Klarinet Archive - Posting 000378.txt from 2003/10

From: "Dee D. Flint" <deehays@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 19:49:44 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Bell" <bell@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?

> As a music educator- I see both wonderful teachers being overworked and
> just the sort of things that are being criticized. My personal irk is
> another educator (yes a band director...) who will not allow Rico reeds.
> Period. End of sentence. This dispite the fact that Mitchel Luries are
> made by Rico- (though that could probably sneak by him...) and _I_ feel
> Rico Grand Concert and Grand Concert select are wonderful. I don't think
> it is a lack of understanding or appreciation for the job we do but rather
> an unfortunate exposure to less than qualified teachers.... With teacher
> pay being what it is (or rather isn't...) this will probably only get
> worse. In the US at least there may be help from an unanticipated source.
> The Federal No Child Left Behind act includes Music as a core subject. As
> a core subject it is required to meet the same standards of teacher
> preparation etc.... as all the rest of the core subjects.
>
> Take Care,
> Anne

It would be OK if the director listed a number of options to choose from and
lets students with private teachers follow the preferences of that private
teacher. For example, it is my opinion that the plain orange box Ricos and
the Flavoreeds ought to be disallowed. Both are very poor. The plain Ricos
have a nasty chemical taste and I've seen a few with splinters. Also, both
the plain Ricos and the Flavoreeds seem to be made from a very porous,
spongy cane.

Now the other labels that Rico markets are fine. Unfortunately those who
are not experienced in the clarinet field do not realize that. They see the
name Rico and have a hissy fit. That's like saying a Lincoln Continental is
the same as an Escort just because they are both made by Ford.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

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