Klarinet Archive - Posting 000352.txt from 2002/02

From: "Dawn Linebarrier" <dawnlinebarrier@-----.us>
Subj: Re: [kl] Teachers (was LeBlanc Eternite)
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 14:54:23 -0500

Donna,

I have had two students who have bought clarinets this past year. Both
bought Buffets (one an E-11, the other an R-13 Vintage model), and yes, I
did recommend (not demand) that brand. However, you should buy what feels
good to you and what sounds the best for you. And also remember that the
mouthpiece you play on contributes to the sound produced. So, find a
clarinet that feels good to you and maybe try a couple mouthpieces with it.
See what works for YOU. Your teachers aren't going to be playing your
instrument whether they like that instrument or not. You're the one who is
going to be practicing and performing on this instrument, so it needs to be
something you're comfortable with and sound good on. Sorry if I sound like
I'm on a tirade, but I'm not too long out of college and I remember hearing
people say those same things to me and other students....."You have to have
an R-13 to be considered a professional or to sound like a professional".
Well, my question was, "Well, what about the pros who are playing Leblancs,
etc? They sound wonderful and aren't playing on R-13s." I do indeed have
an R-13 Festival but that was my choice. Anyway, it's your money and your
instrument.....my vote is "Do what feels right to you." Hope that
helps....and doesn't make things worse. :)

**Dawn**

----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna Higgins" <donna@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Teachers (was LeBlanc Eternite)

> Richard Bush wrote:
>
> > It would definitely be worth your while to check it out, but
> > keep in mind, if you really don't like anything you play, if
> > it doesn't ring your bell, it isn't a bargain regardless of
> > the price.
> >
>
> Definitely!
>
> Money is always a consideration, but I'd rather spend $2,500 on an
instrument
> I love than $100 on one I don't like. :-)
>
> I have another question that relates to my A clarinet search, which I was
> reluctant to bring up, but maybe it would be helpful to hear some thoughts
> about it.
>
> How far should a teacher go in persuading/forcing a student to copy the
> teacher's set-up? I currently have two teachers - one for bass clarinet,
one
> for regular clarinet. Both are long-time professional players whose
opinions
> I can't just dismiss out of hand.
>
> The problem, for me, is that both of them think the R-13 is the only
> worthwhile clarinet for professional symphonic musicians, or anyone who
> aspires to a high level of musicianship. One of them, in fact, has told
me
> the following: (1) I should not even bother trying anything that isn't an
> R-13; (2) going shopping in New York (which I'm planning to do) would be a
> waste of time because chances are I wouldn't find anything good up there,
> unless I got extraordinarily lucky; and (3) I'm not an experienced enough
> player to choose my own instrument, so I need to have "someone whose
playing I
> trust" (i.e., him) choose for me.
>
> Of course, I would never buy an instrument for myself without getting
opinions
> from others on how I sound. But my teachers are the people I should trust
the
> most to provide those opinions, and they're herding me in a direction I'm
not
> sure I want to go. I mean, I might end up choosing an R-13 (I tried
about a
> dozen yesterday, and liked one enough to put it on hold), but I might find
> something I like even better. And it just seems like common sense that if
I'm
> going to part with a couple of thousand dollars, I should try as wide a
> variety of instruments as I can get my hands on. I realize clarinetists
have
> strong opinions about which clarinets are the "best." But in the case of
my
> teachers, I feel like their primary goal is to get me playing an R-13, not
to
> get me playing on the best instrument *for me* (which might or might not
be an
> R-13).
>
> I'm an amateur who's been playing for the last 10 years or so. I played in
> school, then quit after high school graduation and didn't play again for
about
> 8 years. I didn't go to a conservatory or major in music in college, and
I
> haven't had a lot of formal instruction until the last couple of years.
So,
> I'm beyond being a beginner, but I'm not any clarinet expert either.
>
> Right now I'm afraid that I'll either buy an R-13 and feel like I was
> railroaded into it, or I'll buy something else I like better, and end up
> questioning the decision later because I went against the advice of people
who
> are more knowledgeable about clarinets.
>
> Sorry this got a little lengthy. :-)
>
> - Donna
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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