Klarinet Archive - Posting 000942.txt from 2000/08

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 18:00:11 -0400

<><><> Mike Selvey asked:
After reviewing my research and the prices

<><> Kevin Fay replied:
I am incensed -- no, livid! -- at the highway robbery about to be pushed
onto these poor students.

I agree. In addition to my own instrument, recently I've had to
buy three instruments for grandchildren whose schools have declared:
"Three years of band, buy/rent your own instrument, or you don't
graduate."
I am pro-music. Otherwise I wouldn't play myself, take lessons,
etc. But sometimes these school systems have tunnel vision and behave
like dictators when it comes to _forcing_ children to do music rather
than offering the opportunity.

I just recently 'graduated' from a plastic student horn, and I can
tell you from my own experience that neither yourself nor your child is
prepared yet to choose between the various wood instruments.
I wish I had been able to make a valid choice of wood instrument in
the beginning. I know now that it would've saved me some frustration.
There are very real differences between instruments.
But I also accept the fact that, in the beginning, I would've made
the wrong choice.
If you care, I started out with Yamaha's version (YCL-20 in many
stores). The rental was $30/month, with the first three months applied
towards purchase, which was $425 or thereabouts. And you can expect to
get $300-$325 (less sales commission) of this back in a year or so if
the horn is still in good condition.
The warning about durability of a wood instrument for a school
child is very good advice also!

<><> Go plastic and spend the difference on a good mouthpiece
(which is a MUCH more critical item).

Yes. All of the above is IMO, of course (in my opinion).

Cheers,
Bill

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