Klarinet Archive - Posting 000597.txt from 1999/06

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Leeson's comment was Larry combs
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 22:00:15 -0400

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.85
> Subj: Re: [kl] Leeson's comment was Larry combs

> In a message dated 6/17/99 3:58:47 PM Central Daylight Time,
> leeson@-----.edu writes:
>
> << Since it is not my money that you will be spending, be my guest, but
> I sense a real lack of what it is you need in an instrument that you
> do not now have. And that generally leads to a disappointment when
> the new horn is acquired because you don't know what problem you
> have solved except the ephemeral "newness" issue. >>
>
> Dan, this is SO TRUE. Often I get the NEWNESS bug, and I have to buy the
> newest best mouthpiece or ligature or barrel.
>
> What I find however, is that the older equipment I have is most often better
> than something "NEW" that I was so enthusiastic about.
>
> For example I have acquired many ligatures over the years: Harrison, Rovner,
> BG Revelation, etc.
>
> When I honestly sit down and really listen to myself play. I find that the
> ligature Frank L. Kaspar GAVE me, when I bought a mouthpiece from him in
> 1969, is the best overall.
>
> Newest is nice, but frequently not the best.

What drives this "newness" wish is insecurity. One is unhappy
with what one is doing and, rather than do real analysis to
isolate the problem, the decision is reached at some deep level
of the subconscious, that what is needed is a new (fill in: mouthpiece,
reed, ligature, barrel, clarinet, concept, etc.).

And when one presses people in this situation, they get very
irritable because you are touching them in a place where they
do not want to be touched.

Try telling a person who just bought a new Honda (because they
simply wanted a new Honda, there was nothing wrong with the
old car) that they spent their money needlessly. It's the same
basic human instinct: if only I could have a new ___ (fill in the
blank), I'll be happy, life will be good, and my problems will
go away.

>
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=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
=======================================

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