Klarinet Archive - Posting 000360.txt from 2004/06

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Clarinet-related comments; was, Please, no more political comments.
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 19:48:56 -0400

Warren Rosenberg wrote:

>I regret that my interest in the clarinet has been interrupted by courageous clarinetists interjecting their political opinions of the day. What's next, economic discussions? Favorite dog? Clarinet personal ads? (not a bad idea)
>
>Here's a template you can use in case you're
>not creative:
>
>
What if we are?

But I digress.

My favorite dog: One that beats time with its tail, eliminating the
need for a pricey metronome.

Economic discussion: The most affordable professional model clarinet
out there may also be the best playing, well at least for me
personally. However, that is a personal opinion that is, as the
venerable Mr. Dan Leeson would quickly point out, not supportable by
objective evidence!

Economic discussion, part 2: Reeds - love them, hate them, here's a
question for those who make their own: Do you think you actually SAVE a
substantial amount of money by making your own reeds rather than
purchasing commercial reeds, or do you break even?

Economics, part 3: When advising a beginner and his/her parents
concerning the costs of playing clarinet for the entire first year,
about how much do you think the outlay will be? I know that, in the
past I've told some of my private students and their parents that if
they already feel they will be keeping up on the clarinet past the first
three months of the middle school band program, I suggest purchasing a
plastic horn from a pawn shop, rather than renting. Now the caveat here
is that I normally go with them, in order to play the instrument and
insure it is in good playing order. But I find that doing that, along
with purchasing a decent mouthpiece from the get-go, does a great deal
to save costs in the first year.

At the same time, I don't wish to to offend those music merchandisers on
the list who rent out instruments. Obviously, store rental instruments
will be in better condition, for the most part, than those from a pawn
shop, and I would encourage those who can afford to buy/rent new to do
so, if they can. However, I do think that knowing where there are
lower-cost resources does help bring the possibility of playing an
instrument to some kids who might otherwise not have that opportunity.

Anyhow, that's my take on a few issues that, to my mind, are as worth
discussing as politics any old time. :)

Oh, and this:

Politics: The individual whose post I co-opted for purposes of my own
might find my lack of rejoinder in this department a bit disappointing.
However, frankly, my political persuasions are of no moment on this
list. I don't care if other people "go to town" discussing politics
all they wish; that doesn't mean I have to, or need to.

Patricia Smith

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