Klarinet Archive - Posting 000653.txt from 2002/10

From: b5w@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 12:27:11 -0500

<><> Rebecca=A0Brennan wrote:
I've been looking at a beautiful Selmer clarinet at a music store. It
has unstained wood and gold keys. They let me play it and I think it was
very easy for me to play. I had better intonation on my old plastic vito
though.

Rebecca, your post catches my attention because I have just recently
become very disturbed by my intonation on one particular note (throat
Bb) of my semi-professional clarinet.

I don't know what to blame it on, nor do I understand why I didn't
perceive it as a problem earlier. The only solid fact I have is that
my *inexpensive* *plastic* *student* horn does not appear (right now) to
have the problem, and the difference is so severe that I have --- with
some sadness --- put my wood horn aside for the moment.

The usual advice when someone asks "Which clarinet should I buy?" is:

"Try different instruments yourself and _listen_.

"Since you are part of the total 'acoustic system', what works for you
won't work for some other people, just as the mouthpiece or reed that
works for you won't work for some other people.

"Give it a month or two, visit the store several times and play the same
instrument more than just once or twice. Buy from someone who will
allow exchanges if you hear something that you don't like after the
first few days of intensive playing at home. That's how you should
decide."

As I said above, I'm happiest right now on my $400 ($350?) plastic
student horn, even though I don't understand why. Perhaps you'll be
happier if you use the money for something else, such as music camp or a
prom dress.

I find it especially alarming to hear you say that you are considering
an instrument whose intonation you don't enjoy (at the moment). Each
instrument is different, of course, and perhaps after a few weeks you
will adjust to the handsome wood instrument. But 'looking good' is not
what music is about. Looking good is icing on the musical cake, not
the driving force.

Cheers,
Bill

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