Klarinet Archive - Posting 000512.txt from 1995/10

From: Laurence Liberson <hardreed@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Shiny Keys
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 06:41:00 -0400

>Been a lot of information lately about polish, tarnish, chemicals, rouge,
>et. al. Thought I'd add a thought.
>
>I used to worry about the appearance of my keywork until I saw a good
>close-up of Benny Goodman's horn. All the keys were completely worn and
>dull from hours of practice.
>
>Now I view every bit of tarnish on my horn with pride and don't worry
>about shining the keywork.
>
>fred cicetti
>

I remember (somehow!) going to my weekly clarinet lesson shortly after
obtaining my very first (used) Buffet clarinet, back at the ripe old age of
fourteen. I then proceeded to whine to my teacher (a former Detroit
Symphony principal, no less!) that, as excited I was to have the instrument,
I was disappointed and embarrassed at the fact that the keys were dull and
tarnished.

His immediate reply was "Do you want it to look good or sound good?"

I went home and practiced.

End of story.

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
hardreed@-----.com