Klarinet Archive - Posting 001402.txt from 1998/10

From: CEField@-----.com
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] re:Galper Register Tube
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 12:09:54 -0500

You are so right about kids having lousy clarinets to play on. For the past
three years I have been teaching myself how to restore dead clarinets. I can
make many of them sound good but a Bundy will always be a Bundy to my ears.
The best I can do is make the student instruments play easily and well so kids
don't get discouraged and take up another "more cool" instrument. I don't want
to mention the "s" word because I know there are a lot of doublers on this
list. But I confess to a special place in my heart for French clarinets and I
understand that not everyone shares that obsession.

I am especially sensitive to the plight of cash-strapped parents and students
because my own father, who supported my playing but could not afford private
lessons for me, surprised me one payday (November 29, 1960) by spending
literally the last $42 in his pocket for a used hard rubber Pruefer clarinet
from Silvio DiPippo's music store on Atwells Avenue in Providence, RI. That
was my only instrument until 1990 when I bought my Buffet R13. I have since
sold the Pruefer to a adult on the West Coast who wanted to learn clarinet.
But I still have the receipt for the clarinet as a reminder that there are
many families in situations like mine.

That $42 clarinet was the best gift my father gave to me.

Cindy

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