 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: yecal
Date: 2010-08-02 22:01
Hi all!!
I played clarinet in high school. Ive been taking it out an playing a little for my daughter (18 months old) who is amazed by it. Lots of questions hope that yall dont mind.
1) I seem to have lost my ability to play high notes. Is this normal? lol all that I can do is squeak. I am hoping that im just rusty.
2) I am wondering when I can start teaching my 18 month old. I know that now is early. When and how should I introduce it to her? I hope that she stays interested
3)My clarinet from high school is an Artley 65s. I am trying to read up on it. Everything that I find on Artleys says that they are ok starter horns. Mine is wooden but all of the ones that I find are plastic. The only other wooden Artley that I can find is the 72s. I am getting kind of frustrated with it. Any one have any information? Im not concerned with the price just curious about the clarinet itself. Are the wooden ones better than the plastic ones?
4) I need to get new reeds. Should I start with a 2 I used to play with 2 1/2 or 3 but its been a while.
Sorry again about the bombardment of questions. I really want to encourage my little girl with it.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2010-08-03 00:46
Well, for my money, I'd say first get the horn checked for leaks etc--just to make sure those squeaks are really YOU and not the horn.
Second, can I just suggest some private lessons? I'm a big proponent of doing stuff right, particularly if you're teaching someone else. Assuming the squeaks aren't the horn (or even if they are, for that matter) I'd get basic concepts clarified & re-introduced by a qualified professional, if I were you.
Third, yeah, 18 months may be a little young. "I hope that she stays interested."--good luck with that! Maybe she will, maybe she won't, but the best example you could set for her would be someone enjoying the instrument, learning to play it as consciously and devotedly as possible, and having fun in the process.
I know we have real actual teachers on the thread with INFORMED opinions on this. (e.g. what strength reeds, etc etc)
By the way, I play an Armstrong student flute I got in 1986. It's ok, pretty decent actually, and though my flute skills keep getting better, I can't outplay the horn yet. When I can, then it's time to talk about a better instrument.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-08-03 02:11
Welcome back to the madness! ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
First off, do what Doug said, and have the instrument checked for function with a competent technician. After that, consider taking at least a few lessons to get you back into the swing of things.
As to your daughter, I would recommend not forcing anything on her. Play the instrument yourself, and keep her entertained. You will build a love of music into her, much as parents who read daily to their children build a love of books. When she gets into 4th or 5th grade, consider giving her a clarinet and getting her private lessons. We started our daughter (now almost 19) that way, and she ended up being the best clarinetist in the school district, the principal of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and is now taking music performance as part of a double major in college. But it was her choice. We just planted the seeds.
When she took up clarinet, I began playing again, too. We both joined a local adult community band five years ago, and this has been a great way for us to spend time together doing something we both love.
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."
Post Edited (2010-08-03 02:12)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-08-03 02:17
Without seeing your instrument, I'm guessing that it's a decent clarinet. It might not be a professional instrument, but if it's in good shape I think you'll be able to do a lot with it. As Doug suggested, have it checked out.
If it doesn't have a good mouthpiece, get a Clark Fobes Debut. It's a great mouthpiece for the price (about $35 or so). The Debut works well with no. 2 1/2 or 3 reeds. With a decent mouthpiece and reed, a clarinet in good condition, and a little practice, I think the high notes will start coming back.
I admire your enthusiasm and your desire to get your daughter interested, but I'm sorry to say this--I think she's a little young to start playing! As a former public school music teacher (and parent of three kids in college and grad school who all played instruments), I think one of the best things you can do now is to keep playing your clarinet for her if she enjoys it. Sing with her, and put on CDs of good music. When my kids were young, I'd sometimes make up goofy songs that they seemed to enjoy. I recall having some toy instruments around the house. When your daughter is slightly older, take her to concerts.
Some parents are very eager to have their young child take piano or violin lessons. This can be a good thing, but I have no personal experience with it. My biggest concern is burnout. I've seen some over-anxious parents push their children too quickly and too early. The child does well for a while, but a few years later he or she has had enough.
When your daughter is in second or third grade, you could get her a song flute or flutophone. I had my public school students learn one of these before I'd let them play actual instruments, and I think it was helpful. Many elementary schools offer recorder instruction with the general music teacher (although mine didn't), and this is good too. Recorders are good, but song flutes and flutophones are easier for children with very small fingers.
You sometimes hear about very young children starting on the clarinet, but I'm not sure this is a good idea. I've heard about children starting on the E-flat clarinet, but I'm not sure how common it is. Many children have small fingers and have a hard time getting the holes covered, and this leads to a lot of frustration. For those who are extremely mature and motivated, third grade is about the earliest I would start a child. Fourth grade is better, but I think most students do best when they start in fifth grade. So much depends on the individual child.
Some school districts start instrumental music instruction in fourth grade, but fifth grade is more common. Because many school budgets are
tight, some school districts now are waiting until sixth grade. My wife and I are both musicians, and we thought about starting our kids earlier than fifth grade (when all the other kids at their school started). We didn't. Instead, we tried to provide a lot of musical experiences at home. One of my sons taught himself song flute (which wasn't used at his school) and had a great time. We encouraged our kids to do well in general music class (they had a good teacher) and participate in school programs. I think (for them at least) that we made the right decision. All of them took private lessons and did very well.
Try to enjoy every minute with your daughter, and cherish the time you spend together!
Post Edited (2010-08-03 02:20)
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Author: dansil
Date: 2010-08-03 07:15
At what age was Julian Bliss when he first wrapped his tiny fingers lovingly around a clarinet?
My guess is that when a child can support the weight of a clarinet, reach all the keys and cover the appropriate tone holes with their fingers they are probably old enough to put a soft reed and mouthpiece in their mouths and try to get a sound out of the horn. My second guess is that would be around 4-5 years of age.
Cheers, Danny
(who started far too many decades too late to be a prodigy but nevertheless is loving the self-flagellation of playing the clarinet; all those in earshot probably would have an alternative opinion!)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-08-03 14:28
Welcome from another come-backer! You've got loads of company here from those of us who quit and then reconsidered. Even if your clarinet turns out to be in perfect condition, those high notes may take time and patience. The embouchure needs to firm up after a long layoff and that's a slower process than "getting your fingers back."
A soprano recorder is a great first instrument for a small child (three or four years old), especially if she's interested in clarinet, because of the similarities in how to play the two instruments. She can make real music on a recorder. It won't frustrate her, the way a toy can frustrate a child with musical ability or the way a clarinet can frustrate a child who just isn't big enough or strong enough yet to control an adult-sized reed instrument. Also, small children don't always treat instruments gently. Better she should learn good handling practices on an inexpensive plastic recorder or song flute than on something that would cost serious money to fix if she happened to discover that the mouthpiece end works pretty well for boring holes in the dirt.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: clarchick
Date: 2010-08-03 14:39
I agree-once she is old enough start with the recorder. Many of my best students have had some recorder experience. When they picked up the instrument, the main hurdle was figuring out that pesky reed.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2010-08-03 15:29
concur with the recorder suggestion
then at age 6 or so, start piano lessons
an artley is not a good instrument. can you afford a better one? maybe a new E-11?
a few lessons would get you straightened out on reeds, mouthpiece, check your horn for leaks, etc.
most instruments that sit unused since high school, and then picked back up as an adult are unplayable, and need full overhauls. most of the pads and key cork will have issues after sitting unplayed for a number of years. get that straightened out first.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: LCL
Date: 2010-08-03 19:10
Hi,
All good advice above and since you appear from your email address to be near Saint Martinville, LA - I'm down the road in Thibodaux - may I recommend the Lafayette Concert Band as a great venue to again play regularly.
Best wishes,
LCL
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Author: yecal
Date: 2010-08-11 01:07
Thanks a million!! This is a very friendly helpful group!!! I took the clarinet in and had all of the pads replaced. The guy said that there are no problems with it and I just need to brush up. He did suggest that I get a new mouthpiece for it. The one that I have is not great.
I am going to have to take a little break form playing. I just had a wisdom tooth removed. In the mean time though we got Courtney a little toy horn and she is a natural . Thanks again I look forward to learning and growing with yall.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-08-11 01:25
Yecal, for ajust a few bucks, invest in a Fobes Debut, a Redwine Mezzo, a Behn Overture, or a Hite Premiere. All of these will do nicely to get you going again and start back on the right foor, so to speak. Look to the right side of the page for links to most of these mouthpiece makers.
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: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2010-08-13 01:18
For your daughter: sing to her and join her attempts to sing back, play lots of music, have a piano in the house so she can plunk a few keys at her leisure. Oh, did I say play lots of music? This is how my brother & sister and I grew up loving it. I was a late starter but in grades 11 and 12 made up for lost time! The idea for now is to help her just enjoy all sorts of music.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-08-13 13:21
>>For your daughter: sing to her and join her attempts to sing back, play lots of music, have a piano in the house so she can plunk a few keys at her leisure.>>
Yes! My mom, a former music teacher, did something clever with the singing. She sang songs, but she also sang scales: "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C!" Then back down. Then she sang intervals: "C, E, G ... G, E, C ... C, F, A ... A, F, C and so forth. As a little kid at the "bang the spoon on the pan" stage of development, I had no idea she was teaching music theory and she certainly never sat me down and announced grimly, "Now I will teach you your scales and chords, and they're boring, but you have to memorize them!" She'd just start singing and naturally I started singing along, monkey-see, monkey-do, as soon as I spotted the pattern. I didn't realize those "songs" were any different from the other songs. Knowing those scales and changes already came in mighty handy when I started taking formal piano lessons.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2010-08-13 20:49
Quote:
"For your daughter: sing to her and join her attempts to sing back, play lots of music, have a piano in the house so she can plunk a few keys at her leisure."
Having a piano on hand is a great idea. A little blower-driven reed organ could work well, too, and can be had for cheap or free these days. Note that these have a clarinet-like tone. I got my musical career off to a rousing start with a Magnus organ, which I actually wore out by the time I was age 6 or so. In beginning band, I gravitated toward the sound of the clarinet and it became my first wind instrument. Coincidence?
If she takes a liking to the organ, so much the better--in many locales there is a shortage of organists. I get more calls for organ performance work than I'm able to accept.
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