 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Markael
Date: 2005-04-28 15:36
What do you think of pre-band programs?
And, when is a kid ready to play clarinet?
I had a student who started playing in pre-band. Just this week he had his last lesson with me because of overcommitment, but he'll be back. We have a good relationship.
He has some terrible habits that I think were formed in pre-band when he wasn't ready to learn clarinet. Now they are hard to break. His mother and I discussed this openly, and she agrees.
For one thing, he blows in the manner of a little kid blowing out birthday candles. I told him that his exhaling reminds me of someone operating one of those hand bicycle pumps. He should instead pretend that he is an air compressor at the gas station. He is bright and understands the concept.
I had another student for a brief time who was a fourth grader. He brought in one of those clarinets from Sam's Club. I didn't teach him much of anything. In his way this kid actually had a little attitude with me. I have had very few students with attitude. Being his teacher was such an unproductive experience that I'm thinking I might refuse to teach clarinet to any more fourth graders--but then again, I distrust overly rigid rules.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Markael
Date: 2005-04-28 16:31
I wasn't sure I could answer your question, so I went to the school's website. It's a private school, with, I think, a strong academic reputation. I clicked on curriculum and found nary a word about band.
Ill see what I can find out. In the meantime, maybe someone else on the board has heard of pre-band.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-04-28 19:55
I had the joy of being the first clarinet teacher for my studio manager's little daughter. (I wonder who he had teach her to drive.)
She was so small that we put her on an Eb soprano clarinet so that she could cover the tone holes. It worked out ok; but then, the bosses' daughter comes with some pressures.
BTW: I had another studen, an excellent alto sax player, who couldn't hit the tone holes on her clarinet and gave up in frustration. She had super technique on the sax, tho. Hey, maybe our tone holes are misplaced.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
