Woodwind instruments and teeth

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

I am looking for a bit of advice please.

DS1 is 7 in the summer and will go into yr3 in Sept. He has been playing recorder since yr1 to get the basics of reading music, musicianship etc.

If he wants to move on to another woodwind instrument how many of his adult teeth have to be through? He currently has the two bottom incisors coming through but no adult top incisors. Is it just those 4 teeth and do they have to have emerged fully? Is it the same for the flute as for other instruments?

I am happy to tell him he should wait a bit longer if necessary. He is still enjoying the recorder so he can continue with that for now.

Not sure about the flute but you definitely need top teeth for the clarinet.

Having said that it's not just the teeth that have a bearing on ages to start a woodwind instrument.

Children need to be fairly tall aged 7 and be fairly strong in order to have the stamina for the clarinet and the flute. I have known several children who have started these instruments too early and lost heart.

I think you need to get the prospective teacher to look at your DS and give a realistic assessment. DD(9) plays oboe and it needs a fair bit of strength (it's heavy) and a decent handspan. Although "moni" versions of woodwind instruments are available I've not met any teachers who have been keen on them.

I hadn't thought about his size in general. DS1 is tall for his age i.e. over 4 foot (1.29m) but he may still struggle to hold a heavy instrument for long.

I am happy for him to carry on with the recorder until his front teeth come through fully. I wasn't sure if it is just those 4 teeth or whether it should be all the incisors.

the clarinet requires quite a largeish hand-span for a 7 yr old too.

i remember struggling to reach the bottom keys when i was 11 (but i was tiny).

You definitely need your adult front teeth, because you have to be able to "bite" down on the reed of a woodwind instrument. Playing always improves when your back teeth are in as well, because your jaw shape matures etc.

My DS1, now 20, began playing the sax when he was 9, after playing recorder from age 4. That seems to be the recommended age in schools for things like this. He started on alto because small children just aren't big enough to play any other kind. Even then we had to get him a harness to help distribute the weight. AS others have said, there is also the issue with being able to reach the bottom keys. I struggled with that until I was about 12, to be honest. You do need a decent hand-span.

Thanks everyone for the useful advice. I hadn't thought about weight and hand span etc. I think he can carry on with the recorder for now and we'll reassess when his top incisors are through.