 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hsoares
Date: 2012-07-24 22:11
Hi,
I'm new here. My daugher just started playing the clarinet, and she's having a hard time with the keys (her fingers are too small to completely cover the holes). Any thoughts on the best way to get the elusive plateau clarinet? We live in the NYC area.
Thanks!
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-07-24 22:33
How old is she? There are beginner horns out there with covered keys, so the fingers don't need to be covered. I think, but I'm not totally sure, but Vito at one time made covered holes. I'm sure members of this board can help you here.
A lot of young kids may wish to try the much smaller Bundy or equal to in quality, or an ebay Eb soprano clarinet. These ages for the Eb clarinet may be around the 4th grade or younger. This of course is related to her height and the size of her fingers.
The reason for asking her age is mainly what grade is she in? Also where did this horn come from? Sometimes the clarinet can leak air because of poor sealed pads and your poor child will give up the horn. The clarinet, the reeds and the mouthpiece, must be in good working order. She should be playing on a 1 1/2 to a 2 strength reed. Even if the clarinet is new or in new condition the pads can often leak. This is frustrating for you as well as your kid.
Feel free in emailing me if needed for more information.
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Author: kimber
Date: 2012-07-24 22:46
They are tempting...but it might set her up to develop bad finger habits. I played flute (plateau keys) as my main instrument. Now learning clarinet, it has been difficult for me to adjust to the precision of the clarinet keys. I thought about getting one, but my teacher was admanant against it.
If you need a plateau key for her to play, then fine...but plan to swap it out for a regular clarinet as soon as possible. Try one of the smaller Eb clarinets or a kinder (kid) clarinet.
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Author: hsoares
Date: 2012-07-25 19:45
Thank you both for your responses. I agree that a proper clarinet would be the ideal here (not to mention cheaper and easier to find), but my daughter is a small 9 year old and her fingers are just not long/big enough to properly cover the tone holes. She's playing a bass clarinet for now (because of the closed holes), but since that's almost as big as she is, I'd like to find something smaller for her.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2012-07-25 20:25
Google Vito 7214P a few used ones will pop up.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2012-07-26 15:42
Find a Lyons plastic clarinet in C. (Can't remember what they're called now.)
I've started an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old on it, and in addition to lessening the finger coverage problem, the light weight made holding the clarinet and therefore getting the proper finger placement much easier.
(I agree with Kimber: plateau keys may create finger placement problems that won't be evident until the switch to a standard clarinet.)
B.
Post Edited (2012-07-26 15:44)
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