 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: irene
Date: 2001-09-16 10:28
Hi!
In the Netherlands we sometimes use Lyons clarinets for young children. Do you use them in other countries and what is your opinion about this clarinet?
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-09-16 19:21
Hello, Irene. I don't think the Lyons have caught on that well in the USA. In fact, I don't recall hearing of them in use at all in school programs. The Lyons C clarinet has caught some people's attention due to the current popularity of C clarinets and the lack of inexpensive models available.
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Author: irene
Date: 2001-09-16 19:57
In Holland sometimes we use Lyons clarinets because they're less heavy to hold for young children. Problem with this clarinet is that it's damaged easily, but on the other hand you can solve most problems yourself. A lot of teachers have doubts about them when they see this 'ugly' black instrument, but often they start to like it when they use it for their students.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-09-17 04:21
I had some coprrespondence with Mr. Lyons some time ago and tried to get him to market his product in the U.S.A., but apparently he had previously made a feeble attempt some time before and the company he tried to deal with here, a national mail order retailer, did not seem interested, so he gave it up!
He has a U.K. company under contract to handle orders for his instruments, but as per Mr. Lyons, they do little if anything to actually advertise the product or develop sales agressively.
Also a "C" clarinet would have to fight its way through the crowd as the "Bb" has become the standard for most uses, with the "A" being the second most important. Some major orchestra musicians may have a "real" "C," but even so, not many, as I understand it.
I know some people who have considered the Lyons "C," just because they have wanted to try out a "C" clarinet, and the "real" ones are not only prohibitively expensive, but impossible to find used. However, they soon get over it and opt for other alternatives.
There is an "Eb" soprano clarinet that has caught on here in the US for teaching young students that is even slightly smaller than the Lyon "C" clarinet, but the brand does not readily come to mind at this time. Either way Mr. Lyons is probably too late to make as much of an impact as he could have made some time back.
Selmer makes a model 810 (plastic) "Eb" soprano clarinet that is very, very, nice. It is plenty small enough for a child's hands, yet not so much that an adult can't use it well.
I have a "Bb" and an "A" that travel with me regularly, but every now and again I get on an "Eb" kick and take it with me with the added advantage that the case is about 1/2 the size of a "Bb."
The difference in price between it and the Lyons instrument is negligible, as the Lyons instrument would sell in the U.S. for around $280.00 to $300.00, and if, as you say, the Lyons instrument is fragile, maybe it works out better that way. Americans are rough on almost everything and I have found Selmer clarinets to be hard to break.
Mr. Lyons says that if he could market and sell them in much larger quantities, the price would come down considerably, but he won't come even close to accomplishing this with the lackadaisical attitude he presently has concerning the subject.
When I tried to interest him in marketing in the US, I got the impression that he was somewhat negative to the idea and/or totally unpreoccupied with the subject. Twice he failed to return a reply to a communication from me, for no apparent reason.
I liked the heck out of Mr. Lyon, but I don't know what else I could have said to him to put some get-up-and-go in him.
The last time I just did not bother to contact him again. I still may try him one more time, but lately I've been busy with people who, in my opinion, want to succeed
Such is life.
Enjoy.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2001-09-17 12:12
ive been seriously thinking about buying a lyons clarinet for a student of mine who is not only young (7) but also small for her age. do you think it would be a mistake to get this?
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Author: irene
Date: 2001-09-17 16:17
No. I don't think that this would be a mistake. I've heard from other teachers who use this clarinets for young children. They seem to have less problems holding the clarinet, and are able to play more relaxed. On our musicschool most students play one or two years before they change to a 'normal' clarinet. If you want to know whether a student is ready to play a normal clarinet we just let him try it during the lessons. Some of them really want to play a normal clarinet, but there are also students who find out that a Lyonsclarinet easier is to play. Problem with a Lyons clarinet is that they don't play so well in the high register.
I'd really like to know what your experiences are with this student if you choose to let her play on the Lyons.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2001-09-17 18:24
OK, i gave her a choice to stop playing and wait for the lyons c clarinet (christmas), or continue with the Bb until it comes in. she chose to continue until the lyons clarinet comes in. im just not sure how much further she will be able to go until then, but im trying to go real slow and keep things positive as she struggles to hold it. i will let you know how it goes in a few months.
janlynn
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-09-18 14:46
At present, at least investment-wise, you are probably better off getting a Selmer 810 "Eb" soprano clarinet.
It's just as small and the keys are exactly the same as a "normal" instrument, so it would be easier for the child to switch to a full-sized Bb eventually and the child will never outgrow it, as it will still be a usable instrument as the child grows older. (I am 50 years old, have thick hands with long fingers and I still use one I have without any difficulty.)
Since they are small, they make good travel companions, and if you decide to sell it after the child is old enough to use a "full-sized Bb instrument, it will hold its value much better than the Lyons "C."
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