Klarinet Archive - Posting 000510.txt from 2000/02

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Newcomer Question?
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:58:40 -0500

-- Mary Kay Wilson <mkwilson@-----.net> wrote:

> This brings up another question. Right now he is playing
> on an old Artley plastic clarinet (which will be perfect for
> marching band). Is it necessary to go straight to a pro model
> or would an intermediate get him through High School? He is
> quite talented, and even sounds great on his Artley.

The answer to your question may lie with your son. He must
be talented indeed if he can sound good on an Artley (!), but
the decision about whether or not to invest in a pro-line horn
should certainly be made with your son's intentions and ambitions
in mind. Does he currently receive private lessons? If so, for
how long now? Has he thus far expressed thoughts of pursuing
clarinet performance as a professional endeavor? It may be a
little too soon to ask him such questions, but you need to de-
cide for yourself how much of a commitment from your son will
justify the cash that you will lay out for the instrument. In
answer to your specific question, an intermediate-level instru-
ment in good repair will very likely be sufficient to get him
through high school. And then, when he's ready to make the de-
cision about what to do in college, you can consider upgrading
his equipment accordingly.

Regarding this prospective Evette-Schaeffer that you can obtain
via the postal service, do not purchase any instrument without
at least a one-week, full-refund (less S&H), no-questions-asked
trial period . A blind purchase is an unwise investment decision,
no matter what you may know in general about the instrument. What-
ever instruments are being considered should be made available for
your son to test for at least a few days -- at least long enough
for you to also bring the instrument to a professional player in
your area, for an expert opinion about the instrument's overall
condition and suitability for a player at your son's level.

-- Neil
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