Klarinet Archive - Posting 000820.txt from 2001/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Choice
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 06:26:11 -0500

At 05:53 PM 1/24/2001 +0000, Joshua Lincoln wrote:
>Maybe someone could give me some input on purchasing a clarinet for my
>daughter.
>She is in middle school and plays a "Vito". Recently it needed some work
>and her instructor told me that she was as good as any student in any
>grade that he had, but that her clarinet might be holding her back a
>little.
>I am considering the: Buffet E-11 (~$570)
>
> Le Blanc Normandy
>Model 4 (~$515)
>
> Le Blanc Noblet
>Model 40 (~$605)
>
>
>She is a responsible and serious student, but she plays piano, clarinet
>and sax, and I would like to not get her an overly expensive (R-13)
>instrument if I can help it, just because it is too expensive and I
>think that she is too young and not proficient enough for such a high
>caliber "professional" instrument.
>
>Would the E-11 or the Noblet do a fairly serious student well through
>high school?

The Vito, Normandy, and Noblet clarinets are virtually the same basic
design, made by the same company. The Vito is generally plastic, Normanys
are generally wood (there are some older plastic ones), and Noblets are
decent intermediate wood clarinets. Frankly, I think it is very unlikely
that a Vito would be "holding back" a middle school student any more than a
Noblet would. The teacher probably has a hangup about wood clarinets. As
long as the Vito is in good repair, the teacher would probably not be able
to tell the difference with his back turned. It is POSSIBLE that the Vito
might start to be a liability in high school, except for marching band, of
course, for which it is perfect. For high school concert band, etc., the
E-11 or the Noblet should do fine.

By the way, if your daughter is using the stock mouthpiece that came with
the Vito, you might want to consider an upgrade. That should make MUCH
more difference than a new instrument will, and will cost much less.

Bill Hausmann bhausmann1@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://homepages.go.com/~zoot14/zoot14.html
Essexville, MI 48732 ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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