Clarinet advice - similar to recorder?

[singinggirl]

DS2 has come home from school really fired up about learning the clarinet - one of the few instruments I know literally nothing about! He won't be able to start before about half term, could anyone tell me if I am right in thinking the fingering is similar to treble recorder? Since I teach recorder, I was thinking in teaching him a little of this this while he is waiting to start. (I should add that this is just because he is very keen, and he is already a Grade 2 piano and Grade 1 viola, so reads the music with no difficulty). I'm hoping that this may prove to be for him, because I seriously think the viola isn't!

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

My clarinet expertise comes only from my DCs. DD played descant and treble recorder and picked up some clarinet very quickly, saying it was like the treble recorder. She did this herself on her brother's clarinet (own reed). I believe descant fingering comes in too.

And don't think they will give up one instrument in favour of another, DD plays cello, violin and sax.

[singinggirl]

Thanks, we can have a go with some treble recorder then until clarinet lessons start - it should help with the breath control and fingering a little.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

The low register of the clarinet ( called the chalumeau register) is very similar to the treble recorder and this is the first register learnt on the clarinet. The higher register is very similar to the descant recorder.

The fingering patterns are much the same for both recorders- just the actual note name that are different. e.g. the low D fingering pattern on the descant is the same as the low G on the treble. But the notes are read in a different register on the treble than the clarinet. (The low G on the treble is written as the one above middle C whereas the low G on the clarinet is the one below- of course not at concert pitch as the clarinet is a transposing instrument.)

The treble would be a good idea as the finger stretch is closer to the clarinet than the descant.

[sidress]

Kind of similar but of course written differently on the page. Clarinet starts of F 3 ledger lines below whereas recorder starts on first space F. May sound insignificant but it makes a big difference to some. The major differences are Bb, B, and the throat notes around F,F#,G.

I hope he has played recorder with the left hand at the top as he will have some bad habits otherwise.

Have fun. I have a diploma in both instruments and love them both.

[singinggirl]

Only good habits with the recorder - I teach it in schools anyway. I don't think the music reading will be too bad since he reads treble, alto and bass clefs already and is also doing Grade 2 theory work with me, so he has a reasonable background. Thanks to everyone who replied, we are moving on with the recorder whilst waiting impatiently for the school to sort out the lessons!