Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 2003/11

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] School instruments
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 18:31:38 -0500

At 02:13 PM 11/18/2003 -0500, Don Hatfield wrote:
>I think the previous remark about budgetary concerns in the US is very true
>in a large number of areas, maybe the majority. It all goes back to "cut the
>arts in schools if we need to save money/athletics first" and a few other
>illogical reasons we've been hearing in this country for too long. A really
>good school music dealer will work with schools and school systems to
>provide competent maintenance if the money is there, and sometimes if it
>isn't.

Yes, we do!

>...Until 1990 when this policy was established, it was not unusual for me to
>pick up thirty to forty school instruments from each school in this county
>(26 schools total!!!) in May for summer repairs and refurbishing, and the
>bills would run as high as two thousand dollars per school. Now we have BD's
>who visit the local state surplus depot to try and grab up US service band
>instruments as the groups replace them (I have a good friend who, for
>$100.00 in one visit, got a King brass Sousaphone, two Haynes flutes, a
>Buffet R13 clarinet...and a gorgeous Ludwig concert bass drum...and after
>two hundred dollars in repairs had fantastic instruments for his kids) they
>can use, and they're continually running ragged keeping school instruments
>going on a frayed shoestring.

I know other directors who have done this. Being in the right place at the
right time can be wonderful!

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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