Klarinet Archive - Posting 000966.txt from 2000/08

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.us>
Subj: RE: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 09:43:03 -0400

Hi Mike,

Here where I live it is against the law to do what your child's band
director is doing. Band director's are prohibited from dictating to parents
what they must and must not purchase or rent.

First of all, children choose for themselves what they want to play instead
of the band director dictating what he wants based on what section he needs
musicians to fill out. It has been my experience that children do better
when given the choice to choose what interests them. They stick with it
longer that way. We have a band night in the all-purpose room of every
school and all the stores who want to rent or sell can come and display
their wares so that the "hopelessly ignorant fathers " (and mothers) can
choose for themselves what they want to rent or buy.

There is absolutely no reason why your child has to start on wood. You will
spend less money on repairs with a plastic model. The wooden horns are not
as tough as the plastic ones. Also, don't rule out a rental. In the big
picture, a lot of kids don't stick with playing after about three months,
when they find out that one has to practice to make progress. Most stores
will rent for three months with the option to buy (all rental money going to
the purchase price) if your child continues after the initial three months.

The basic Buffet (B-12) is a good clarinet to start on and if you really
want to go less expensive than that, there are models which are
satisfactory. The Selmer Bundy (probably the cheapest of the lot, which
everyone poo-poo's) is a tough instrument, not prone to damage the way the
wood models are and is a repairman's dream when it has to be fixed because
of the young student's carelessness. Incidentally, you can't escape the
repairman, so plan on getting to know him. A used clarinet, especially a
plastic one, is not like a used car, in that even if you were to really beat
up one (short of breaking it in two), it can be fixed and turned into a
satisfactory instrument that can provide many years of enjoyment. Wood
instruments require extra care and maintenance that most kids aren't mature
enough to handle until they reach high school (and maybe not then either).

My recommendation would be to rent a plastic clarinet with the option to buy
and if, after the rental period your child wants to continue playing, then
you can ask the list again to help you decide what the next step should be.
If you choose to buy at this time most reputable stores will take back the
rental, apply all rental payments to purchase and give you a brand new
instrument. In other words, rental instruments are strictly to be rented
and not sold. If you have any other questions or want a personal reply,
just get back to me. I worked for many years in the music retailing
business and as a repair assistant and am more than willing to help you out.
Best of luck!

Nancy

Nancy E. Buckman, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, Maryland 21012 USA
nebuckman@-----.us

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Selvey [SMTP:sidecar@-----.net]
> Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 6:00 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
>
> Greetings!
>
> I'm brand new to the list, so a quick introduction might be in order.
> I'm a non-musician father of three children, married to a wonderfule
> wife who plays organ (we have two).
>
> My daughter, now eleven and just starting sixth grade, has decided to
> take band, and learn an instrument. From a combination of her preference
> after being introduced to various instruments, and the evaluation done
> by the band instructor at her middle school, it has been decided that
> she will play clarinet.
>
> For a number of reasons (I gather), the band department in our local
> school district STRONGLY recommends that first time clarinet players
> should begin with a wooden clarinet, and not a standard resonite
> "student" clarinet. Their reasoning appears to be that in this school
> district, most parents never seem to "upgrade" their children's
> instruments as their school career continues, so they strive to ensure
> that beginning students get a good one to carry them through high
> school.
>
> In any case, that seems to have ratcheted the entry price considerably
> upwards from what I've been able to find on the 'net from sources like
> Woodwinds & Brasswinds (thanks, Dee!) and Giardinelli's, among others.
> I have decided to purchase new, rather than risk the vagueries of buying
> used, and having to then face the possiblities of repairs and overhauls.
>
> The deal set up by the school district is to attend a showing of
> instruments put on at a hotel by a local music company, and view the ONE
> clarinet which has been "recommended" by the district and the music
> store together as our best choice. It will be in the nature of the
> standard Lease/Purchase agreement of 18 months. The price of this
> "school band discount" Signet-110 is $899.00! I almost had a cardiac
> arrest!
>
> I have a problem with this, not the least of which is because of an
> apparent lack of choice, and the frustrating inability to find out
> ANYTHING on the 'net about this particular clarinet. Only by calling
> the music store directly was I able to find out why I could not find
> reference to a "Signet-110 Bb wooden clarinet". It turns out that even
> though "Signet" is no longer advertised by Selmer, it is still
> manufactured as a "private" line for some larger music stores for just
> this application. This gives them a kind of "exclusivity", in that I
> cannot price shop that model, and they can ask $899.00 for it, with no
> way to disprove their "band discount"!
>
> After reviewing my research and the prices, I have settled on four
> possible candidates to acquire through online purchase. My question
> (finally!)to this list is:
>
> Which of these four clarinets would you recommend for my daughter, and
> why?
>
> Selmer CL200.................$510.00
> Buffet E-11......................$599.00
> LeBlanc Normandy-4......$539.00
> Yamaha YCL-34............$569.00
>
> Any and all opinions would be deeply appreciated by this hopelessly
> ignorant Dad, who knows how to relentlessly research products online,
> but has NO idea of their practical day-to-day characteristics, or
> suitability for an eleven year old girl who has never played an
> instrument in her life.
>
> Any other practical advice for someone in my postion (i.e. "Is a
> carry-all case preferable to a standard hard case for a sixth-grader?)
> would also be welcome!
>
> Thanks in advance for any guidance!
>
> Mike Selvey
> Nacogdoches, TX
>
>
>
>
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