Klarinet Archive - Posting 000343.txt from 2003/09

From: Nancy Buckman <eefer@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] C clarinet intonation problems
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 19:49:57 -0400

At 04:27 PM 9/12/2003 -0700, Dan wrote:
> The statement that "they don't play well for me," leaves me absolutely
> puzzled about what you mean.

Dan, they can't be poor quality when so many people can play so well on
them. Just because I can't doesn't mean they are bad. There are many
automobiles that are very uncomfortable for me to sit in, yet others think
they are over the top (BMW being one of them - I have yet to ride in one
that is comfortable to my back).

>On the contrary you give a left handed compliment to the Selmer
>instruments and then make a completely incomprehensible statement about
>being unable to play one.

I am left-handed, so I guess a left handed comment from me is a little
different than one from you. Seriously, I don't consider that my comment
is "left-handed" at all. And I never said I was "unable" to play on Selmer
instruments. I said they didn't work well for me, meaning I can't do my
best work with them.

> "Selmer clarinets are not the top line and I wouldn't be caught dead
> playing one of them," but you say in such a way that you cannot be
> criticized for your bias.

And what is "top of the line"? That's just a cliche. What's top of the
line to you probably isn't what's top of the line to me. Who's right?

>I once played with a great clarinetist who asked me for a reed. I gave
>him a VanDoren 5 and he put it on and played fantastically with it. Then
>he took it off and gave it back to me. When I asked him way, he said, "I
>just can't play VanDorens."

And as far as reeds go, I currently play Legere. I have a disorder known
as Sjogren's Syndrome, which causes dry mouth. Before even purchasing a
Legere, I had a discussion with Guy about this and he thought his reeds
would be just right for me. He helped me continue playing Eb clarinet long
before he marketed Eb reeds. Without him, I would have no reason to be on
this list. But I don't play his reeds because they are "top of the
line". I use them because they work for me. There are plenty of people
who don't like them and think they are second rate.

But when I was using cane, it really didn't matter what brand I played. I
could make just about anything work, where cane reeds were concerned (check
the archives). I'm not fond of some of the cheaper brands, but I have
used them when necessary, and no one has been the wiser. I am not picky
where brands are concerned and that goes for anything, including
clarinets. I use what works for me.

I don't even play a major brand as my primary instrument. Selmer's key
work is uncomfortable to my hands - I find my fingers always in the wrong
place. Leblanc clarinets are fine instruments, but the rings on their
instruments are bigger than my fingertips, so I don't play them either. I
do have my pink Vito that I had the rings resized on so that I could play
it without falling through the rings. It's definitely NOT top of the line,
but I use it quite often. I have a whole house full of instruments that
aren't "top of the line", along with many that are. And they don't sit
around. I use them or lend them out so they get used.

BTW, do you have a "bottom of the line" instrument that you play
frequently? For some reason, I think the answer is no. I also think that
you "can't understand" why people make the choices they do. And rather
than ask why they say something, you sometimes over-analyze and say things
that you don't mean. And that is you in spades!

Nancy

P.S. Why would someone give you back a cane reed after playing on it? I
REALLY can't understand that!

Nancy Buckman
Principal Clarinet / Orchestra AACC
eefer@-----.net

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