Klarinet Archive - Posting 000623.txt from 1996/01

From: "Gregory T. Wright" <103147.1471@-----.COM>
Subj: instrument materials
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 1996 23:38:00 -0500

Clark Fobes, and fellow Klarinetters:
"Horns, Strings and Harmony" is a great book by Benade (I think it is th
e
same Benade) which discusses making your own clarinet or flute out of plastic
pipe. (Among many other things.) The point is supposed to be that material is
unimportant, as it is the AIR vibrations that we all hear (except the
performer, who gets also gets sound via bone conduction). I have not tried
building either of these, but I can see his point.
If materials are in fact less important to an aerophone
(wind instrument) than to a chordophone (stringed instrument), then "student
line" instruments should play at nearly the same level as "professional"
instruments. Assuming (risky, I know!) that materials DO have a smaller impact
on sound than is commonly believed, the differences between the instruments
should lie in details like "fit and finish"; tone hole placement, size, and
undercut ; and action mechanisms.
In one seminar on beginning instrumental music, I was told that "student
line" was really a misnomer. If there is ANYONE who needs cooperative
equipment, it is beginners.
Gregory T. Wright
103147.1471@-----.com