 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 1999-06-24 09:30
My daughter is 8. Is she too young to learn the clarinet?
I've been told that the embouchure can cause problems if she hasn't got all her adult teeth yet. I've heard that the Lyons C Clarinet is small and light and good to start learning on.
Anybody any ideas?
Eoin
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Author: simon
Date: 1999-06-26 19:49
You have raise two very interesting points. 1) Age, 2) Lyons C Clarinets.
I do much of teaching in England and most of my students start at 8 or 9 years old. All progress at a steady rate and remain enthusiastic as there lessons move at a steady pace. Some have not got their front adult teeth and I have combated this problem with a softer reed for the months when they are without front teeth, normally about 6 months.
As for the Lyons C Clarinets I would stay well clear! I hated teaching it!!!!!! They were a very good idea because of their weight/size/durability and the they are in C so can play the same music as recorders and flutes but it is extremely difficult to produce note in the upper register, and it is questionable if they sound like a clarinet. The problem seems to be with the left hand E/B.
If your daughter has small hands and can not handle the weight you could try the new Buffet B10. Is a light weight version of the B12. You could combine this with a strap attached to the thumb rest. She may experience problems with the right hand lower notes but with imagination from the teacher she should be able to overcome this problem.
My final advice is if your daughter loves the sounds of the clarinet then nobody should stop her. I hope this is the case.
Good luck.
If you would like any help please e-mail me.
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Author: Kyle Jubenville
Date: 1999-07-11 19:37
Also, You might want look into the Kinder Klarinette. The Woodwind and the Barsswind sell it for under 300 dollars I think. It is a real Clarinet, except it is pitched in Eb, so it is like a Eb Soprano. I have never seen one in person, but Maybe you might want to look into that. Just go to wwandbw.com and go to the Woodwind part.
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Author: rina
Date: 1999-08-13 07:31
Dear Eoin
Age 8 is perhaps young, but is more dependent on whether your daughter is physically the right size to cover the keys. If she is able to, and has a very patient tutor, it's no problem to learn (I have taught age 8 students, but had to take them very slowly).
Motivation is another problem. Because it takes them longer to cover notes, they progress slower, and perhaps need a lot of parental encouragement / supervision to make sure that they keep up the playing at home. At that age, they are apt to forget fingerings very quickly.
Clarinet sizes - There is a "kiddie clarinet" on the market, which I would advise against for a few reasons.
1) It does not have all the keys a "real" clarinet does, and can cause problems when she moves onto a proper instrument
2) Being an E-flat instrument, it causes all sorts of tuning problems of its own, and creates havoc when she moves onto a B flat clarinet.
3) It's a smaller instrument but for some reason, requires a bit more air pressure and technique!
If your daughter is really keen to start, make sure she can cover the holes on a descant recorder first. Perhaps it would be a good idea for her to take lessons on that for six months, by which time she could well have grown enough to play a B flat clarinet.
hope this has helped.
I'm in Australia, so I don't know about tutors in your neck of the woods.
Good luck, reply if you need more info, I do have several years of experience under my belt.
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Author: jose
Date: 2000-03-01 22:58
is more esay to play the B falt clarinet because the C clarinet is made to play higher notes and play the clarinet to young don't a fect the theet
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