Klarinet Archive - Posting 000100.txt from 2004/07

From: Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Content in klarinet
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 13:26:53 -0400

tony-w@-----.uk wrote:

>We ask these well meant questions, albeit basic, because we want to learn.
>

Well, I think it's always useful to know what sort of equipment is out
there and what sort of experiences other people have had with it. For
example, I've been interested in the testimonials to the list regarding
the craftsmanship of Steve Fox, Walter Grabner, Clark Fobes, Ed
Pillinger and others because that tells me these are highly skilled
craftsmen who give great customer service. This is useful, because it
tells me about *people* and addresses the question of who might be good
to turn to when I don't know what it is I'm looking for---it tells me
what people might be able to help me when I have problems in certain areas.

But it's kind of boring (and pointless), to me, to go into the sort of
specifics like "I use a 3 1/2 reed and a Vandoren B40 mouthpiece"
because, well---that works for you, but why on earth should it work for
me? There are so many variables involved. When it comes to this level
of detail the only real advice to give is, "Well, go to a good music
shop and try a load of different things."

The other question which springs to mind is, "Why are you interested in
the specifics of what other people are using if your setup works for
you?"---or rather, "What do you feel is wrong with your playing that you
think might be corrected by a different setup?" Because if someone
actually gives concrete examples of what problems they're dealing with,
maybe it's possible to make a useful suggestion, but otherwise...

And at the end of the day it really pisses me off that someone should
lecture the rest of the list on what they should (or shouldn't) be
posting, when the only thing they can think of to post is "I use this
mouthpiece and this reed". I mean, if they want to learn, they can ask
questions without having a go at the rest of us for being interested in
something different from time to time---something that, in my
experience, can often spark off interesting and informative ideas that
certainly *are* important to clarinet playing and music in general.

-- Joe

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