 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2011-11-25 04:10
Someone recently stated they were looking for a clarinet for their seven (7) year old daughter for Christmas.
This made me curious as to whether an average seven year old would be capable of covering an open-hole clarinet, or reach the keys. I remember being placed on clarinet at age 12 simply because my fingers were large enough to cover the holes, and my fingers were long enough to reach the keys...(well, that plus they already had all the trombone players they wanted). 
At any rate, I was tempted to help the aforementioned person, but I didn't want to get too involved if the entire idea of a seven year old playing clarinet is too unrealistic. (I haven't been around young band kids in the past 30 years or so; please forgive me if the answer is obvious).
As always - thanks for any input you might offer.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-11-25 08:12
Depends on how big both their fingers and arms are. I had a student once come in for a trial lesson. His right hand, fully extended, could not reach the right hand keys.
Other than that, an Eb clarinet is much friendlier for smaller hands. I've also seen an instrument made by Duo that has keys positioned closer together.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-11-25 13:14
I started out at age 8 with no ill effects. My daughter, started out in the summer before 5th grade (a year later than I did). She has done extremely well. I think too many people worry too much and wait longer than necessary.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2011-11-25 15:30
I had a very tiny 8 year old student once (about the size of a 6 year old) and what I did when she expressed interest in playing, I went to her house with a couple of clarinets (she's a family friend). Her fingers worked fine for a clarinet which has smaller holes (Vito) but wouldn't have been good with a Selmer!
So it really depends on the kid. Remember Julian Bliss started at 4 with a "First Clarinet" so anything's possible!
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Author: marieplayer
Date: 2011-11-25 15:33
i started when i was 7 years old and im not 17. i think its better to start earlier and she will be ahead of everyone else at school when she starts playing.
as to being able to covering the keys, it just takes a lot of practice. it was difficult for me because i was a petite child and my fingers were very tiny. i had to adjust my wrist a lot and turn it so that my fingers weren't falling off the keys (not sure if that made any sense!). but its definitely possible!
there are also certain types of clarinets to use for young starters. sam ash can help provide you one.
-ashley
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-11-26 01:07
It depends on hand size. I started playing in 4th grade (8 years old). It wasn't until the next school year that I could reach the pinky keys and cover the holes on the RH consistently. I thought I was terrible and almost gave it up, but things got easier once I grew into the clarinet.
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-11-26 02:50
Way to go ashley. Are you in high school? Are you planning on a career in music?
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Author: oboesax
Date: 2011-11-26 03:38
Has the 7-year old year girl asked for a clarinet? I think i'ts important that children play the instrument they like.
Her hands might be too small to cover the keys, as others have said. When my daughter was 8, she wanted to play sax, so that's what she started on. Her teacher suggested she start clarinet as well, but her right hand fingers couldn't cover all the keys, so she played oboe instead, which she wanted to anyway. In fact her fingers could not cover the keys until on clarinet until she was about 10.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-11-26 04:34
I think I poserd this before but anyway, I started a couple of months before I was 7. I think my size was average.
When I was about 6 I decided I wanted to play clarinet.
The first conservatorium I came to had a few ladies telling me I was too small, only 10 year olds or older can start clarinet and I can start piano, cello or violin. That did nothing but made a young kid cry...
In the second place I actually met the clarinet teacher, which was very special. She heard from clarinet teachers in another country they sometimes start young kids on an Eb clarinet. She did some simple tests (rhythm, etc.) and decided to teach me.
There was no Eb clarinet to get here, so eventually we managed to get one (a Vito) from USA. So before I was 7 I started playing on an Eb clarinet.
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2011-11-26 15:55
I started band at age 9 with the other kids. I'm thinking a small child of age 6 could use a plateau clarinet, where the keys are covered, until her hands grow.
Carol
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Author: Bill Patry
Date: 2011-11-26 17:06
My daughter started at 7 on one of Morrie Backun's Bliss clarinets, which worked fine. She is ten now and has graduated to one of Morrie's Leblanc Legacy clarinets. It was heavy at first, but as she has grown it is fine, especially with a neck strap. She plays on a Kaspar Cicero 13 that was owned by Kalman Bloch and refaced by Jim Kanter, with a 3 strength Mozart reed, a perfect combination.
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Author: RachelB4
Date: 2011-11-26 20:19
I started clarinet at age 7.. almost 8 and I believe that it is a great advantage. My hands are unusually large though so i suppose that may have helped. However i remember having to correct many issues involving bad hand position and bad habbits that were probably due to that. But if you could find a teacher that is able to watch for these issues that will help.
I also, for the first few months, since the clarinet was dramatically heavy at my age, used only the upper joint and held it up with my right hand on the barrel. Now as a junior in high school I am so thankful I started early, just even to have the experience of playing so long. Maybe once the child has begun to progress more solidly, getting involved in a music program would not be a bad idea. I started early with chamber music, and have benefited a lot from it.
So all this to say, I believe that if the child can start early, it wil be to his or her great advantage in the future.
Post Edited (2011-11-27 18:17)
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2011-11-26 22:29
A lot of young kids want to learn clarinet it seems. Bizarrely enough, this is from the influence of Sponge Bob.
Either way, I start kids as young as 7 on an e-flat. Works great. If they truly want to play they'll find a way, but the E-flat makes it less frustrating as they can hold it comfortably and cover the tone holes with ease.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
Post Edited (2011-11-26 22:30)
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Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2011-11-28 19:00
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts/recommendations. I'll send some questions to the mother and see what we can do.
This forum is truly a special place!
Thanks again!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-11-29 04:33
>> A lot of young kids want to learn clarinet it seems. Bizarrely enough, this is from the influence of Sponge Bob. <<
Does one of the characters play clarinet? Or does the opening theme have a clarinet? Do you have a link?
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2011-11-29 05:59
Apparently Julian Bliss started before he was born. I'm not sure how long though.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2011-11-29 14:51
In the eyes of my 7 year old niece, my wife can do no wrong. My wife plays bass clarinet. Guess what my 7 year old niece wants to play... Starting on an Eb might be a hiding to nothing...
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-12-01 06:41
>> Apparently Julian Bliss started before he was born. I'm not sure how long though. <<
That's not unique at all. A lot of people started before he was born...
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2011-12-02 00:14
clarnibass wrote:
> >> Apparently Julian Bliss started before he was born. I'm not
> sure how long though. <<
>
I'd be fascinated to see that ultrasound!
> That's not unique at all. A lot of people started before he was
> born...
I hadn't thought of that. I actually have something on Julian B! I'll take it for what it is -- although, as clarnibass points out that is hardly unique.
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