 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-05-10 10:14
I have a ten-year old student who is very musically talented and plays a number of instruments including the clarinet. With a good grasp of theory and rhythm she is really succeeding quite well for her age- the only thing holding her back is the size of the fingers on her right hand.
The 3rd finger is not actually big enough to cover the tone hole- a problem we have discussed and which she overcomes about 80% of the time. Today we were discussing which piece she could play for a concert coming up, and she came up with a brilliant suggestion to help her overcome her small fingers.
She suggested that she cut the finger off a rubber glove and wear that on the undersized finger. I thought that one layer might not be enough and that maybe she’d need two layers- to which she replied “I could pad it out with toilet paper”. A genius!
But seriously, has anyone actually ever tried something like this? I’d actually give it a go in our next lesson (not the “padding out” bit), only I’m not sure I can find a pair of gloves small enough (I’d certainly have to chop out the little finger for her to use).
Keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-05-10 11:03
Donald,
there are surgical rubber fingers (finger cots) that are slipped over a bandaged finger to protect it from water etc - check out your local drugstore.
--
Ben
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-05-10 14:32
When I was in the West Point Band, I played in many honor guards (welcoming visiting generals and diplomats) in sub-freezing weather. The clarinetists put on wool gloves and then white cotton musician's gloves over them, which had a layer of food-wrap-like plastic on the fingertips.
It took extra finger pressure to play, but it was certainly possible.
The finger protectors are known as "finger cots" or (in England) "finger stalls."
You might also try the rubber finger-tip caps that office supply stores sell to make it easier to turn pages.
If wrapping a fingertip with toilet paper doesn't give a stable enough surface, use a Band-Aid, with a latex surgeon's glove (or the finger of one) over it. I suggest trimming it as necessary and applying it up and down the finger rather than around it, to give a flatter surface. Put the pad over the fingertip.
Good luck to your student. She obviously has talent and motivation.
Ken Shaw
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2006-05-10 14:52
Another possibility, if you know a "good" and reasonably priced clarinet repair person, would be to rig a pad on the clarinet to cover the tone hole. Something similar to what is on some alto or bass clarinets. There are some Bb clarinets called plateau clarinets made like this.
A padded finger cot would definitely be cheaper, and easy enough to try out.
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Author: wrowand
Date: 2006-05-10 14:55
Did you consider getting a clarinet with covered holes (like the Vito 7214) until her fingers get a little bigger? They aren't very expensive new and I'd think that used ones would be available.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-05-10 15:17
I've put kids with small hands on Eb horns 'till they could cover the tone holes on a full sized instrument.
Bob Phillips
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-05-10 15:24
When I bought my first clarinet I was asked "Is it for you or is it for a child?" The reason for the question was, they explained, that the B12 has a smaller hole in this position than the YCL26, and is hence more suitable for small fingers.
I don't know whether the difference is really significant, and you don't say what model she is playing.
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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: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-10 15:46
I've seen a Vito that had a perforated plate soft soldered onto RH ring 3 - the underside was corked (but had a hole in the centre so it didn't close the RH 3 chimney when the rings were down) which sealed it against the top of the chimney, so it made it easier to cover this hole for someone with small fingers.
Another way (involving major keywork surgery) is to add a covered fingerplate for RH 3 that works independantly to the rings, but connected with an adjustment screw - though it doesn't have to be linked at all (as on Leblanc alto and bassets, and bass clarinets as well).
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-11 00:23
Donald, may I suggest the following as another option if the above good ideas don't work...
I could turn on the lathe a short metal (probably brass or bronze) column that clipped (no seal necessary) around the ring key (providing there is perhaps 0.3 mm clearance between the ring and the body). I could solder a metal disk on the top of this, and glue a polymer seal (perhaps 0.4 mm thick) beneath the disk, to seal on the tone hole edge when the key is closed.
Adding such a removable "plateau" to the ring key would potentially flatten the A/E, but this effect could be reduced if I drilled a hole (say same diameter as the inside of the tone hole, through disk, with such hole displaced slightly up the instrument for the convenience of the small hand.
I would do such a thing for a nominal charge... mainly for the interest and challenge. After all, instrument servicing, for me, grew out of a hobby of mechanical construction challenges. The item would most likely not fit a different brand/model, once custom made.
For such a small student, did you ever consider:
1. The Lyons C clarinet? http://64.177.42.176/index.htm
2. The Kinder Klari Eb clarinet? http://www.music123.com/Kinder-Klari-Eb-Clarinet-i70668.music
or an Eb clarinet?
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-05-11 08:17
thanks for all your suggestions (esp Gordons most useful offer), i was really only posting for the sake of the genius of the "glove finger idea" and the cute value of the toilet paper padding solution (she meant to wrap her finger with toilet paper, then put the glove finer on over the top!). i thought this was very inventive thinking from a youngster.
But i will certainly consider Gordons quite practical solution (though it is a problem only 80% of the time, and children often grow quickly at her age...).
While i agree in principle with starting on the E flat clarinet (and have done this with a number of students) i do not advise using the Kinder Klari as this instrument has proven to be of very poor contruction, in fact i'd say it's in the CSO category. Many many problems occur that do not happen with even the worse of the student Bflat clarinets i see.
thanks
donald
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-05-11 08:40
When I started learning clarinet (I was 7) I started with a Vito Eb clarinet. This is a good option for a lot of kids I think.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-05-11 13:30
I second the Vito horn idea, although I'd recommend a straight Bb rather than the rarer and more expensive second hand Eb species.
While in general not a fan of the products of the Leblanc Corporation, I've always felt that starting any clarinet player on the Vito horns gave them less tone hole to deal with while working through the basics of fingering and finger placement. In my experience, most of the "squeaking" comes from poorly sealed RH 1 2 3 than from anything else. The smaller diameter finger hole chimneys on the Vito horn help mitigate this problem and cause far less frustration than a standard instrument.
I've found that saxophone players who make the transition through Vitoland have faster progress and can move onto a "regular" clarinet sooner than if they started with a bog standard pro horn; those big holes (particularly on the lower joint) are difficult to seal "until you get the hang of it".
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-05-11 23:54
Ken,
Do you know Les Hicken? He was a clarinetist with the West Point band and is now the Band Director at Furman University.
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Author: liam_hockley
Date: 2006-05-12 00:04
Try a rubber thimble stuffed with cotton. It's cheap, and you don't have to sauder anything on the horn.
Liam
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-05-12 13:42
pmgoff78 -
Sorry, I don't know Les Hiken, though I've heard his name. I was in the WPB from 1965-68.
Ken Shaw
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