Klarinet Archive - Posting 000968.txt from 2000/08

From: "Cathy Barta" <cathbar@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl]Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 10:11:28 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: <LeliaLoban@-----.com>
Subject: [kl]Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)

> That explanation of why the school band director recommends children
*start*
> with wooden clarinets sounds unconvincing to me. Does this sweetheart
deal
> with The Music Man involve some sort of deliciously irresistible kickback?

Is advertising applauding the music store for their involvement as a
financial supporter of the music education programs in the local schools
considered a "kick-back?" Is it a "kick-back" if it is done in the open?
Is it a kick-back if the school district receives it, instead of the
individual director? I guess it all depends on how you look at it. I am
under the impression that many feel that the services they provide to the
schools, in the way of reduced school purchase prices, in the way of being
available with loaner instruments and emergency repairs at contests, in
providing timely repairs of students' instruments when taken to the repair
shop (if they were purchased from their store), and delivering potential
"upgrade" instruments to the school for the director and student to "try
out" justify the recommendations of pricier instruments being sold at the
manufacturer's suggested retail price. I am in a different district than
the original poster (and quite possibly deal with a different music store,)
but many of the issues are the same.

> **snipping a little here**
>
> Surely you don't mean that the whole school district is in on this
contract
> *officially*? Is your school board elected? Does the neighborhood
*prefer*
> to be dictated to in this manner?
>
> I'm sort of kidding, but not totally. It makes sense that the school
> wouldn't want the parents to go out in their well-intentioned ignorance
and
> buy heaven knows what sorts of miserable clarinet- shaped objects, but why
> not recommend several acceptable instruments with a bit of a price range,
so
> that parents of different economic strata could make some reasonable
> decisions? This whole set-up does smell a bit like the bottom of the
fishing
> creel.
>
> Lelia

When I was researching the big "which one" issue for my second daughter, I
ran into some of the same situations being discussed in this thread. (The
first clarinet was purchased by way of the rent-to-own program, and I feel
that I over-paid significantly.) Our district and some surrounding districts
serviced by the same music store, encourage starting beginners out on
E-11's. While there are other choices on the "list," if parents go through
the music store which "services" the schools, the E-11 is typically the
instrument that will be provided. (Our recommended list included the
Buffett E-11, Vito "S" Series S-13, and the V-40.)

I don't know how long this "tradition" has been in existence in this area
(and other areas of Texas), but it appears to be the rule rather than the
exception. Traditions are often passed on from one generation to another
without those with the power to change tradition, questioning the reasons
for it in the first place. Someone made a decision and established a
practice, at some point in time, and others try as best they can to justify
that practice, sometimes without really understanding all the underlying
factors themselves. Many busy parents would prefer to spend their money,
rather than their time researching the issues and will follow along without
question.

After reading and learning from this group, what the options "could" be, I
was inclined to try something like a Buffet B-12, instead of the E-11, for
the second child. After talking with other "locals" I decided to go with
the "recommendation" because it appears that sometimes band directors fault
a student's ability to "blend" with the group on having an instrument of a
different brand and model. I have read stories in newsgroups in which
students who didn't obtain the "preferred" instrument were "held" back in
their advancement in the program because of that. Right or wrong, the
biases toward one instrument over another exist, and those biases put
pressure on parents to purchase instruments that they might not otherwise
purchase.

In some areas, where competition is not the emphasis of the program, the
instrument choice might not ever be an issue (as long as it is a quality
instrument.) But in our area, program development seems to be competition
driven, and any perceived advantage that can be obtained by having students
play instruments that supposedly "blend" better will put the pressure on
others to have a "like" instrument. I know this has been discussed before,
and many feel that it should be a non-issue---but as long as there are band
directors out there who take that stance, parents are somewhat at their
mercy. Not many people will tolerate a parent coming in and trying to get
them to change their belief system.

Amazingly, in some districts, the students who started out on an E-11 are
strongly encouraged to purchase a B-12 (plastic) to march with when they
reach high school. For the parent in Texas---be aware, that unless your
district is an exception, marching band participation in high school is
generally considered a part of the full-year band program. Many directors
and districts design their programs with mandatory participation in marching
band---it is not voluntary. Another good reason to be careful regarding
what you spend on that beginner instrument. If your child quits band in
high school because of forced marching band participation, your investment
has not been wasted---your child still has had a few years of benefit---but
it will not have been the long term investment you may have hoped for.

In my district, I asked enough questions of the middle school director to
get the recommendation of obtaining a "beater" instrument for marching band.
That was apparently not addressed at the high school level. Most of those
kids are still using their E-11's for marching. Those with money to burn are
encouraged to upgrade to an R-13.

It's been a hard row to hoe---trying to have students in band without being
needlessly financially over-burdened---but it takes a very dedicated person
with lots of time to do enough research to make a decision that "goes
against the grain." Those who are in strongly competitive programs will
have different purchasing issues and pressures to deal with than many others
will have.

Although, I normally read only---I would like to thank all of you who have
helped many parents through this unfortunate dilemma---myself included. This
has been the most wonderful resource a new "band" parent could come across.

Regards,
Cathy Barta

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