Klarinet Archive - Posting 000936.txt from 2004/07

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Advice needed on young clarinet student wanting to learn sax
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 23:32:54 -0400


> Teach her what you can on the sax without sacrificing more than
> necessary on the clarinet. Suggest to her mother that she should keep =
an
> eye open for any signs that the girl is over-extended, that it's a
> concern you have, but that the three of you can take a "let's see what
> happens" approach. Then, see what happens.
>=20
> What she does at school is really up to the teacher there. Lots of
> schools begin band instrument lessons in 4th grade and strings even
> earlier. In many cases a 5th grade start is based more on economics
> (fewer teachers are needed) than pedagogy. If she's ready now, never
> mind what is permitted in the local school.
>=20
> Karl Krelove

Thanks Karl, I think your advice is good. Our school system does start
strings in 4th grade and band instruments in 5th grade. I do know all =
the
band directors and have mentioned this situation to some of them before. =
I
think that from their viewpoint, the danger is that if kids start too =
early,
they are bored with it all by the time they get to high school but I =
think
that if music is truly a passion for a person, one never tires of it. I
also think it's simply a bit of a pain for them to have one or two kids =
they
have to modify their program a bit for. =20
I just have to monitor the situation to make sure it's the child who
really wants to do this and not the Mom making up her mind for her.
However, I'll have to say that I do think this girl is very into her =
music.
The Mom had the little sister try some piano this summer and after 3
lessons, she was done with it. The Mom had no problem with having the
younger one quit when she showed no interest. We'll just have to see =
what
happens when we add a bit of that third instrument to her lesson time. =
I
suppose that the learning of each instrument simply serves to reinforce =
the
general music skills we are working on. I just hope she'll be able to
handle the different fingerings. Christy =20

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