First of all, don’t tell them it is “difficult.”

What a great friend and teacher taught me, who was an all state clarinet player, as beginners, get them to play a low E cold as quickly as possible. So, as in, this school year, my goal is for them to play a low E by around Christmas Break, a few weeks before or after is sufficient.

Once they can play the low E cold, and I model it for them, then they are ready for register key exercises. You have them play the low E, and YOU press the register key, that way they don’t change their embouchure in anticipation .

Start them going down on C->G, Bb->F, A->E, G->D, all the way down to E->B. Then go up from C->G and lift up a finger, through F-> C.

Bb Major Scale, slowly and as they get to that G, have them, and model it for them, put their right hand down in preparation so it is easier going from A->B.

If you methodically teach it to them, it’ll be easy. Most of your kids will be able to do it. It takes time. If you tell them it is difficult before you even teach it to them, it’ll be difficult.

I hope this helps. For 2nd year players still struggling, I’d check them on the low E and modify the pace as needed.

Steve