 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-09-12 16:36
Our daughter is 9, and in the 5th grade and wants to play the clarinet. I've asked around and would like to ask here about what are good relatively inexpensive clarinets for young players. She is small, more like an average 2nd or 3rd grader's size, so we've been pointed the Vito 7214 Eb which is supposedly for smaller hands.
However, I've also read that these are a little harder to play than Bb clarinets and are squeakier. Our daughter can play a recorder with a little hand stretching, and has a little experience on the piano, though the full size keyboard is challenging.
Is the Vito 7214 the way to go? Thanks.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-09-12 17:41
(Disclaimer- I am a designer of the Forte' Bb and C clarinets)
I am biased of course but I have received reports and sold many "C" clarinets for beginners with small hands and they are much more popular in parts of Europe and Asia to start younger students than the Eb clarinet. Cost is an important factor and many decent new Eb and C clarinets cost much more than their Bb brethren. Used decent quality C and Eb clarinets come up on the famous auction site infrequently but often enough to consider as an option. The available repertoire for the "C" clarinet is much larger than for Eb clarinet if the teacher is willing to use piano pieces as teaching tools but he/she could go to the effort to transpose for the Eb. The mechanics of either clarinet are similar to the Bb instrument but from my own experience the Eb is a more difficult to play than Bb or C clarinet.
Perhaps some teachers will give their experience with younger students with smaller hands.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-09-12 18:54
I have taught several students with the Lyons C clarinet. It is an effective teaching instrument for one who is so young.
You can find details for the Lyons c clarinet at www.firstclarinet.com
Here are several pros and cons that come to mind:
1. The Lyons C is light weight plastic, and is easily held by young clarinetists. I find that the weight of the instrument and its impact on young students can be one of the most difficult factors for a young player to overcome. (You can, however, find neckstraps for any clarinet.)
2. The instrument is chromatic, but does not have the full complement of keys that the modern clarinet does. I am not immediately familiar with the Forte C, but I would imagine that it is keyed in the modern system.
3. The Lyons is easily repaired by a lay person, but it does feel somewhat flimsy and insubstantial to those of us who are used to a "real" clarinet in our hands. The Forte would probably feel more like a "real" clarinet, but would need professional repairs, wouldn't it?
4. Despite claims by the producers of the Lyons, I would not be comfortable using their clarinet in any other capacity other than teaching.
5. I believe at the current exchange rate, the Lyons would be half the price of a Forte clarinet.
There are some good points for both instruments. As far as a learning tool, the Lyons is wonderfull. The Forte would probably last longer and would allow a student to grow with the clarinet.
Has anyone played both the Lyons and the Forte?
Or was the Lyons investigated by the makers of the Forte?
Good luck with the young student!
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-09-12 20:14
Thanks Omar and Tobin,
I'm still waiting to hear from the school music teacher to know if C or even Eb are options. I have a feeling that it is unlikely the band is setup for C although it looks great, and I might want one for myself
Anyways, back to size, my understanding is that the Eb (at least in leblanc/vito models) is better for tiny hands than an Bb, even if the Bb sounds better and is easier to blow.
This is key, because the hands are going to be tiny for some time. I have also heard the 7214 (non P model) is preferred to the P model, as the 7214 has "open" holes instead of covered??
In any case, I am learning a lot, and am thinking of getting myself a clarinet. I play stringed instruments myself, but I'd love to play a reed/woodwind.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-09-12 20:54
I'm not sure the tiny hands are such an issue. I have met competent adult clarinet players with very small hands. I find my alto recorder stretches my hand more than a Bb clarinet. Has your daughter played an alto, or only a soprano?
What may be more of an issue is covering the holes adequately with tiny fingertips. Clarinet holes are a lot bigger than recorder holes, and the slightest air leak is catastrophic. Bear this in mind before making any decisions about covered versus open holes.
I can't help feeling the best way to approach this is to put some clarinets in your daughter's hands and see how she gets on. She plays the recorder, she's not going to find the clarinet especially daunting.
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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: Iacuras
Date: 2006-09-12 21:47
I believe that she should be able to play the C clarinet in band. It is in the same key and register as an oboe, so she should be able to read oboe parts.
As to what David said about covering the tone holes i agree. Go to your local music store and see if they have the Vito 7214P Bb clarinet and have her try that. This clarinet has plateau, or covered keys so she can just press and not have to worry about completely covering the hole.
Steve
"If a pretty poster and a cute saying are all it takes to motivate you, you probably have a very easy job. The kind robots will be doing soon."
"If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly."
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-09-12 22:30
If the weight of the clarinet is too great for the right thumb, the fingers of the right hand will be able to cover holes regardless of their size.
The Lyons clarinet can be played by someone as young as second or third grade.
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2006-09-13 00:30
The absence of a negative renders my previous post absolutely stupid.
If the weight of the clarinet is too great for the right thumb, the fingers of the right hand will NOT be able to cover holes regardless of their size.
The Lyons clarinet can be played by someone as young as second or third grade.
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
OOPS!
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-09-13 01:15
Hi David,
Only a soprano recorder, and covering even those little holes with her fingertips was big challenge for many weeks.
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Author: D
Date: 2006-09-13 06:24
If she can reach a C but the band director is not interested, then please do not give up! There are other options beside school bands. Private lesson are good for anyone, but given that she might develop posture problems while trying to stretch then it is perhaps more important that she have a good teacher. She could always join later when she is already a brilliant player. If you can find a mixed level and age community orchestra/band/workshop then that would be an excellent alternative to school music. If she really really can't reach then there are instruments around which look more like recorders but have clarinet mouthpieces. i.e. the Moeck Soprano clarinet or various makes of Chalmeau.. These are mainly historic replicas or reconstructions. They are not all great, and as historic instruments many are not fullt chromatic either. But they might be smaller and a way to keep her interested until she is a bit bigger. Early Music Shop has a few, I noticed last night. There must be a similar shop in the states, I think there is one in New York actually.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-09-13 07:02
I started clarinet before I was 7 years old, and I started with a Vito Eb clarinet. There were no Eb or C student clarinets available in the country (but any model C clarinet is special order anyway, even today and pro models), not that I had any idea what a C clarinet was. I don't remember why we didn't order an Eb here, probably because of price, but my family brought me the Vito Eb from the USA. I don't know the model, it doesn't say anywhere on the clarinet.
I had absolutely no problems caused by starting with this clarinet. I learned from regular Bb clarient books. As far as playing with piano accompaniment, that wasn't a problem. I was too nervous and scared to play with a pianist, that by the time my teacher convinced me to play with one, I had a Bb clarinet.
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