Klarinet Archive - Posting 000031.txt from 2006/07

From: "David Blumberg" <blummy@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Need some advice on teaching an 8-year-old.
Date: Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:44:33 -0400

I would advise to start the child on either a Lyons C Clarinet (they are
modified for really small children and are pretty cheap costing too!) or a
Kinder-Clari which is an Eb Clarinet which was also modified for very small
players and doesn't have any of the resistance that an Eb has.
Both are very, very free blowing so resistance is a non-issue. Practically
speaking, probably using the Eb Kinder you would find more playable music as
you can use Alto Sax books which wouldn't go high like the C Flute books
would for fun CD playalong materials.

I own both and have had great success with both also. The Kinder-clari is
probably the more appealing of the two for a young player (cool case and is
smaller).
My daughter started at age 4 with the Kinder-Clari.

Whatever you do, keep the reeds light strength until the student is ready to
go higher. Don't go to a #3 for a while! (and be sure to use a quality
reed - at least a mitchel lurie instead of the "chainsaw" generic brand).

David Blumberg
http://www.mytempo.com

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