Klarinet Archive - Posting 000094.txt from 2002/11

From: Anna Benassi <acb@-----.is>
Subj: [kl] returning to the fold - instrument choices
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 06:40:25 -0500

As usual, Lelia's input is wise and insightful beyond the call of duty
- lessons first and a horn later is a sensible way to go. But having
said that, I have to put in my $0.02 worth about student clarinets. I
teach in a music school setting where we lend instruments to our
students for the first few years of their education. We have a few
Vitos and Jupiters, a bunch of Buffets (B12 and B10), and a lot of
Yamahas of varying vintage. (For some reason, Selmer Bundys and others
haven't made it up here to Iceland in large numbers.) My experience is
that the Yamahas stand the test of time and student use (and abuse, in
the case of those aged 8-12) far better than the others do. And this
is not only my own opinion - a quick survey of our local repair shop
will show you Buffet B10s spilling out the door, for example, while
the Yamahas just plain don't make it INTO the repair shop, for they
break down much less often.

I have observed in lessons that the keywork on a Yamaha is much
stronger than on the other horns. If a student should chance to bend a
key on a Yamaha, I cannot bend it back by hand. On the other horns, I
can do almost what I like with the keys (which is sometimes
frightening). Our Bundy bass clarinet has such soft metal in its keys
that the same key has broken twice - the first break occurred under
normal playing conditions when the horn was virtually brand new.

I've taught in the same school for 15 years and know our clarinet
inventory pretty well by now. The Yamaha student line is about as
indestructible as an instrument can be and maintains excellent resale
value (at least it does here; your mileage may vary). It is usually a
bit more expensive in the US than are the other student horns, but as
far as I can see, it's worth it.

Just one woman's opinion - your wife should try out lots of horns and
see what she likes. Best of luck to you both in your joint musical
endeavors!

Anna

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