. I think he's saying that IN GENERAL it is too young,
and most seven year olds have neither the physical characteristics in
their hands, teeth and mouth structure, nor the attention span and
multitasking ability across their attention span to be able to start the
clarinet at that age.

Case in point: I've tried to start my eight year old son on clarinet.
in some ways, Brian is ready. His finger pads are well-developed
enough. His sense of pitch and overall interest in music are
impeccable. However, his teeth are a bit problematic, and he has trouble
staying focused in the home environment. He also has trouble
establishing a regular practice routine. Naturally that last has to
often be done by the parent, a fact that has not escaped me.

Now, to go to another side of this discussion (every discussion always
has at least three sides): I too began on piano, and I have not for one
moment regretted doing so. This has given me the advantage of learning
to hear harmonically, as well as melodically, and vertically as well as
horizontally.

I do think, on the whole, an individual person's readiness to learn a
task is the ultimate deciding factor. Everyone in this thread has had
something valuable to say, and I've enjoyed reading it. thanks, everyone.

Patricia Smith

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