 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: saxologist
Date: 2006-07-10 19:49
I have to buy my daughter a clarinet. She is tiny and plays yamaha 250 now as a rental. I usually buy intermediate horns so they can grow into it. Does the Yamaha 250 have finger holes and finger pads the same size on all clarinets or des this change with models and age of horns? In saxes the keys are all the same unless you go way back in time. She is 8yrs I am afraid she won't be able to cover the holes well. Not enough meat. Also please recommend models and brands for me to consider. I really know Saxophone's but at a loss here! many thanks saxologist
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-07-10 21:17
Hi Sax----, I suspect that you will get few responce-helps, as most of us more experienced players think of 10 years of age , for having adequate size of fingers etc to play a Bb size cl, as the earliest. There are 2 clarinets smaller than the usual Bb, one in the key of C, and one in the key of Eb, which might "fit" small hands, but are not usually recommended for beginners. I hope that some of our BBoard teachers will respond with meaningful advice for a very-early student. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2006-07-10 21:41
Most Bb clarinets have finger holes and pads of approximately the same size.
This is not to say that some might not be more user friendly to small hands. I just don't know.
If she has a private teacher, I'd get the teacher involved. How's she doing at covering holes on the rental?
There are "kinder" clarinets designed for small hands, and plateau models with covered keys, and as mentioned above C, and Eb clarinets.
If she seems to be doing OK on the rental, it's probably best to stick with "standard" clarinets.
In my opinion, it would be best for you, your daughter, and her teacher to go to a well stocked music store and try some.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2006-07-10 22:44
8's awfully young - many (most?) that age can not cover the holes properly. i don't start them until age 11 for that reason.
go to http://www.wwbw.com
search on 7214P
thats a Vito model 7214P, plateau key (covered hole) clarinet.
call them - number's on the web page - sometimes phone prices are cheaper than internet prices.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: saxologist
Date: 2006-07-10 23:22
many thanks for the responses. Yes the teachers here have nationally recognized programs for kids. They are aware of her size and gave her the 250 Yam to try, which she plays OK. I guess I will chat directly with them, there are a bunch of Yamahas fo sale...some wood etc.
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-07-11 00:29
8 yrs. is too young imho to be playing a wood clarinet. I would stick with the rental if she plays it okay, and wait til she is mature enough to really care for her clarinet (i.e. regular cleaning, maintenance, and being sure not to drop/sit on the clarinet.)
The Forte clarinet is a well-designed clarinet. You might visit their site (they are a sponsor), and do a search from the archives function located here on the BBoard and check them out.
Best Of Luck!!!
Clayton
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-07-11 06:37
I started to learn clarinet before I was 7 years old, and my teacher who never had such a young student heard from a Dutch teacher that they sometimes start kids on Eb clarinet. That is what we did and it worked very good.
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Author: bawa
Date: 2006-07-11 08:35
ALL students here start playing in the year they turn 8.
Most start on a wood Eb clarinet (LeBlanc noblet in the case of my daughter), on a wood Eb clarinet, until they grow up enough to play a Bb.
It works fine, and many people sell their Ebs. In my daughter's case, it was such a fine instrument that she has kept it and uses it, when needed, in orchestra and clarinet ensemble works.
The Eb is just ideal, both weight and finger wise, and they all seem to adjust easily the Bb when the time comes.
She did change the mouthpiece on the Eb to a Vandoren one after about a year of playing.
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