The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-29 03:28
I am looking for a cheap Eb (like, $150 or less) for my little sister to begin on. She is currently in 2nd grade. She will continue taking piano lessons for at least a year, but we're going to start her in private lessons before she gets to middle school. The Bb cl is too big for her- even though she can make noise on it. I just want a playable eefer that she can play until she's big enough to begin playing a Bb. Any suggestions? I know Ebs can be cheap on ebay, but alot of them sold on there are albert system clarinets...
Becca
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Author: hartt
Date: 2005-01-29 04:12
Becca
El Mistakeo
An E flat (eefer) is a very difficult clarinet to play /blow through and ,in MHO, not a good starter clarinet.
What you really may want to consider is a C clarinet. It uses a standard Bb mouthpiece, has closer fingering (shorter in length than a Bb) and is very easy to blow into and through.
C clarinets are not plentiful, for several reasons. One is that it is used extensively in Europe to train beginner clarinet students. Ergo, many of the Buffet E11 C clarinets are sold in the European market. Secondly, there isn't much call / need for them in today's music. .
Sadly, the pricing on a C clarinet is considerably more than the figure you had in mind.
I know nothing about the newish Forte clarinets but look into them and see if a C is available.
toot toot
regards
dennis
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-29 04:17
hartt wrote:
> I know nothing about the newish Forte clarinets but look into
> them and see if a C is available.
The Forté is only offered in Bb.
The related Amati ACL 251-0 is a standard Boehm C clarinet (with plastic body, wooden bell and wooden barrel) and costs about $375...GBK
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2005-01-29 05:23
Try the Lyons C clarinet. It costs around 300 dollars but is very useful in your situation. I think there is a link in the sponsor section.
I have a third grade student (the CUTEST girl in the world!) who plays on one. She sounds great on it and really likes the instrument. It weighs practically nothing and has very little resistance. I have been really impressed with the horn. One thing I also like is that the keys are very sensitive to the touch which in this case promotes proper hand positioning. For instance, the side eflat/bflat cannot be used to prop up the instrument because the key will open with the slightest touch.
You may have luck finding one on ebay. Try looking for one on the ebay site in the UK.
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2005-01-29 14:19
I don't know if the Kinder-Clari took off as much as was hoped, but they're still available. Designed specifically for small children to get the hang of before they move to a B flat.
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-29 14:44
thanks everybody. The C clarinet looks like a great starter. I have never had any experience with one, so i'm glad someone told me! My little sister is very excited to start playing clarinet- she says she wants to play "all the instruments that you play, Becca". Well, it might be awhile before she gets hold of a bass or a tenor sax, or maybe she'll find another instrument that she will love. I think she's going to get her first clarinet as a birthday present. Thanks again!
Cheers!
Becca
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2005-01-30 16:48
2nd grade is too young for most kids to start studying clarinet. ¿Why not wait until a more appropiriate age-say 9 or 10?
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-01-30 17:22
GBK, you wrote above:
The Forté is only offered in Bb.
The related Amati ACL 251-0 ...
Are you saying that the Forté is "related" to the Amati?
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-30 17:29
David Peacham wrote:
> GBK, you wrote above:
>
> The Forté is only offered in Bb.
>
> The related Amati ACL 251-0 ...
>
> Are you saying that the Forté is "related" to the Amati?
>
In a sense, yes - although completely different as far as acoustics and key design, they are both made by the same Czech manufacturer ...GBK
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-30 19:54
She's 8 years old and my parents are looking at getting her one for her 9th birthday (which is not for quite a while yet, but they wanted to get a feel of what was out there way ahead of time). She's currently in piano, and will be for the forseeable future, so she knows about notes, key signatures, dynamics, articulation, etc. She'll be able to transfer all of that over to clarinet, just like I did when I started playing, so it won't be just like throwing her into music, i'll be more like applying what she know to the clarinet and learning how to get good tone, etc.
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Author: Mandy's Mom
Date: 2005-01-31 17:10
Just a few thoughts on young kids and clarinet. I would hate to discourage a kid who is SO close to being old enough to play.
Post Edited (2005-02-04 16:39)
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2005-01-31 20:22
I started on a standard Bb clarinet when I was seven, and it wasn't even my idea. It was a little long for me but I could reach all the keys and I loved it. If she wants to play it and you can afford it, let her try it. That's what childhood is for! Hope you can come up with a workable solution - there have been lots of great ideas given here.
MOO,
Matt
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