單簧管和長笛問題

anna_leung

Hi all,

Comparing 單簧管和長笛, which one is more suitable for a 7 years old boy?

Which one is more easy to learn?

Besides, 柏斯staff told me that less people learn 雙簧管 because it is more suitable for elder people.  Is he right?

I don't know much about 管樂 but want to let my son learn.  Please let me know.  Thanks in advance.

vmusic

柏斯說得無錯, oboe對小朋友來說是不太適合, 因真的頗難學, 須要的氣量比其他管樂器多, 7歲學此樂器真的辛苦了他......

luckypig

其實三種樂器對七歲的小朋友都不適合, 因三種都不是易吹,但oboe 須要的氣量不比其他管樂器多, 柏斯只是請不到oboe老師才這樣說,因oboe是一種很泠門樂器又萬萬$$$聲,學它長遠好過學單簧管和長笛。

youma

The holes in Clarinet are the smallest among the three instruments. If the fingers of the kid are still small, it is difficult to handle.

anna_leung

Hi all,

Then which type of 管樂 is better to start for a 7 years old boy?

My son's piano teacher said most of the 管樂 are better to start with the age of 8.  Is she right?  What is the suitable age to start???

But I wonder why 九龍塘宣道小學 can allocate the new P.1 student (most of them are only 6yrs. old) to learn different type of musical instruments, which include string and wood instruments?????  WHY???

Want to let my son learn a musical instrument for 將來升中籌謀。  Which type of instrument is better for boy??

Give me some opinion if you have.  Thanks a lot.

bbtung

"Want to let my son learn a musical instrument for 將來升中籌謀。"

How about violin !

anna_leung

Hi bbtung,

Thanks for your opinion.

Siub

luckypig 寫道:
學它長遠好過學單簧管和長笛。

點解咁講?  呢三樣木管樂器, 係咪以單簧管最易學, 其次長笛, 最難係oboe?

nn

I learned Clarinet when I was in Form 3, I found it quite difficult to handle during the first few weeks, what I mean is - it is very difficult to just make a sound.

My classmate learned flute, and seems like it is easier to handle.

My personal comment is, for a kid at 7yrs old, I will pick something easier such that he/she will not give up easily due to frustration at the beginning.  I had 2 more classmates picking Clarinet at the same time as me, 1 gave up within 1/2 year, and the remaining 2 (including me) gave up in 2 years...

anna_leung

Hi nn,

Thanks for your response.

Did you learn anything else, other than Clarinet?

Can you share more experience, both you and your friend, who learn wood instruments?

luckypig

Siub 寫道:
[quote]
luckypig 寫道:
學它長遠好過學單簧管和長笛。

點解咁講?  呢三樣木管樂器, 係咪以單簧管最易學, 其次長笛, 最難係oboe?[/quote]

I think the number of students of oboe is the smallest compared with clarinet and flute. So it is more easier to win in the school competition. I remember Yip Wing Sze has said that all orchestra lacks oboeist. In the long run, the opportunity cost of learning oboe gains more- that is the point.  But I find hard to find someone teaching my son oboe.   

nn

anna_leung 寫道:
Hi nn,

Thanks for your response.

Did you learn anything else, other than Clarinet?

Can you share more experience, both you and your friend, who learn wood instruments?

I learned piano as well when I was young, but both "half bucket of water".  As what other mums said, piano is too common, for my class, all classmates learned piano plus 1 more instrument, mainly violin, some took cello, some took flute and 3 for clarinet.  As we only had 3 in the class learning clarinet, even we 3 performed badly in the music examination, the music teacher gave us the highest marks among the class    

kaka0814

As a clarinet tutor, I may say, most woodwinds are not designed for age 7 or below. It's better for them to start at age 8+. Start learning earlier doesn't mean they will reach higher grades, in fact, woodwinds needs body development -- you won't never be able to play 30mins for your grade 8 exam at a young age, you need a good lung and good breathing control -- so you have to wait them to be growth up.

My views: Oboe should be the most difficult comparing with Clarinet and Flute.

Oboe needs to handle with double reed, which most of the time has to get from the teacher, while only professional teacher know how to make good reeds. Besides, the mouth piece is the most narrow that you have to make your lips focus and get the air blow into one very narrow instrument. The pitch will change with the pressure of the lips (both side), students have to handle not only the fingers but also the lips control.

Clarinet becomes the next difficult one. As oboe is too difficult to play (or I should say to play wonderfully), the world changed one side of reed (remember oboe is a doubled-reed instrument) to be a mouth piece. Clarientist still have to handle one side of reed and use a better fingering system as the clarinet has now been newly designed.

Flute should be the easiest to start, no reed to handle. But all you have to have a longer arm, so that you could play it on a side.

Think deeply before you start a 2nd instrument. I would say most school count this kind of ECA at a very very low ended. Some schools won't give bonus even you have reached a higher grade. If you want further comments, you may PM me.

luckypig

You give a factual comment on these three instruments.

How about oboe compared with bassoon? Is it too earlier for a P.1 boy to learn bassoon who is fat with wide mouth and thin lip?

My son is curious about bassoon and all my friends especially those APS parents strongly commend the bassoon as the first instrument.

What's your expert advice? Thanks.      

kaka0814

Luckypig,

not expert advice, just some comments -- I don't want any child losing interests in music.

Again, bassoon is a double-reed oboe, certainly you may say bassoon reed is wider and shorter, which you may produce sound more easily than an oboe.

However, don't forget a bassoon is very very large and heavy. Even for an adult, that's also hard, how can a P.1 boy get along with it? I would say, same case for Clarinet, usually children will feel so hard to hold it for at least 30 mins for a lesson. But in this case, Bassoon is even heavier than a Clarinet.

Why don't just let him focus on one instrument first, and until that reach a certain grade, say 5 or 6, then start another instrument. Child will have more time to focus on one, and developed skills deeply. And then as he / she built up the score reading skills, he will pick up the 2nd instrument in a very short time.

Richard_Hui

Richard_Hui

Richard_Hui

Richard_Hui

anna_leung 寫道:
Hi all,

Then which type of 管樂 is better to start for a 7 years old boy?

My son's piano teacher said most of the 管樂 are better to start with the age of 8.  Is she right?  What is the suitable age to start???

But I wonder why 九龍塘宣道小學 can allocate the new P.1 student (most of them are only 6yrs. old) to learn different type of musical instruments, which include string and wood instruments?????  WHY???

Want to let my son learn a musical instrument for 將來升中籌謀。  Which type of instrument is better for boy??

Give me some opinion if you have.  Thanks a lot.

Basically, it is difficult to tell you exactly the age for a kid to start woodwind / brasswind instruments. It is because different kids have different physical body.

I would suggest if the kid can easily pick up the instrument then he/she can learn that.

"將來升中籌謀" is the most difficult question. I suggest not to choose those difficult instruments such as oboe or basson because your kid may easily drop it. You may think about flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or trumbone. They are common because they are easier to learn and play. Moreover, these instruments can be used in maching band means more chance to play in school.

You may ask more people to get more adivices.

Richard Hui

anna_leung

Hi Richard Hui,

Many thanks to your advice.

Are you a tutor of one of the musical instrument?

You sound professional!!!!