 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2009-02-14 21:21
I'm staying with family in Rye, and my 6 year old nephew is showing a big interest in my clarinet. He doesn't seem to have a problem getting a sound out but his fingers are too small to cover the holes properly. I've heard about clarinets for kids. Are they any good? What about developing teeth? Does it make any sense for a 6 year old to start learning clarinet, or would it be better to learn recorder? He asks me about once per hour if he can play my clarinet, so he's really keen!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-02-14 21:42
Hmm - what about a Xaphoon? Looks like a fun instrument, and not too big an investment, should his interest fade over time. ???
I was - traditionally - initiated <cough> on the recorder. Teaches you sight-reading, notes, keys, tempo and everything. It is, however, an instrument of its own and should be treated like one. But the 'craft' of making music remains the same, and I consider this time a good investment. (I'd rather start on an Alto instead of on a C recorder, however)
Edit: If it has to be a clarinet, I'd rather get a C clarinet than an eefer.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2009-02-14 21:47)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-02-15 05:23
I started around that age on an Eb clarinet. I know at least a few others who also did this.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-15 12:50
I'm still partial to the recorder for a child that young, for a couple of reasons. One is the recorder's simplicity: it's plenty difficult to play a recorder expertly, but for a young beginner, it's easy (therefore encouraging) to produce something musical quickly. I think a clarinet is complex enough to frustrate a small child. Eb clarinet will fit small hands better than Bb clarinet, but it's a complicated mechanism no matter what the size, and it's harder to produce a good tone on an eefer. Then again, it's routine to start kids on child-sized violins at age four or five, so maybe I'm all wrong about the clarinet. If it's clarinet he really lusts after, then maybe he'll put more energetic work into it and succeed better than he would with a simpler instrument he might see as the booby prize.
The other reason to start with a recorder is money. A decent plastic soprano or alto recorder that's a real musical instrument and not a toy (Hohner, say) sells new for less than $25. Or, shop the yard sales or thrift stores, pick through the many ruined recorders and find an intact one for $5 or less. The vast number of used plastic recorders for sale, many of them looking untouched in original boxes while even more are badly damaged, shows how many kids quit and how many use their recorders for bludgeons, battering rams and ice picks. Maybe that's because the kids wanted to play some other instruments and resented having recorders foisted on them instead; and maybe parents police the care and feeding of expensive clarinets better than cheap recorders.
But I also think most small children are not innately thrifty or careful and they try a vast array of life's options before settling into the few real talents and obsessions. In my family, we took the cautious approach: my brother and I both started on recorders before we began clarinet. Our parents let us know that, by taking good care of the recorder, we could prove we were mature enough to trust with something bigger.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2009-02-15 12:52)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-02-15 13:01
And with recorder, the embouchure isn't important and can still be played while the permanent teeth are growing.
Once they've settled down, then you could consider moving onto clarinet - there are several companies making small clarinets with a few keys that are designed for children before moving them onto an Eb, C and eventually a Bb when they can cover the fingerholes successfully.
http://www.guntramwolf.de/englisch/klarinettek.html
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Clip
Date: 2009-02-15 14:11
I thought the stability of the top front teeth was the biggest issue with starting age.
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2009-02-15 18:01
I teach both, and would recommend recorder, particular a soprano recorder. The alto is the same, just bigger, and the finger spread is such that unless this child has unusually large hands it's going to be difficult. It's easier to get a sound, the reed/ligature problem isn't there, but you still have the benefit of similar hand position and other music concepts being reinforced.
Kids can perseverate about certain things, and it's great that they have interests, but some things are just not appropriate for small children. As others have said, if the interest is real, it will last. It may just be that he wants to be like you.
I'm sure there are others who will cite instances that argue for clarinet. I'm just going by my own experiences with my students.
Sue
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-02-15 20:14
Having become somewhat acquainted with [early student] recorder teaching at our local Wesleyan University, by virtue of my gift of unused Sop and Alto rec's following their concert at our Retirement "Home", I agree with the above thots. An unmentioned possibility might be the "plateau" version, Leblanc [others?] , of the Bb sop to help the hand/finger reaches. However they are somewhat more expensive, and [for me] difficult to work on. PM, thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2009-02-15 20:26
-- "I believe that Julian Bliss started on a C clarinet." --
I think someone posted this video before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyz6lpIOUNE
It's a Lyons C clarinet.
Steve
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Author: allencole
Date: 2009-02-16 05:28
Let me cast a vote for recorder also. It's so important to get the kid playing MUSIC before he has a chance to get lost in the operation of the instrument itself. Some good recorder success would set the stage for more effective clarinet study, IMO.
Allen Cole
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-02-16 05:57
There is no problem with starting on recorder, but what does the kid want? I understand the points about recorder is easier to start with, and how kids sometimes change their minds, or need to prove they can handle this (i.e. Leila's example). But sometimes these are not issues!
I can only give myself as an example. Around that age, after I decided I wanted to play clarinet, I was offered another instrument like violin or cello, or maybe start with a reorder, because I was "too young" (at one conservatory). This wasn't helpful because I wanted to play clarinet, not any of the other instruments. I knew that, but everyone is different, so before deciding that, I suggest asking this kid if they want to start with a recorder.
Proving they can handle it and take care of the instrument? My parents and I talked about this a bit before they bought the clarinet (actually after, but before it arrived), and it was clear to us it's just not a problem. They never thought this would be an issue.
Problem playing a big Bb clarinet? That's why we found a special teacher which also had the idea to start with Eb clarinet (it was a plastic Vito). This was a unique and original idea that was very uncommon in my country (probably still is) but now you can find about it even here on the forum 
Kids changing their minds? I had times that I stopped playing for a while, and my mom asked me if I still wanted to play, and I told her "yes" and that was obvious to me. In those few times, I always got back to it a while after. This is called a parent trusting and believing their kids, who is telling the truth
My main point is, it's fine to offer possibilities, but it's impossible to know what works best for this kid, since they are not necessary like other kids. Some people seem to think their opinion to start with a recorder is a ALWAYS a good idea. Well it wouldn't have been for me and I'm glad I started with a clarinet.
So.... ask the kid!
Post Edited (2009-02-16 06:02)
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-02-16 23:26
I don't agree with starting kids on clarinet that young generally speaking, not even on the recorder. I find a lot of my clarinet students who played recorder before have problems with the amount of air speed and covering the holes, since good finger placement is far more critical on the clarinet than on the recorder. Not only that, recorder playing does not use the little fingers, which are important in playing string and woodwind instruments, and of course the piano.
I always advise parents of potential clarinet students younger than 8 or 9 years old for them to have some training on the piano, as the piano is the basis for music theory. I know a lot of musicians who didn't study the piano seriously and end up struggling in theory courses, plus it gives you additional opportunities to perform (I am learning the piano parts for some of my clarinet students--although my major instrument is clarinet, I play early advanced level piano music, which I see my piano teacher almost every week). I would give the same advice abou learning piano competently to any serious musician, and piano will help them understand bass clef well.
Meri
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Author: Emily's Dad
Date: 2009-02-16 23:29
From what I have read on this board, I figured everyone would be recommending an R13. Don't want to start anyone out on an "inferior instrument/
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-02-16 23:42
> Not only that, recorder playing does not use the little fingers
It doesn't? Hm. I now wonder what these holes down there are for...
> since good finger placement is far more critical on the clarinet than on the
> recorder
I'd vehemently challenge that assertion. A recorder doesn't even have rings to guide the fingers, and while I don't squeak on the clarinet (well...), I often do on the recorder till my fingers have found their place.
I'm not saying learning piano is a bad idea (rarely hurts), but it's just so far away from a wind instrument...
--
Ben
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