Klarinet Archive - Posting 000678.txt from 2003/10

From: Dan Sutherland <dan.sutherland@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Starting a youngster
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 13:13:13 -0500

>>
>
>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.

Isn't the objective that the child learn something? Ponder how your
4,5,6,7, year old spends their day. Now, consider whether you have the
ability to teach that child something. let's say you have ten minutes of
your own time to spend with the child. I doubt you could damage their
dental or muscular structure by having them play clarinet.

Or are the kids lives so rich that they can not fit ten minutes of clarinet
in per day. [Every character on Spongebob will yell loudly whether they
witness it or not.]

>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.

No kidding!!
Routine is the key. Who decides what your child will do next? Eating,
going to school, hygiene, bed time etc.
So,
If you have the tools to teach your child clarinet, pick a regular time to
do so. [I've said this before] Do not worry how he holds his clarinet so
long as the left hand is on top. Write out songs that only use the left
hand. Most national anthems [playing fast and loose with the octaves] and
kids songs can be done left hand only. He could be supporting the
instrument with his feet. Who cares?
He may be the only kid in his class that can play a tune on an instrument.
Self esteem, prestige.

>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.

What is "readiness"? How do you know, if you have not put in a
sustained effort trying?

> Everyone in this thread has had something valuable to say, and I've
> enjoyed reading it. thanks, everyone.

Well, you may change your mind about that, now.

>Patricia Smith

Dan [who started his and other people's children on clarinet at age 5 and
continues to teach his 9 year old and has seen no negative side to the
practice]

>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org