[Saxplayer67]

Hi there guys...

Teaching students has taken a back seat since the arrival of my son back in '09 but I'm willing to teach the odd one as a favour.

We have some friends whose young daughter plays clarinet but she does not receive tuition now, as the school she attends teaches guitars and drums etc. but not wind instruments and they can't afford a private tutor.

I don't play clarinet but know the different embouchure and that sax fingering is different (and easier!) than clarinet and that the compass is lower but should that be a great hurdle to giving her some - at least nominal - tuition? I can teach her musicality and so on, to at least offer guidance. I thought I could use my sop to demonstrate at least.

Any thoughts or is the best option for either her to eventually get a clarinet tutor or for me even to get a clarinet and learn how to play it myself and then help her out?

May I take this opportunity to wish you all you peeps a Happy and Holy Christmas...

 

[whaler]

Unfortunately, they are so dissimilar you probably wouldn't be doing her any favors. The 'getting a clarinet' idea is better if she can wait for a couple of years while you develop a good sound.
What passes for what people think is a 'good sound' on sax is a lot more difficult on clarinet.

 

[warp x]

If you don't play clarinet I think it's best if you don't teach it either.

 

[Canadiain]

Surely the right thing to do is to get HER to play the sax, right?:evil:

 

[Chris D]

I go through the same thing with my daughter. The range and technique is so dissimilar between the two, it's hard for me to teach her anything with the sax other than, like you said, musicality. Fortunately, she does receive weekly private lessons from the band director and meet with the full band twice a week, so when we play together it's more fun duet practice time. Not quite as fun if she wants me to play clarinet though

 

[jlima]

I'm speaking as a saxophonist who was initially taught by a clarinetist. Don't do it. There are so many things that I had to undo later (posture, embouchure, mouthpiece and reed selection, etc.) and that were difficult to eliminate because of the way I started learning the instrument (the soprano). So my advice is recommend her a good clarinet teacher, you don't want her to complaint later about her first clarinet teacher teaching wrong things and not even being able to play the clarinet properly.

 

[ericdano]

Um, yeah......no. Don't. Clarinet and saxophone are not the same. You are going to do more harm than good. And how can you demonstrate clarinet things on saxophone? You probably are going to be bending notes and adding vibrato as well in you "musicality" teachings as well? And "the compass is lower" means what? Ugh.....no. Stop. Step away.

You don't have anything to offer her. She needs someone who plays clarinet, not some chump showing "musicality" and demoing stuff on soprano sax.

 

[Saxplayer67]

She needs someone who plays clarinet, not some chump showing "musicality" and demoing stuff on soprano sax.

Ermmm hence why I asked for opinion - but I don't think 'chump' is a nice word to use to describe me, here's the definition of 'chump':-

'A stupid or foolish person; a dolt'

Thanks a bunch. :Rant:

 

[Dr G]

Some people's two cents worth is severely devalued.

Thanks for caring, '67.

 

[bandmommy]

Unless you've had a few years experience on clarinet with a 'real' clarinet teacher, it would be best if you didn't attempt to 'teach'.
If she's been playing for a few years and needs a buddy to play duets with... That would be fun!
I know you only want to help the young lady, but sometimes the 'helping' ends up 'hurting'.
Honestly, If the girl lived closer to me I would take her on at no charge.

 

[Saxplayer67]

I agree, I just wanted to get it out there for some other opinions, I told my wife it wouldn't work and she said 'oh go on...'.

 

[Canadiain]

Surely if the financial situation for this girl means either no lessons, or lessons from an enthusiastic sax player then the latter is the better choice?

I started on clarinet, I dont understand the mystification/ demonisation of it that goes on in SOTW, its not that hard. I dont really see why people think some advice from a sax player is going to possibly be worse in the long run than this girl trying to do it all on her own with no one to get advice from?

Sure, if a clarinet specialist is an option then that would be plan A, but its not clear if thats even an option...

PS, I thought chump was over the line too FWIW.

 

[warp x]

PS, I thought chump was over the line too FWIW.

Sure was. Uncalled for and rude.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Honestly I think it will be hard to demonstrate clarinet stuff on a soprano. It will probably confuse her.

If she is at the very beginning of playing you may find that buying a cheap clarinet yourself and doing a bit of a learning journey type thing together would be of help to her. Possibly. It depends on how much time you would have yourself to research and practice the basics.

 

[trice]

I think he meant "champ"! I would give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[bandmommy]

I agree, I just wanted to get it out there for some other opinions, I told my wife it wouldn't work and she said 'oh go on...'.

I've been thinking a little more about this. You know, there is a lot more to learning to play than just 'proper' technique.
If you really want to help this young lady out DO IT!
She could learn a lot about phrasing, explore a new 'style', how to use dynamics more effectivly... She can learn the nit picky stuff later when she can get with a clarinetist.
I think this experience might be good for both of you.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I believe if done thoughtfully, it may very well be much better than no lessons at all. I would certainly attempt this if it was necessary, though I do play clarinet as well as saxophone. My main concern would be when demonstrating intonation, I'd need to make double sure my soprano chops were well oiled.

But you do of course need to know enough about clarinet technique a the level you are teaching, even if you don't play it yourself.

 

[Saxplayer67]

Thanks for all the input guys - well one piece of input gets no thanks!

I think what I may do is do a jam with her to see experience-wise where she's at (I do not approve of the terms 'good', 'poor', 'better player', etc., which offers zero inspiration to a player. I prefer 'experience' as a term).

Then maybe I'll pay myself for her to have a one-off lesson with a clarinet tutor then they can take it from there. I hate seeing/hearing of someone enthusiastic with music or another artform and they don't have an avenue with which to pursue it. I think schools - not music schools, I'm talking schools in general - should be more willing to inspire students and not cut their music curriculums, as seems to be the case here.

 

[doublereeds]

I think your idea to help the young girl is good. She might also benefit from a few lessons with a good high school-age clarinet player who wouldn't charge much. My 10th grade daughter teaches several 6th graders, and they get a pretty good deal in my opinion.