Klarinet Archive - Posting 000664.txt from 2003/10

From: "Avi Rostov" <musictek@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Starting a Youngster
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 23:37:25 -0400

I just switched a beginner with very tiny hands to a student model Amati.
The G# key is no longer in the way and the horn is noticeably lighter than
the Vito she had. Does anyone know anything about the quality of these
clarinets?

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subject: RE: [kl] Re: Starting a Youngster

> 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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