Klarinet Archive - Posting 000426.txt from 1995/11

From: Gary Van Cott <mccmis@-----.COM>
Subj: Introduction
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 00:35:30 -0500

I have been lurking for about three weeks and, since I am not a
very good lurker, I thought I would introduce myself. My name is
Gary Van Cott and I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have really
been enjoying the list so far and am working my way through the
archives. The archives currently start in October 1994 and I am
up to mid-March 1995.

I started clarinet at age nine and played actively through college
class of 1970). I was lucky enough to grow up in
Arcadia, California, where the schools had a fine instrumental
music program (my junior high band director not withstanding).

The travel, alert, and irregular hours of my Air Force career did
not give me an opportunity to participate in any musical activities.
However, I kept my instruments (tenor and alto sax were added during
high school and college)and played them from time to time. The part-time
business I started just before I retired from the Air Force has had the
same practical effect but I hope to sell it soon and actually have time
to play in a group again.

My full-time job is in the computer field. I am currently working
with Lotus Notes (computer software) as a developer and system
administrator.

One reason for my increased interest in the Clarinet is that my son
Gregory, who will be 12 next month, has been taking Clarinet
lessons for the past 18 months. His teacher is a USC graduate and
former student of Mitchell Lurie. Her name is Carol Embry, in
case anyone knows her. She was interested to hear of Klarinet and
mentioned they were going to get an Internet connection where she
works. (Yes, like many/most of the musicians in Las Vegas, she has
a day job.)

I have found the discussions of equipment both recently and in
the archives to be very interesting. I am considering getting
new mouthpieces for both my son and me (the mail order catalogs
should be here soon.) I have also enjoyed the discussions of
various recording professions ("The Three Queens," etc.). I have
been a bit surprised that most of the postings on recordings have
been of the "Where can I find . . ." rather than "I just heard the
greatest recording of . . ." Who knows, this might increase sales
of the "good stuff." Enough rambling.

Gary Van Cott
mccmis@-----.com