Klarinet Archive - Posting 001088.txt from 2004/07
From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Feeling like Yamaha is one stupidly run company!
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 10:06:21 -0400
>=20
> <klarinet@-----.org>
> From: "Lars Kirmser" <musictrader@-----.com>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Feeling like Yamaha is one stupidly run company!
> Message-ID: <01bc01c475b7$63d9ce60$6601a8c0@-----.net>
>=20
> Cynicism and/or stupidity lives (choose one). You certainly can't
> really
> believe what you say? What isolated part of this country do you live
> in? If
> you live near ANY metropolitan area in these United States, you will
> find
> reputable, affordable, competent dealers/repair tech's. No, they are
> not ALL
> competent, affordable, reasonable, but many are. You have to be
> open-minded
> to search out these dealers.
I live in a town of 18,000. We have 2 music stores in town and neither =
one
caters to it's customers very well. I know of no musician in town who
enjoys going to one of them in particular, and the other has nothing on =
the
shelves. The next largest town is 45 miles away. =20
=20
>=20
> > Lars, in general - most Music Stores cater to the "boyhood Guitar
> > wonders of the world"
> .
> No, some guitar stores cater to what you refer to as "boyhood
> wonders...."
So many of these music stores are run by people in very casual clothing =
and
the "rock band" mentality of the staff is intimidating to some. I used =
to
work at one store that was dirty and very disorganized. In some of the
rural areas, this is the only type of music store that exists and I've =
known
people who would not go into these stores. =20
=20
> > Then they hire hack teachers who will accept $8 a lesson.
>=20
> The majority of music stores in this country provide studios for
> teachers in
> exchange for a small fee. The cost of lessons is left entirely to the
> free
> market. If they are poor teachers, the student quits. If they are
> doing
> their job, they retain the student. Many music stores require
> advanced
> credentials of their teaching staff as well. They are able to require
> these
> credentials because there are many persons wanting to use their
> studios to
> give lessons. Don't underestimate or under rate teachers in the retail
> music
> store.
Every music store I've ever been asked to work for charges the students =
a
set rate for music lessons and the teacher is charged %50 of that rate =
for
the use of the space. Needless to say, I do far better teaching in my =
home
studio.
=20
> You are obviously not choosing the right retail store to deal with.
> Good
> ones are in EVERY market area.
>=20
> Lars Kirmser
Wrongo Lars. The type of store David and I have described is more the =
norm,
especially in more isolated areas. Some of us really don't have a good
local retailer we can trust with our instruments (or our student's
instruments). Last year, I borrowed an A clarinet from our local high
school for an orchestra concert. It had some problems and needed some
emergency repairs so I took it to the local retailer who doesn't have =
all
the instrument rental contracts with the local schools. He did some =
quick
repairs and the school sent the instrument to the store with all the =
school
rental and service contracts for an overhaul that fall. When I got the
instrument back, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING had been done with that instrument =
and
yet, the store had charged the school for a full overhaul! The school =
music
teachers have begun having some of the private teachers check those
instruments for them to keep the store more honest. I'm picking up a =
bass
clarinet for one of my students next week from the store in question and =
I
can't wait to see the look on the manager's face when I pick it up in
person. I'll know very quickly by the look on his face, whether he =
actually
did any work on it or not. I confronted him in person about the A =
clarinet
and he became very defensive with me. Christy =20
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