Klarinet Archive - Posting 000852.txt from 2004/07
From: "Warren Rosenberg" <wrosenberg47@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Christy:] First Act Stuff? i.e. The WalMart.
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 20:33:59 -0400
Dear Christy:
Thank you very much for pointing out my lack of knowledge about the musical
instrument industry. You seem to relish the put-down.
Unfortunately, the buyers of the First Act instruments are in their First
act, and the purchasers probably didn't do a cost/benefit comparison before
they committed the unthinkable ACT! The fools probably just wanted to do
something nice for their child, heaven forbid. Had they all consulted with
you or with their local music teacher first, they may have made the right
decision. I never claimed First Act made good instruments. But I
understand the sentiment of those who might buy such a thing. (I don't call
it a clarinet; perhaps a faux clarinet.)
Now about that kid you blew away because of his/her bad playing... I hope
you intend to call her or her parents to apologize. She's probably
destroyed for life as she didn't return (or maybe she's back now playing
better than ever on her First Act "instrument" ). Will she ever forget the
words of her music teacher the rest of her life:
(Christy:) "By the way, I have had some recent personal experience with
emotional stress after sitting near a player with poor tone and intonation.
It's very unlike me, but I told her I couldn't stand the sound of her
playing and she didn't show up for our last band concert. I've NEVER done
that before, and it's very unlike me but I really couldn't stand it
anymore."
WR: When I first read this, I really winced. If I was your principal, I
might fire you.
I can imagine my so-called "TEACHER" telling me she couldn't stand my
playing. I wouldn't feel too hurt. And you're p'o'ed at WalMart? My-my.
A little humility might be helpful. Otherwise, celexa or prozac might be in
order. There's no shame in more medication.
Always and forever,
Warren!
P.S. I do sincerely like and enjoy reading your clarinet related messages.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christy" <perickso@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] First Act Stuff? i.e. The WalMart.
> Warren said, "For a
> > beginning student, what choices from an equivalent price point, can they
> > make? Used? Probably nothing.
>
>
> Warren, Your lack of knowledge about the musical instrument industry is
> showing. It's common knowledge that most beginning clarinet students (or
> beginners on any instrument) start with a good student quality rental
> instrument. Around here, the cost is about $15 a month. If the kid likes
> the instrument and sticks with it, the parent can purchase the instrument
> and the rental fees apply to the purchase of that instrument or the
purchase
> of a "step-up" instrument. It would really be less costly for a parent to
> go this route than to go to Wal-Mart and pay the $175 for the piece of
junk
> that is not repairable, not tuned properly, etc... The trouble is, the
> average unsuspecting parent who thinks they may save a buck or two by
> purchasing one of these instruments doesn't know that if something goes
> wrong with it, there is no one who has the parts to fix it and they'll
need
> another instrument. In the meantime, the kid's musical ear is not
> developing properly and they are frustrated as heck if they have any
musical
> sense at all, due to the fact that they can't produce the sound that other
> players are getting on their properly maintained rental instruments that
can
> easily be traded in or returned to the store. The First Act instruments
may
> be returned to the store but I wonder how long Wal-Mart will allow their
> customers to keep and use a purchase before they run out of time to return
> it for a full refund. If you knew anything at all about clarinets, or
> played on one of these instruments, you would know these instruments are a
> VERY bad purchase for that money.
> In case of someone on a low budget, many of us who are teachers have
> given reduced rates or bartered for services from parents so the kids can
> get music lessons. There are also programs such as Music Link available
> that give scholarships to needy students who wish to take private music
> lessons. The kids do, generally speaking, get free music lessons in the
> schools from the band directors and some school districts also have piano
> teachers giving free group lessons in the school.
> My own college education was certainly not free but I did have a
great
> deal of help in the form of grants, scholarships and low interest rate
loans
> (3% at that time). Unfortunately, it is becoming more difficult for kids
> today to obtain financial aid due to budget cuts. I really think that
what
> stores like Wal-Mart need to learn is that customers are discovering that
> they like some customer service and product support when they purchase
> something and this is what stores like Wal-Mart don't do a good job of
> providing. I think people have a bit more financial savvy than you seem
to
> give them credit for and most recognize that quite often you don't save
> anything by making the lowest price purchase. There is something to be
> said for making a purchase from a specialty store rather than a discount
> store like Wal-Mart. At the rate Wal-Mart is going, however, with the
> discrimination lawsuits, etc..., they won't be able to keep those prices
as
> low as they do for long. Their practices and policies will return to
haunt
> them and that process is already happening. I know quite a few who will
not
> make purchases at Wal-Mart anymore. Christy
>
>
>
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