Klarinet Archive - Posting 000835.txt from 2001/01

From: "Tim Roberts" <timr@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Clarinet Choice
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 14:14:38 -0500

On Wed, 24 Jan 2001 17:53:24 +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 take issue with that last statement. Of course, I'm not there, and her
instructor is; it might be there is actually some specific flaw in her
instrument. But if not, then for someone who is not planning on majoring in
clarinet, I suggest you would be better off spending $150 on a great
mouthpiece and ligature, rather than $600 on a low-end wood clarinet, which
is likely to come with a substandard mouthpiece.

>I am considering the:
> Buffet E-11 (~$570)
> Le Blanc Normandy Model 4 (~$515)
> Le Blanc Noblet Model 40 (~$605)

I wouldn't be so quick to throw out the Vito. I've been playing mine for 30
years with excellent results. I certainly prefer it to my Normandy 4, which
sits unused in the closet. I try it every year or so, but I always put it
back.

However, these are all personal opinions. Other repliers told you to have
her try a bunch of them. That's the only way. Her equipment has to work and
feel right for HER; what we say doesn't really matter.

>Would the E-11 or the Noblet do a fairly serious student well through
>high school?

In my personal opinion, with a good quality mouthpiece and ligature, the Vito
would carry a fairly serious student well through high school.

(In the spirit of complete disclosure, I am required to reveal that I am
firmly in the "material does not matter" camp in the wood vs plastic debate.)

--
- Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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