 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2005-01-14 22:59
My grandaughter has started playing the flute this year in 4th grade at school. She is doing surprisingly well and we went to her first concert just before Xmas. She likes to come to my place and also play my clarinet. I am trying to encourage her to play the flute but do not want to discourage her in experimenting with other instruments and I am also focusing on her enjoying what ever she is doing and to have fun. She also mentioned that she may drop the flute and start playing the clarinet which I think is quite a bit more difficult. Her rythym is very good but she has now started playing faster and is cutting the whole notes and half notes short. I mentioned it but didnt push because I think that she is getting a bit impatient and wants to progress quickly. Any advice on how I could approch the situation without discouraging her would be appreciated. Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2005-01-15 00:03
Do you play duets with her, avumba?
I find that I'm able to work out difficulties, such as rhythmic patterns, much better by playing along with my "student" using an appropriate duet. That seems to work better than a thousand explanations.
Personally, I wouldn't encourage her to drop the flute at this point. I'd wait until she has a better command of it, then switch to another instrument and encourage swithing back and forth -- doublers are in demand you know 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-01-15 02:17
I teach elementary bands and I also have kids who have been through this. Fourth grade is young, but you want them to begin to have the concept of what a commitment is. Maybe you could suggest that she finish out the year on the flute, and if she still feels the same way in the fall, she could switch then.
Many children do want to switch, but it's important to ferret out the reason. Often children get the sense that their instrument is harder than the other ones, but they all have things about them that are tricky. If she is doing well on flute, that's great, because it's challenging at the beginning.
Has she ever tried a clarinet? Does she have a reason for thinking it's better? Do her friends play clarinet and have their lesson away from her? There could be so many reasons that are important in her mind.
Good luck - she's lucky to have you caring so much.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2005-01-15 22:54
She progressed so quickly I personally would also like her to stick with the flute at least until the end of the year and later over vacation she may feel differantly. She has friends that also play the clarinet but we can only guess what her reasons are. I appreciate your advise and opinions. I will post her progress in the future. Her mother likes the flute. Maybe its the sqeeks![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: VermontJM
Date: 2005-01-16 00:13
I tell parents to let the kids play both if they are really interested- especially if they are doing well on their first instrument.
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-01-18 14:33
avumba -
Your granddaughter should switch if she wants to. In the 4th grade, kids are curious to try everything, and you don't want to get in her way. She may end up playing both instruments, and be better off for that.
However, she needs a bit of discipline on counting, which I think you can do in a positive way:
-- When you play with other people, everbody needs to be together. Things get off unless you hold the long notes all the way out.
-- Also, you play well, but I'm sure some other kids don't. Part of your job is helping them by holding the long notes all the way out.
-- Lots of people can play fast right. The good players also play the slow notes right, which is much harder. Show me how good you can be.
-- Set up a watch ticking in your head. Tap your toe (inside your shoe, so other people don't see what you're doing).
You might play a duet with her where you play a moving part while she holds a long note and vice versa. Point out that you need the time to play your notes while she holds a long one. You need her help. It's like a seesaw, where you alternate in rhythm.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
