Klarinet Archive - Posting 000533.txt from 2004/11

From: "J W" <claireannette@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] clarinet at school
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 20:48:50 -0500

I just read this. When I was in public school I guarded my clarinet at all
times. My parents made it clear that if something happened to it, it was
expensive, and it was my responsibility to make sure nothing happened to it.
In other words, my case would not have been left some place long enough to
be opened. i carried with me all day or left it in my personal locker. To
this day, my instruments are never out of my hands or out of my sight.
Others do not know their value, nor do they really care. I worry about not
only theft but also knocking the instrument down, or misaligning the
keywork, or breaking the reed...

It sounds like the band director was very busy at the time with auditions
and planned to take care of it as soon as he was available.

I do think the next appropriate time, class, rehearsal; the director should
have reviewed respecting other people's property. It was just so common for
people to just "take" things when I was in school; somehow, I am just not
surprised by it.

My suggestion for you, if it is a plastic clarinet; is to consider placing a
small dot of fingernail polish on each piece; just enough so that if someone
else had her instrument sections; she could identify the part.

I do not approve of anyone taking other people's property, however; it seems
that is very common in our world today even among adults. That is why I
have the doors on my car and home locked when I am not there. That is why
luting is a problem during hurricane disasters. That is why stores have
security systems. I guess my point is this; while it could be a learning
experience for the class not to take other's property; maybe it also a
lesson to your daughter that she needs to be protective against others that
have this tendency. Unfortunately, not all children are in the environment
to have parents to teach them the proper behavior and some really do not
know any better; as hard as that might be to believe.

My suspicion is that if you make too big a deal out of this, it might tend
to have your daughter become centered out by the other students; maybe in
not such a positive way. I think this may be what someone means by also
having your daughter work it out with the other girl; simply say, "I did not
appreciate that, and in the future, please do not bother my clarinet." That
should be the end of it. It is an opportunity to work on social skills and
maturity to prepare for adulthood when we don't always have a parent to bail
us out.
While it is upsetting, and I would have been very angry about it if I were
your daughter, it really is not that big a deal that it can't be worked out
simply; as long as it never happens again.

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