 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-06-01 12:00
All you teachers! I have a student who has very small fingers and hands (oriental descent, and overall very tiny compared to other students), and she is having trouble covering right hand rings and tone holes. She then overcompensates by overblowing. Any suggestions? This is the first time that I've encountered this in this extreme.
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Author: 'nifer
Date: 2002-06-01 12:21
Is she playing on a beginner clarinet? I had a student with a similar problem and the problem was she was on a beginner clarinet and for some reason the tone holes were larger than the holes on my buffet (not undercut?) one quick check is to have her try your clarinet (esp. if you have a buffet as to my hands the tone holes seem smaller) and see if she can cover those holes easier, if that works, maybe recommend finding a store from which she can rent an e-11 or buy one. (just my guess, it worked for one student i had)
'nifer
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Author: BeckyC
Date: 2002-06-01 12:43
Maybe, try a plateau clarinet. This is where the keys are covered like a sax. Sounds like what she may need.
Becky
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-01 14:19
To follow-up Becky's advice, LeBlanc has available both a plastic Normandy and a wood LeB [LL] with plateau keys, which, with proper adjustment [much like the alto/bass cls] should perform similarly. There also is the "Kinder Clarinet". Some rt hand fingering problems result from poor thumb rest positioning. Don
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-06-01 15:22
It has been my experience that Vito and Yamaha student lines have smaller tone holes than some others, Selmer line in particular. Above advice, as always, is excellent. Used ones aren't that expensive. Rental is also an option until she matures into the one she has.
jbutler
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-06-01 17:49
Another point: if her right thumb is short, a neckstrap may help her support the clarinet while putting her right fingers in a good place to cover the holes. If her fingertips are just plain tiny, then a plateau model or a Buffet or Vito might work. I have a very young student (8) who has very short fingers, but as she's becoming more accustomed to covering the holes, it works. I had first (before beginning lessons) had her hold my old Selmer Signet and there IS a definite difference in tone hole size. I ended up recommending a Vito and it's a lot easier than my old Signet would be. Didn't have her hold my R13 though...
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-01 21:48
I am surprised that no one has suggested a smaller-sized higher-pitched clarinet. Most earlier discussions seem to have recommended that beginners should not attempt the Eb soprano, but why not the C soprano ? Yes, they are hard to find/expensive, but I have had no difficulty in playing mine with equal or greater facility than the Bb, and with small hands, find tone hole covering and finger reaches are very easy! Don
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Author: ClarinetQween
Date: 2002-06-01 21:50
Try a Neckstrap!!! This will help out extremely!!! Just try it, you should see results!
-ClarinetQween
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-02 00:21
"I am surprised that no one has suggested a smaller-sized higher-pitched clarinet."
The Kinder clarinet was suggested.
Lyons C Clarinet is another possibility
http://www.firstclarinet.com/
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2002-06-02 11:50
This is a very unfortunate situation in which an ounce of prevention could save a lot of misery. As luck would have it, though, the student often comes to the teacher for remedial help after having purchased a Selmer (with tone holes that fit their fingers like a bowling ball) by mail order.
My first line of attack is to have a consultation if I'm lucky enough to be engaged for instruction prior to the purchase of the instrument. This gives me a chance to let the student try my B12, and see if these problems are on the horizon. If they can't place their fingers on a B12, they need to either wait a while or consider playing flute.
A second line of attack would be to have the student use their lefthand low F, which allows more flexibility for the right hand. This is only a temporary solution, but it can buy them some time to get used to the instrument.
The Normandy with plateau keys sounds like a very good solution to me. Beginners clarinets in Eb and C are great for tots, but are a non-starter for kids in school band programs.
The real solution to the situation is to educate parents and band directors. Parents need to know that problems sometimes occur and that rental programs are the best way to go for a first instrument. Band directors need to know that Selmer is a bad choice for students with small, thin fingers and that Buffet and Vito are more appropriate.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-06-03 06:21
Do you guys think that a student playing on an E-flat clarinet (as opposed to a "student" model) would be hampered by the instrument. It's been my (limited) experience that E-flat clarinets are a little temperamental and evil. Certainly my little treasure is a beast and she gets nicknamed "satan" by me for obvious reasons.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-03 11:55
My personal hunch is that Eb is sufficiently demanding of embouchure compared with a Bb, that there would be a greatly increased likelihood of the beginner student getting into poor embouchure habits.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2002-06-03 22:56
I have small hands with thin fingers even as an adult. I played Eb for many years. I would not recommend it for a beginner but it might be a good option in a few years. My small hands were definitely an advantage. I didn't know that the Selmers were known for bigger holes. Guess I won't be buying one of them!
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-06-03 23:10
A mismatch between student and instrument. The solution is a closed-hole flute.
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Author: deebee
Date: 2002-06-04 07:39
Necessity -- the mother of invention? I had to write a little piece once -- range chalumeau A to A -- because the student couldn't cover the G hole safely
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-04 13:59
I have moved the low right key spatulas on a clarinet for a player with a very short little finger (pinky). This involved bending of various parts, and carving a chunk out of the D#/G# spatula to accommodate the post that supports the low ring key. Once it was all polished up it looked as it it was ex-factory. And yes, even this sort of work is reversible if required.
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-06-04 15:23
Hi Everyone! The student will have a refurbished Penzel-Mueller for her next lesson that has been in her family. I have tested this particular clarinet, and my feeling is that the large tone holes and rings on this instrument may give her problems. The last three weeks she has used a school-owned Yamaha. I may keep her on that instrument if I need to do so. I may try a neckstrap. I don't think that her parents will be willing to purchase a plateau or "C" clarinet. Right now, I basically have her working on the right hand fingerings (with no register jumps) so that she will be very secure with them.
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