Klarinet Archive - Posting 000007.txt from 2010/02

From: "rien stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] suzuki method
Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:27:26 -0500

Deborah Shaw wrote
<<
I am going to be teaching lessons to a 10 year old beginner. I don't
want to use the same book that I use with my 12 year old band students.
My question is this: Is there a Suzuki clarinet method book available?
Any other suggestions?
>>

Dear Deborah

In my experience all methods now in use lack the register change in an early
stage. It takes six months or more before the student goes up from A or
B-flat to "long" B. It doesn't matter what age the pupil is, it is very
difficult to change from register. To me this was a source of vexation. When
last September I gor two new pupils, one eleven years ols, the other one
seven years (playing the Lyon's C clarinet) I decided to circumvent this
problem, and changed to good old Demnitz. I agree: this is in itself a
boring method, fit for adults, not for children. But I supplemented it with
songs they now and had to play by heart, that I took from "A Tune a day",
"Horen, Lezen Spelen" ("hear, listen, play", published by De Haske,
Herenveen, The Netherlands) and other sources, even including church songs.
Of course that demanded a lot of searching and rewriting on my side, but the
rewards are great: Second or third (I can look it up) lesson they went over
the break.

Both pupils are now already participating in the youth orchestra of my band
(I had to rewrite much of the music for the Lyon's clarinet), and have less
problems then any of my pupils before, though those entered the YO in a much
later stage.

And they are so enthousiastic!

Hope this helps.

Ciao

Rien

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