Reading Notes In Second Register, Advice needed Options

[Clari Nicki1]

I have a pupil that got 132 for Grade 1 clarinet. She has good tone but did use to struggle with reading lower register notes... but she is fine reading chalumeau register notes now. I separated notes from rhythmn recently and she can read rhythm really well.... but seems to have an absolute block learning to read the next register notes. She refuses to do it. She writes the equivalent chalumeau note above every higher register note. She refuses to take on board what the higher register note is called... It's really frustrating.... And i don't know how to help her.... Every now and then I make her use my copy of the music with no notes written in and she really struggles. She seems to have a block and can't accept that a G with the register key is a D.... She has learnt some scales that cross the break but she is finding them difficult as she doesn't realised that E with register key is B...
She can play the notes so nicely too... with a lovely tone and perfectly in tune.

Anyone experienced this before?
How do i deal with this?

I've had other pupils who struggle to play the notes... but not one who can play them easily (and slur across the break) but can't read the notes!!!

[jacobvaneyck]

Not easy to advise how to resolve this, but I would do everything to discourage writing the equivalent chalumeau notes in. Though necessary to know at first, you have to move onto knowing the notes themselves. Depending what tutor book she has there might be exercises in there for the clarino register. I've used Tune A Day this way in the past but there is a wealth of things. It sounds like someone who needs that more methodical approach, where others can leave the tutors earlier. Keep questioning the pupil, like 'what is this note? show me the fingering? etc.

If you want lots of lower register tunes while you sort this out, I would recommend First Repertoire by Harris and Johnson. Even the grade 3 pieces are all in the low register, and some fun pieces in there.

Sorry not to be much help.