 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Greg C
Date: 2003-02-17 03:17
I'm the father of a 9-year-old girl who has absolutely no prior musical knowledge, and yet has been chosen to play a Clarinet in her school's junior band. She's been loaned a school-owned Yamaha clarinet for this year.
With the instrument, she also got a starter's instruction book on basic scales, tunes and of course the finger positions for all the notes. When I assembled and tried a few positions, I was dismayed at how difficult it was. I always seemed to have one or more fingers touching a lever or hole when I didn't want to, which of course produced a note totally different to the one I was trying to play.
So far, my daughter has just practiced blowing into the mouthpiece and trilling a few levers to make some interesting sounds. She's actually been more successful than me at producing notes. Her lessons start tomorrow at school.
Although I don't play any instrument myself, I can read basic music, and of course have a good appreciation of it. What advice can anyone give me to help my daughter progress and enjoy her new experience with music and the clarinet? How often should she practice, how many reeds will she need, and should we give her private lessons to supplement her school lessons?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Author: Benny
Date: 2003-02-17 04:07
First and foremost, don't force her to practice. If she doesn't want to and is forced to, playing the clarinet will not be a happy experience. However, regular practice is important. Five times a week will probably be enough for starters. Start practicing for 10-15 minutes at first and gradually increase as she progresses.
If you can purchase reeds by the reed, you should probably get three strength 2 and three strength 2.5 reeds for starters. If you have to buy a whole box, just get strength 2. Rico Royal reeds are good for beginners and they are not terribly expensive. You should also make sure you have a swab and a tube of cork grease.
Private lessons are really something to be considered. I always recommend them to beginners. The school band teacher usually knows how to play many instruments, but you probably don't know if clarinet is his/her main instrument. For example you could be taking clarinet lessons from a drummer. Private lessons are probably best in addition to school lessons. After a few weeks of private lessons your daughter will most likely be bored with what she is learning in school band - I remember I was.
Good luck and happy clarineting!
Benny
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-02-17 04:19
Definately get her into private lessons if you want her to excell at this instrument. Band directors graduate with a concentration on one (and sometimes more) particular instrument (although they must learn to play them all before completion of their degree), so it is very possible that this director doesn't know all of the answers to questions she or you may have. Additionally, it will be with a private instructor that you will see if she really has the desire to learn the instrument and sacrifice her time for practicing the fundamentals needed for proper developement rather than just joining the band because all the other popular kids are. If she does have an earnest desire to succeed, a private instructor will aid in her advancing to higher positions/parts within the band which will put her a leg ahead when it comes to her entrance into high school and college ensembles as well as auditions for scholarships in the future. (Never hurts to plan ahead!)
Good luck and I hope she (and you) does well!
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2003-02-17 04:59
Another vote for private lessons!
Start the practice with short sessions and gradually build to a half hour a day. At first her mouth and face will hurt from the unusual use of the muscles, but endurance will come. Be aware also of pressure on the right thumb from the thumb rest. Clarinet players develop a callus there. If she has a lot of pain there, (I did) there are neck straps available today. Have the private teacher play the school instrument to be sure all is well with it. Some of those are the worse for wear from the "band wars." Be tolerant of the squeeks and other noise made by a beginner clarinetist, these will pass in time and you will be surprised at how good it sounds. Buy her a recording or 2 of clarinet music (maybe some Benny Goodman or Richard Stoltzman, or anyone else you find,) listen for clarinet on TV, that's a clarinet (or a synthiszer sounding like one) on the "Law and Order" theme music. If you get the Welk show on public TV, Henry Questa does a solo on most of those shows, the really old Welks have Pete Fountain playing.
Good luck to her, I started playing in 1961, and though I had an 18 year layoff from clarinet, I also sing and have been continuously involved in music since then. I am married to a pianist and singer, our only child, a son, is a college freshman studying clarinet. Music can be a great joy!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-02-17 12:46
My beginners start the first week with just the reed, ligature, mouthpiece and barrel.
The idea is to get a stable sound (which may not be pleasant) for 30 seconds in duration.
This 'duck call' is enough to teach the player about tone.
The next step is to get a neckstrap for the smaller kids, clarinets can be rather heavy. I suggest the Ton Kooiman 'Etude' thumbrest for kids that won't tolerate a neckstrap.
I also suggest the Legere Synthetic reed with either the Hite Premier or Fobes Nova mouthpieces.
Synthetic reeds are more 'fault tolerant' to rough handling.
They outlast natural cane 10:1 so they're reasonable in total cost.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-02-17 14:02
I can't imagine a nine year old learning to play clarinet without private lessons.......
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Author: Rick
Date: 2003-02-17 14:02
Ditto on the private lessons:
The clarinet is an amazing instrument, but those first weeks and months can shape a person's opinion for a lifetime. A good teacher can smooth over the hurdles, make sure the instrument and MP are correct and easily solve the thousands of little isues that can pop up.
Tell her best of luck!
Rick
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-02-17 14:10
Speaking as a parent, I know how hard it is to get kids to practice. There are real children, I am told, (not necessarily alien space creatures masquerading as such) who actually enjoy practising, are self motivated and disciplined. The normal child though is approximately 180 degrees from this. Now for parents, there is a happy medium between total laissez faire and "forcing" a child to practice. At the age of 9, she will not necessarily have either the physical stamina, or the concentration required to go even as short a time period as 15 minutes. IMHO, the most important thing about learning to play an instrument is frequency and consistency of practising. Amazing progress can be made by kids with very, very short practise sessions - e.g.5 minutes, but every single day (well, maybe a day off on the weekends is ok). Try to have the practice session at the same time (e.g. before breakfast, or just after coming home from school). And some firmness and resolve on the part of the parent (i.e. some "forcing") is required - but with such short sessions, this should not become a problem.
I might wait a bit for private lessons. Too much, too fast and she may feel overwhelmed. Maybe wait until next year. Pace her (and yourself) - music and the role of music in enriching her life, this is a long term, lifetime proposition.
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-02-17 14:19
Greg
I need to amend something I just posted. About private lessons. Because of all the tricky technical stuff that your daughter will need to learn on the clarinet, and because you don't want her to have to "unlearn" wrong positions or bad habits, a few private lessons are truly a good idea. What I was trying to say earlier, is don't put her under the pressure of weekly lessons with a demanding teacher and lots of assigned material. That part can wait.
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Author: Bryan
Date: 2003-02-17 14:21
I'd suggest getting a copy of Avrahm Galper's Method book. The Galper Method starts off easy, builds skills in logical progression, and provides a good foundation for later study with Klose and other traditional method books.
http://www.avrahm-galper.woodwind.org/
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Author: Ben
Date: 2003-02-17 18:13
Make sure her instrument is in good playing condition as soon as possible!!!
Have a clarinet repairman check it out. Even an accomplished clarinetist would have a difficult if not an impossible time trying to play an instrument which is not in working condition. Things to note are:
-all pads sealing (should be able to close all keys on a joint with one hand, while putting the bottom of the joint firmly against your palm in your other hand, while sucking the air out from the top of the joint (make sure lips are tight against the clarinet), creating a vacume. It should hold this pressure on both joints for at least 5 secconds.)
-springs lightened where neccesary. Almost all clarinets have the springs to strong initially. Keeping them this way can lead to bad finger technique and phisically inparring hand problems latter on.They should not be so light that they can be blown open while playing. Somewhere in the middle is best.
- A good mouthpiece and reeds. A good private teacher would probibly be helpfully in selcecting a mouthpiece and understanding reeds. The better the mouthpiece and reeds she has, the better her sound quality and ease of playing will be, allowing her to enjoy the instrument even more. Often the best place to start looking for a private teacher is if you are near a professional symphony orchestra, or University with a music program.
Good luck!
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2003-02-17 18:21
Good practice is the key and lessons are the key to learning to practice. I have actually have taken lessons with my kids on several instruments. They love getting better than me and I have more ability to help them progress. We used to have family practice, with a family band.
I just started voice lessons with my non-clarinet son. We practice together some of the time. I really enjoyed playing duets with my clarinet son, but he has outgrown me (a good thing) and has a wonderful duet partner.
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Author: Simon
Date: 2003-02-17 21:52
Greg,
There has been more than enough replies, however I wouls strongly suggest that your daughter should have private lessons with a good teacher.
Young kids are very quick learners and you don't want her to learn all the bad habbits by practacing on her own. The teacher will be able to set up a systematic program and within weeks you will notice positive progress.
Good luck
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Author: Meri
Date: 2003-02-17 23:19
Also, if the instrument doesn't have one already, replace the thumbrest with an adjustable one, or, in the very least, have it positioned so that it is opposite the index finger.
It really makes a difference in hand position, in allowing them to keep their fingers curved naturally and in the lowest right-hand extension keys.
Don't forget a good quality mouthpiece and, as others have said, an instrument in good adjustment.
Meri
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Author: Kat
Date: 2003-02-18 03:13
Simon just reminded me about the bad habit problems! I've had a student twice now who has progressed fairly quickly with in-school lessons. She's able to play from low e up to "high" c, but still can't toungue correctly! It's almost murder to get her to tongue ONE note correctly! I'm at my wits' end, but she may not remain a student much longer, since the lessons are through an arrangement with her school and the store where I teach. For each rental instrument they get 4 free lessons with a teacher at the store. I almost hope she doesn't want to continue because this is the TOUGHEST habit to try to break!
Katrina
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2003-02-18 05:45
I agree with a number of things said here.
1st - Practice should be brief and not forced.
2nd - A decent, low cost mouthpiece like the Hite Premier or the Fobes debut (I personally love the Fobes) can be very helpful
3rd - Private lessons. These can be great to escape the boring world of whole notes and whole rests in favor of getting down to work.
One additional piece of advice that I would offer is that you NOT buy an instrument outright until you find her successful in fingering it. Young children--especially girls--often have difficulties in covering the tone holes completely. The fit varies with the brand, and switching models could solve such a problem if it occurs.
Two items which you might fine useful -
Clarinet Tipbook - A recent publication distributed by Hal Leonard, I think. Has tons of info that you might find useful.
WB "Ultimate Beginner" Video or DVD - Warner Bros. produces some excellent beginner videos which may prove useful to a youngster in a number of ways. DVD is preferable to VHS if you have the capability.
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