I was thinking of getting a Lyons C clarinet for my daughter for Christmas and was wondering if anyone thought it was a good (or bad) idea.

She's 10 and plays the recorder - she has lessons at school but doesn't practice so It might be a three minute wonder - but then our house is full of flute music she could play on it - or I could try - and I have a smaller daughter who might be tempted.

If your daughter is 10 years old, she is big enough to play the real clarinet. I don't personally like Lyons C clarinet - I had one pupil using it, but graduated to the Bb as soon as he was big enough, possibly 8 or 9 then, when the adult teeth came through...

Make her practice as regular as possible, making it daily routine just like brushing the teeth! And with lots of encouragement from you, she should be having a great fun!

To be honest, if your daughter was younger (7-ish), you may want to consider a Lyons, but if it were me, I'd get a standard Bb for your 10-year-old. There's a very slim chance she'll be a little small for the Bb, but even then, it's likely she'll grow enough in the very near future to 'fit' a Bb. Certainly, it's worth looking for a good second-hand clari, as well as looking at new ones. If you have any queries, you are most welcome to leave a further reply on this thread, or to leave me a PM.

Way back last century when I started playing, I had a standard Bb clarinet. It was my birthday present when I turned 9. I wasn't particularly big, but didn't have any problems with the size and weight of the instrument.

If you're worried about it being a five-minute wonder, why not start her off on lessons now with a rented instrument, and buy one next year if she's still keen? Or even a second-hand Bb instrument now? Or even a brand new Bb instrument - they don't cost much more than a new C clarinet, and you'd need to buy at least a second-hand instrument before too much longer if she stuck with it.

Flute music doesn't really have a suitable range for a novice clarinet player as the clarinettist would need to play "over the break" for much of the time and you wouldn't get to use half of the lower register.
My daughter and I often play flute duets on clarinets too if we like them -but they do go rather "high up".
I go along with the other recommendations to start your 10 year old on a standard Bb clarinet. Lyons C clarinets cost about £170 new (so I believe). I found a 2nd hand one for £40 but if you were looking at buying a new one C clarinet better to spend the money on a Bb.

Get a normal Bb unless she's very unusually small. I started on mine when I was a titchy 7 year old. Which is inadvisable - but most 10 (and 9) year olds can manage a Bb.

I have a lyons C Clarinet, and I love it! I learned on a Bb instrument (Buffet B12) and bought a Lyons as a curiousity piece. I love playing it now, I play that more commonly than my Bb, because I like playing recorder music, and I like the practicality of dragging it around- it is the most durable instrument I own. However, I am planning to upgrade to a C clarinet in grenadilla to see if it affects the tonal quality- I guess it is a matter of preference.

I didn't learn until this May; I suspect had I been learning as a child I would have prefered a 'real' clarinet, alternative fingerings are nice, as is the ability to trill on certain notes, two things that the Lyons struggles on.

I am happy to answer further questions if need be!

hello katsmile - & thanks for that post

I'm still in two minds - I thought I'd be able to get one very cheaply on eBay but they seem to hold their value - my DD is not in the least interested in music but does go to the school recorder group - I was hoping the LyonsC would be a cheap stocking-filler that might stimulate some interest.

Another option might be to rent an instument fro a few months. I hope she's be old enought to understand that it is the rental cost that's the present and not the instrument. (I don't mind buying an instrument if it will be used - but not as a Christmas or birthday present as I have three children and don't want to start something costly)

Not sure what to suggest then.

I tried playing clarinet when I was at school and I hated it, I hated all woodwind instruments except the recorder. I came back to it at my own choice at university when I bought my first soprano sax (it was nasty, Taiwanese, sharp.... thinking about it makes me feel sick) and I then sold it on Ebay and bought a Blessing curved soprano (Also on ebay, at a bargain price). I have never looked back...

What I guess I am trying to say, is relax about it. Encourage the recorder playing, there are beautiful pieces for recorder (Books with CDs are great) and its so fulfilling to hear the recorder played well. Tenor recorder is another option, as it sounds nice- I didn't like the sound of the descant and learned on treble and tenor.

The ocarina is another instrument worth considering if you want to encourage someone to be musical. I played that for years and now teach it- and it is a cheap enough stocking filler. I can highly recommend Ocarina Workshop for their instruments and music books.