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Extra-curricular activities

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when to start a second instrument and which?

7 replies

Clarinet9 · 24/01/2015 14:29

So my dc is keen to start a second instrument, has done a mixed music for a year then clarinet for 2 years now.
Got a very good pass at Grade 1 with about 3/4 weeks practice (we had a lot of trouble getting hold of the pieces)
They are pretty musical and enjoy music but practice is a bit hit and miss more so since the exam
So my question is when is the best time to start another instrument, they are keen but apparently want it to be the flute I am hesitant because of the time and I am not sure about 2 wind instruments with different technique.
Would be grateful for opinions from others with more knowledge than I have.

OP posts:
walde · 24/01/2015 14:37

piano plus another instrument is usual. Piano is very useful if he wants to continue with music to gcse and beyond and also for theory.

kelda · 24/01/2015 14:39

I would say piano as well. It's a great instrument to accompany other musicians. Or even guitar.

kelda · 24/01/2015 14:39

My dd1 plays the piano and is just starting the clarinet.

Clarinet9 · 24/01/2015 15:20

Thanks I was hoping to avoid the piano for practical reasons but I might have to look at it again.

OP posts:
Ferguson · 24/01/2015 18:30

It is quite usual for experienced woodwind players to 'double' on other wind instruments, and even though the 'blowing' technique may be different I have been led to believe the fingerings are very similar.

But, I would agree with others, Yes, piano, or keyboard, is the ideal second instrument. It gives a more 'graphical' impression of notes, scales etc, and it also goes a long way towards making music theory more accessible. [In due course I hope to produce a 'beginners' guide' to a few essentials of Theory, for interested MNers.]

What 'practical reasons' did you have in mind? Many people are 'snobby' about keyboards and digital pianos, and think only a REAL piano will do, but a huge amount can be learnt from a keyboard that could not be learnt from an acoustic piano.

As a TA in primary schools for over twenty years, I ran a keyboard club for Yr6 children, who brought in their own keyboards, and I encouraged them to make up their own tunes and to start to improvise. I had recorder groups for ten years, from Yr2 up to Yr6, for children who wanted to continue. And I coached children on percussion to accompany the Christmas production, and had a percussion club for a while. All of this was 'informal' music, so children could get a taste of music, and there was no question of 'Grades' as I am not qualified in that area.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 25/01/2015 01:34

Ds2 plays clarinet and trombone (and piano) and has no trouble with the different embouchures. He played clarinet for about nine months before starting trombone.

LooseAtTheSeams · 25/01/2015 18:56

You'll find quite a lot of teachers of clarinet play flute as well, or at least that always seemed to be the case when I learned the flute as a child. I don't think there's a harmful effect on technique. I wanted to play clarinet but ended up with a flute because my front teeth hadn't fully come through at the time!
However, I would definitely second either piano or keyboards for the reasons already given. I only took up piano in middle age but really wish I had learned it as a child, it makes quite a lot of theory much more understandable!

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