 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bboardsouthard
Date: 2012-10-10 23:44
I'm an adult beginner, and I have recently purchased a clarinet in C. Does anyone know if there is a method book specifically written with a C clarinet in mind? If so, could you direct me to it please... (I've searched the web but with no great success). If there is no such animal, what would you recommend? Many thanks.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-10-10 23:59
If any instructional/tutor book is only written for clarinet without any piano accompaniment, then it will be perfectly suitable for a C clarinet as the basic fingerings are the same on C clarinet as they are on Bb clarinets (and other sizes).
If it has some music in two parts (the upper line for the pupil and the lower line for the teacher), then the teacher will have to transpose their line so it fits if they're using a Bb clarinet during lessons.
I think there is the Graham Lyons book designed to go with the Lyons C clarinet/Nuvo Clarineo
Should you want a tutor book, exam pieces or any book of tunes with piano accompaniment (or guitar chord symbols), then you will have to find them specifically for C clarinet.
Here's the ARBSM Grade 1 syllabus which lists exam pieces with piano accompaniment specifically for C clarinet:
http://shop.abrsm.org/shop/syllabus/ABRSM-Clarinet-2008-2013-Grade-1/12406/44/1
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2012-10-11 00:04)
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Author: bboardsouthard
Date: 2012-10-11 20:08
Thanks for that, Chris; and thanks for the attachment as well. I'll look around to see if I can find a good basic beginners book and take it from there. The reason for a C horn is that my wife and I are international folk dancers, and there are loads of scores (many easy ones) to learn on. The vast majority not written in Bb. My wife plays recorder and plans to learn flute, and it'll be neat to learn and play some of these traditional tunes together. Again, many thanks for taking the time to advise. Larry
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-10-11 20:29
In my opinion, I think there ought to be good quality plastic C clarinets on the market which are in the same league and price as Buffet B12, Yamaha YCL-250, etc. for younger players and schools music programmes so it not only makes for a lighter instrument with closer finger spacing, but also allows them to play the same concert pitch music written for all other concert pitch instruments - recorder, flute, oboe, strings and tuned percussion instruments that are the mainstay of music in primary schools.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-10-12 07:56
The Amati 351 C clarinet is available for around $US685. I haven't played it, but I've read good reviews of it, taking into account it's price.
Tony F.
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Author: bboardsouthard
Date: 2012-10-14 23:35
Thanks, Tony. I've purchased a Hanson C clarinet which also gets good reviews, and they seem to have a social conscience as well in the way they select their materials. I was looking for a method book that specifically deals with the C clarinet (there are zillions dealing with the Bb), but there really doesn't seem to be one that starts off using the C as its reference instrument. I know that the Bb and C have the same parts, same fingering, etc, but folks who decide to take the road less travelled (a C rather then a Bb) do so for certain reasons, and it would be good to learn from a teacher who is into making music with a C horn. But alas, I have yet to find such a book. Thanks for the post.
Larry
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-10-15 00:39
I've never come across anybody who started from scratch with a C clarinet. Most players start on a Bb, learn their basic skills on it where there is plenty of music and documentation available, and then move on to the C clarinet. This is what I did, so when I took up the C clarinet it was a fairly simple process.
I play with a guitar trio, and my fingers are no longer up to classical guitar. We're only hobby players who do it for fun, not for performance, so it opened up a whole new range of possibilities for us. Anything written for guitar can be played on a C clarinet with no transposition.
I'm not sure how you'll go finding a teacher who wants to teach what will surely be a lifetime one-off project, but if you were to get yourself a Bb you'd have no problems finding a teacher. You could transfer the skills you learn to C clarinet without difficulty. The actual nuts and bolts mechanics of playing a Bb or a C are pretty much identical, only the notes associated with specific keys are different, and this is something you can probably deal with yourself. Anyway, good luck, whichever way you go.
Tony F.
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