Dear Elementary School Music Director

Dear Sir,

In the future, I think it may be best, if you take your students size into account before you determine which instrument they are going to play...

True...my daughter did put down BASS CLARINET as her 3rd choice. While she is thrilled for a chance to be a part of the band the instrument is larger than she is!!!!!!At just over 4 feet tall she is quite petite...


Thank you,
Concerned Parent

Seriously...out of the 3 students chosen to play Bass Clarinet my daughter is the tallest of the 3...she is very tiny...and the Bass Clarinet is HUGE!!!!

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

I played the bass clarinet starting in 7th or 8th grade & I was TINY. Actually the smallest kid in my grade.(I am still small, but I was a super late bloomer) It looked SO funny. They had to get me one for school and one for home because the case was too big for me to carry

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

a boy in my class played bass clarinet and he had to sit on phone books at the concerts!!!

seriously though, the clarinet family is a great instrument to start on because what is learned transfers to several other instruments. once they learn the fingerings, he can play regular clarinet as well as the saxes in the saxophone family.

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

She could be playing the bass cielo ( K plays that one )

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

As a music teacher, I can tell you that I'm sure he wouldn't give her an instrument that wasn't appropriate for her size. I understand the bass clarinet is big, but as long as her hands are big enough, there's really no reason for her not to play it. Now, the fact that they don't get their first choice of instrument...THAT upsets me. I'd rather have a lopsided band of kids playing what they want than a well-balanced band of kids who I had to assign an instrument to. But that's a whole other issue

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

Posted by prncsslehcar

As a music teacher, I can tell you that I'm sure he wouldn't give her an instrument that wasn't appropriate for her size. I understand the bass clarinet is big, but as long as her hands are big enough, there's really no reason for her not to play it. Now, the fact that they don't get their first choice of instrument...THAT upsets me. I'd rather have a lopsided band of kids playing what they want than a well-balanced band of kids who I had to assign an instrument to. But that's a whole other issue

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

we have pictures of me in 7th grade playing mine. It was huge!!

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

I gotta find you a picture of me with my Cello in 3rd grade.

Re: Dear Elementary School Music Director

I played clarinet from 4-12th, but I also played the bass clarinet from 11-12. I have very long fingers and I am tall-and the bass clarinet was STILL big for me.

I hope she does well with it!!!