Klarinet Archive - Posting 000261.txt from 1995/05

From: Helen Emerson <helen.emerson@-----.NZ>
Subj: one piece clarinets
Date: Mon, 8 May 1995 08:19:12 -0400

On 6/5 Fred Cicetti wrote

, I
>think it's time that someone came out with a true one-piece
>clarinet made of a maintenance-free synthetic. By this I mean an
>instrument composed of mouthpiece, reed, ligature, barrel, two joints and
>a bell all in one piece. Of course, this would be a disposable.

This reminds me of something I saw on the English TV show "Barrymore" (a=
sort of variety/comedy/family show, where each week the host invites a=
number of guests along to perform etc.....) Quite a while ago, Barrymore=
had a 5 year old boy on playing a 'clarinet' - well, it was an adapted=
clarinet. It looked smaller, and looked like it was in one (maybe 2?)=
pieces - from memory, the mouthpiece, barrel and first joint were in one=
piece....The instrument was narrower, the keys were all plastic (I think) -=
obviously the weight and tone hole span were reduced for a child of this=
age to manage playing it! The boy has been on the show again (a couple of=
weeks ago in NZ!) - and apparently still plays with his cheeks puffed out!!=
!

Perhaps someone has seen this boy and his clarinet more recently than I=
have, and can tell us something further about it! I would be interested to=
hear about his clarinet - if there is something like this widely available=
for young children to start on.... etc

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Helen Emerson *
* Department of Music *
* University of Otago *
* New Zealand *
* helen.emerson@-----.nz *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *