Klarinet Archive - Posting 001010.txt from 1998/02

From: Matthew Hanson <mchanson@-----.com>
Subj: Re: alto mpcs
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 07:24:24 -0500

I think most of you commenting must not have a very good understanding
of what it is like to know or come from a poor school district. I am
not condoning the use of alto clarinets for marching band. However, it
is a fact that poor schools have to do what will tide them over.
My example can be what I've seen happen in several high schools THIS
past semester: Fall semester. A poor high school with next to NO band
budget gets several freshmen and move-in students who are clarinet or
bass clarinet players. They are very lucky to have enough instruments
for the students already enrolled, so the new students cannot be issued
the instrument they play. However, the school has a few old altos in the
storage room that still "play".
This may not be "right" or may sound silly to some of you, but some
programs, unfortunately cannot worry about that luxury. The students
just want to march. They don't care. In such cases, you have to make due
with what you have. I know that some companies allow instrument exchange
for credit toward new or different ones, but when you get in a bind like
this, that isn't something you have time to do, especially when all you
may have to trade are a few old dirty alto clarinets. Something to think
about...

For those of you who are high school band directors, would you rather
march a couple of alto clarinets or have to tell several students they
can't march?
Matthew Hanson
Houston, TX