Klarinet Archive - Posting 000329.txt from 1999/02

From: "Carl Schexnayder" <carlsche@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] Evette Clarinets
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 18:14:33 -0500

... I should have said, it has never come to that. I can always find a
really good price on a used Noblet or Normandy. I get good mouthpieces,
barrels, ligatures, etc. , for all of my students and have had some play on
plastic clarinets in the past, but never to my satisfaction. Maybe the
newer ones are better these days, but I haven't yet heard one that sounded
like a wooden clarinet.
>>>Carl Schexnayder
A used Normandy or Noblet in proper playing condition will run a couple of
hundred dollars so could still be too much for some people.
Let me put it this way. When I was a kid, my family was very poor. The
only reason that I got to be in band was because some one GAVE my father a
clarinet in playing condition. Even buying reeds was a hardship and I
protected them like they were gold. If my band director had required a
better one, my family could not have purchased it no matter how good a deal
he had tracked down unless it was free.
>>
>>Fortunately, these days I can afford better as engineering is a pretty
good paying profession but I learned to play, made first chair throughout
elementary, junior high, high school, made 1 ratings every year at
All-State, etc. on the sorriest piece of junk you have ever seen. Would you
have relegated such a student to second band because they couldn't afford
better equipment?

>>Dee Hays
>>Canton, SD
Of course not, Dee. I haven't run into anyone, (so far), that was that poor
and in the band. Maybe if I was starting beginners, I might. I did have
one student who's parents, though they could afford it, refused to buy their
daughter even the cheapest used instrument. I found a used Noblet for
$40.00 and I overhauled it myself for free, bought her a mouthpiece and
ligature, and she played it all the way through high school and in the
college band. She was first chair in my band, made All-District, All-State,
etc.

I was afraid some of you would think I was just a heartless, narrow-minded
band director who just couldn't bend. I'll do whatever is neccessary for my
students. I'm just not willing to take no for an answer. If the student
and/or the parents can't solve the problem, then I'll do whatever I have to
to get it done.

I never want to keep anyone out of music, especially for that reason. Many
times, I have payed for things for students, and many times, when I
couldn't, I have gotten the band boosters to foot the bill. Sometimes, it's
an honor band they can't afford to go to. Band boosters will pay for them
to go. I could name many other situations, but those should illustrate the
point.

Carl Schexnayder

>Maybe we need a double-blind test of wood vs plastic. (Hows that for a
>conversation-stopper?)
>
>
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