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Clarinet harder for young players than the flute?

Author: Bartmann
Date: 2006-03-30 19:22

Hello all.

I've been a clarinet player for many years (over 20) and I started playing the flute about 6 months ago and have made astounding progress.

Over the years I've noticed at competitions that the young flute players are always much better than the young clarinetists of equal age. And having just gone through the process of learning flute I can offer some reasons why.

In the beginning, a young clarinetist can't play for more than 5 minutes because of the pain of having the reed on the teeth. Also the embouchure needs to be strengthened to play longer.

With the flute there is no such mouth pain, it's much more about control than strength. So a young flute player can practice much longer than any young clarinetist because there is no mouth pain associated with playing.

Also the fingerings are easier because the same fingerings are used for two octaves. Even the third and fourth octaves have some fingering relationship to their fundamental tones. This of course contrasts with the clarinet fingerings where Chalumeau E becomes Clarion B.

Because the flute overblows the octave, there is a much greater relationship between the octaves, both sonically and intellectually. Because the clarinet overblows a twelfth, the tuning between the octaves is not as precise. So sonically the student doesn't hear the relationship as much.

Little things such as set up time affects playing as well. The flute has three pieces to assemble. The clarinet has six pieces plus a capricious piece of vegetable matter to be moistened and cajoled.

The flute is pitched in C, the clarinet in Bb. The whole topic of transposion can be ignored.

The flute is cheaper to maintain over the long haul. There is much less "Gear" associated with the flute. There's the rod, polishing cloth, and flute. The clarinet has ligatures. mouthpieces, humidifiers, and REEDS.

Once you've bought the flute that's it until you get a better flute or upgrade the head joint. With the clarinet you can always try new barrel, reed, and mouthpiece combinations. BUT there is the ongoing expense of reeds that makes the clarinet more expensive over the long haul.

It is easier to choose a good flute. A teacher can recommend a brand and model and know pretty well what to expect. When choosing a clarinet I ask the question how many R13s did you try before you selected the one you play?

There are some things that make the flute more difficult than the clarinet.

The development of flute vibrato is difficult. This takes a lot of stomach control.

With the clarinet you can rely or change your equipment to get a better sound. With the flute it's all embouchure and breath control.

Breath control is the MOST difficult aspect of flute playing. The flute player really must get a good handle on how to control the air stream or they will run out of air.

I suggest that these are some concrete reasons why young flute players excel more often than clarinet players.

Now before you comment, ask yourself this question: is the oboe harder for young people to play than flute? Most people would say yes. So think about it in this way, the clarinet is kind of like an easier oboe. Which still makes it harder than a flute.

Of course we're talking about musical instruments here. And as such, a LOT of hard work must go into any instrument to play it well.

Are there any other things you've noticed about the flute or clarinet that makes one or the other difficult in specific ways?

Bart

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