 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ginger Martin
Date: 2000-01-11 20:36
I recently came across a product called the "Kinder Clari." It's apparently made for very young players/fingers. It's an Eb clarinet minus lots of keys...in fact I think it only has a right bottom side key and F/C key on right, an E/B key on left, an A key, register key and perhaps a left side G#. This is because (presumeably) the other keys won't be needed for beginners.
The small-handed youngster would apparently play out of an alto sax book.
Does anyone know if these things are any good...or is it just a fad to snare hot-house parents into early music lessons?! Does this thing have the same intonation problems as a normal sopranino clarinet? (-that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy- let alone a child!!)
I'd appreciate your expertise.
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Author: Meredith H.
Date: 2000-01-11 21:03
One of the local music teachers in my area loves these particular instruments. Apparently they have been modified in some way (some may know exactly how but I don't) so that they are easier to blow than the normal Eb clarinet. They are tiny and extremely light so kids as young as 6 are able to play on them but I still don't know if I approve of them or not. The lack of keys does limit the fingering, especially alternate fingering, so chromatic and normal scales aren't correctly learnt. They also aren't 'recognised' instruments so in some cases grades can not be attempted on these instruments. I find that most kids can handle a full sized Bb clarinet by the time they are about 8. If they start at 6 on a kinder clarinet they generally have to be replaced within 2 to 3 years of being purchased at additional expense to the parents. If you have an extemely keen child surely they may be given a recorder at a young age which are very inexpensive and will still allow the child to learn the basics of pitch, rhythm and music theory before purchasing a full sized clarinet.
There is nothing quite like the sound of a beginner and putting a beginner on an Eb clarinet can be extremely hard on the ears. I think these instruments develop as many bad habits as good ones but that is just my rather unexpert opinion.
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Author: Ginger Martin
Date: 2000-01-11 21:25
Meredith,
I think the salesman said some private schools are buying them, which means the parents only end up buying the one (Bb) clarinet, in the long run.
Thanks for the info.
Ginger
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-01-11 22:41
There's also the nearly indestructible Lyons C clarinet - a small clarinet that also can be used as an accompanying instrument with piano with no transposition. I hear that they sound very nice.
Lyons is a sponsor of Sneezy.Org, and can be found on the "Sponsors" page.
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Author: ron
Date: 2000-01-12 01:13
Ginger -
I'd like to add my two cents worth. I'd suggest the Recorder or Flute-o-phone as a very young child's beginning instrument **because** of its difference from the clarinet, considering the comparitive simplicity of both fingering and mouthpiece.
Moennig Brothers (Gebrueder Moennig) of Germany manufactures a small Kinderklarinett pitched in C. The fingering system is early Albert (though not a 'simple system', it does not have the 'patent C# mechanism'). Remember, the German (Albert/Oehler) system is still quite popular there. It wouldn't, in my opinion, be an easy transition to the Boehm system for a child ready for a full size Bb instrument.
But then, maybe I'm forgetting how adaptable and quick to learn young children are.
Ron
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-01-12 12:15
Another good reason to start the smallest beginners on recorder is that they won't have to try to master the use and care of a reed right away. The recorder is just simpler -- it's easier to get a tone out of it and most kids, even toddlers, can produce a tone on the first try. Also, a good plastic recorder such as the Yamaha is just about indestructible, in case the kid decides to use it as an alien death cannon. Encouraging a child to love music and to want to go on with it can get difficult if the first experience produces a lot of frustration.
Think of all the messages we've seen on this BB about the time and trouble of fussing around with our reeds. The average four-year-old isn't ready to deal with a cane reed. Parents who do start very small kids on kinder-clarinets might want to begin with a plastic reed. It's sturdier and not nearly as dependent on the child maintaining and using it properly. IMHO, instruction on the finer points, such as how much moisture a cane reed requires to work and how to rinse it off without destroying it at the end of a practice session, can wait until the child is 7 or 8 years old, or older. Graduating to a real cane reed makes a nice milestone for a developing child. Graduating again from the beginner's "plain old Rico" to a higher-quality cane reed makes another good milestone and a reward for accomplishment.
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Author: L. Zunski
Date: 2000-01-12 13:28
My daughter, now 7, has been taking my clarinet out of the closet since she was around 2 1/2 years old. I would put it together for her and she would sit on the couch with it propped on a pillow. She learned how to blow into the instrument this way. For Christmas this past year, she requested her own clarinet so she wouldn't have to ask to play mine. I ended up getting her a Selmer Bundy on ebay for $61.00. It is very easy to play and the pads are in perfect condition. I don't really care if she drops it, it's a beginner clarinet and she can make her mistakes with it and really "explore" the instrument. She can only play from C below the staff to Bb and then G above the staff to high C. Her hands are too small to manipulate the lower joint at this point, but it doesn't really matter, there is plenty she can learn without manipulating the lower joint. I believe it is better for the child to grow into the instrument.
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