Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 1997/11

From: "David S. Naden" <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: New clarinet recommendations
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 1997 03:22:45 -0500

Sarah--

With all due respect to your questions about selection of an instrument, have
you not been paying attention to the messages on the list??? There has been
much discussion about Selmer, Buffet, Leblanc, Yamaha and other makes of
clarinets--and bass clarinets--on the list for weeks. The only concensus
reached in all these messages is that the choice of a clarinet is personal,
that you have to try them out, and that you have to select an instrument that
is comfortable for you. The major instrument manufacturers are Selmer,
Leblanc, Buffet and Yamaha (no particular order), and there are other makes.
However, most clarinetists select from the BIG 4.

As far as your suggestion about taping yourself, I offer the following: It
would be preferable for you to take someone who knows the clarinet--hopefully
your private teacher--and have that individual listen to you live. The
clarinet is a difficult instrument to tape well if you have not had much
experience, and the results may be affected. If you must tape, then play the
same material and the same length of time on each instrument under
consideration, AND use the same mouthpiece/reed setup. However, you must
remember that most of us who have selected instruments in the past not only
have tested different makes if that was an option, but several of the same
make and model to select the best available.

As far as your schedule, I would suggest that you do the following:

1) As stated previously, have your clarinet teacher present, and only
tape if this is not possible.
2) Use one day to determine your basic preference between Buffet,
Selmer, Leblanc, and Yamaha.
3) Use a second day to test the instruments of the make you prefer.

For the record, my opinions are based on previous purchases of instruments.
In 1981, I had to replace a stolen set of Buffet R-13s. During the selection
process, I did not even have my standard mouthpiece/reed setup, because that
was with the stolen instruments. In 1985, I purchased a set of Buffet
Prestige RCs, and did not have the opportunity to test them out first. I was
extremely lucky, and have been playing the Prestige RCs for the past twelve
years.

David S. Naden, Graduate Student
Cal State University Los Angeles

benevolent1@-----.com wrote:

> Greetings from Texas,
> I am a high school senior who wants to major in Music Education
> (Yeah). I have worked for two years to earn enough for my first new
> clarinet (huge smile). I just checked my bank account, and have enough
> to buy a good quality instrument. My question was regarding the Patricola
> clarinets. I seem to have a lot of information on Yamahas, Buffets and
> Leblancs, but not much on the other. Is this for a reason? Are there
> any other models I should consider? If any one out there has information
> or advise, I would love to hear it.
> As to how I am going to choose the instrument, this is my plan.
> I am going to tape record myself and take it to my band director and
> private teacher to get their opinions on which instrument they think
> sounds the best. Is this a good way to do things? Should I have them
> there in person? When I do have these instruments in front of me, should
> I play the exact same thing on all of them, or should I vary the content
> of each session. How long should I play on one instrument before moving
> on to the other. Ideally, I would be able to play them in an ensemble
> setting, but we are on a block schedule, and I only have band two days a
> week for about 2.5 hours a day.
>
> Thank you so much.
>
> Sarah
> benevolent1@-----.com