Klarinet Archive - Posting 000118.txt from 1998/11

From: "Carl Schexnayder" <carlsche@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] Starter Clarinet?
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 00:26:08 -0500

Sean Talbot Wrote:

Being an adult you might want to consider a student wooden horn like the
Yamaha 32. The stock mouthpiece that comes with it isn't great but not a
bad place to start. I usually start students out on Rico Royal 2 1/2 reeds
if they have never played any instrament. I don't know if an adult
beginner's face muscles are developed enough to start on a 3 or not. There
is a plethera of student instraments out there and the one thing to be
careful is getting an instrament in good condition that will give you a
fighting chance.
>
>Sean Talbot

Reply:
There's nothing worse than seeing a beginner struggle with an instrument
that a professional couldn't play because the parents didn't want to, (or
couldn't), spend the money for a better instrument. Then the student gets
discouraged and quits! I always try to get my students to start on a good
intermediate wooden clarinet or better. Although I don't start beginners
anymore, parents and relatives who are my former students often come to me
for advice. My idea is that a used wooden instrument is always, (my
opinion), better than a plastic one and if they can't find a new one, I can
usually help them find a good used one for the same money they would have
paid for the plastic. If we can't come up with one, I will usually switch
them to bass on contra, (if they have some ability). If they don't, no
kind of equipment will help them anyway, (again, my opinion).

Of course, I always tell my band students never to bring their instrument to
the shop without checking with me first. Most often, there is a simple
problem that can be fixed on the spot instead of having the instrument out
of commission for two or three weeks, (during which time the student has
forgotten everything he ever learned). The point is that, if these simple
problems are taken care of, they don't develop into major problems. I tell
them that whenever a note doesn't respond as well as any other note or the
instrument doesn't play as well as it used to, there's something wrong,
(although it could be a problem with the reed or a chipped mouthpiece - but
the teacher and the student need to be aware of those things as well and
those problems can also be fixed), and it needs attention!

I don't say that the way I do it is the only way or the right way, but it
works for me and my students.

Carl Schexnayder

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