Klarinet Archive - Posting 000994.txt from 1997/09
From: Gary Hopkins <ghopkins@-----.net>
Subj: Re: My first clarinet
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 00:09:03 -0400
Sarah,
I know the school you attend. Crowley HS is a very good example of how well
kids take care, or don't take care, of their instruments. We service Crowley
instruments on a regular basis. The biggest problem we find with your
school's instruments is the lack of maintenance the brass instruments
receive. We spend tons of time trying to free-up frozen tuning slides
because they have not been pulled and greased periodically by the students.
This is something that should be done on a regular basis.
I know that I'm talking about school owned brass instruments, but the same
lack of care is given to woodwinds at all schools. Burleson Middle School,
just down the road, has new top line Selmer bass clarinets for their
beginners to use. These instruments are in the shop every week for repair.
The keys are ALWAYS bent because of mis-handling the instruments while in
rehearsal (band class) and when putting the instruments in the case
afterwards. The octave keys and the right hand F/C keys get the most abuse.
I could write volumes about the abuse I have seen given to instruments both
privately owned and state owned. I agree that not all of the kids are rough
on their horns, and many are truly proud of their instrument. However, this
is NOT the norm. Not all kids hang up their clothes, make their beds or wash
their hands after they go to the bathroom. How they are raised is key. You
are probably a very lucky young lady with loving and responsible parents.
(Not like Diane Zamora)
Gary
At 05:17 PM 9/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
>With all due respect to Mr. Hausmann, I think that in general, kids do
>treat their instruments with care. My first clarinet was a plastic Bundy
>handed down to me from my older cousin. I "polished" it every day and
>practiced for almost two hours every night. It was so special. Our
>family couldn't afford to give me any instrument, so I didn't join until
>my eighth grade year, a full year and a half after the others my age. I
>worked to pay for my reeds by pulling weeds in neighbor's yards and by
>babysitting and tutoring. Every cent I had was put into the fund, and my
>second clarinet was bought after I made All-Region band my freshman year.
> I bought an old Leblanc Normandy clarinet third-hand from a guy down the
>street. It is still wonderful. I got that and did all I could to keep
>it in the best condition, because I paid for it. Last year, after my
>fourth paycheck I found a Leblanc Dynamic for about $500 which I bought.
>It is beautiful. No matter what they were made out of, or what brand
>they were, my clarinets were respected because they brought me so much
>happiness. They were my creative outlet and what separated me from my
>counterpoints. I think it was because of my hard work at the beginning
>and my respect for my equipment that made me first chair today. I
>wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything. Now, I am working as
>a waitress, give free lessons and tutoring sessions, just working for my
>first *new* clarinet. I have my eye set on one in particular, and in
>just a few weeks will have enough to buy it. I will treat it exactly the
>same as I have treated my others. I handle all of them as if they were
>my little "babies.
>
>Thank you for reading a sentimental message, (Hey, I thought you weren't
>allowed to be sentimental until you were old. Oh well)
>
>Sarah
>
>>And I'll bet you cared for it as if it was made of solid gold! If
>>only
>>kids today appreciated those sacrifices to the same degree. The treat
>>instruments costing thousands of dollars as if they were plastic Happy
>>Meal
>>toys.
>
>>Bill Hausmann
>>bhausman@-----.com
>>451 Old Orchard Drive
>>http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
>>Essexville, MI 48732
>>http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
>>
>>If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.
>>
>
>
