Klarinet Archive - Posting 000345.txt from 2005/01

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Neuroses (was Ligatures--Important?)
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:55:56 -0500

Nancy Buckman's response to Jane inquiry about Rovner ligatures
is quite illuminating and sound advice.

But Jane gives the impression of bordering on being neurotic in
the selection of a ligature; i.e., if it is not this type, or
that material, or this clench mechanism, or that screw type, then
something terrible will go wrong.

It's nothing more than the view that there is a "right" ligature
(to say nothing of a "right" clarinet, or a "right" reed, or a
"right" everything and your role as a student is to learn all the
"right" things, after which you'll lound like Buddy Wright). It
is a very destructive path.

The wrongest possible collection and aggregation of equipment
details may be very right for Jane. It depends on her and her
alone; i.e. her body type, hour head cavities, her teeth, her
lips, etc. That does not mean that she cannot be guided and
suggested to, but this neurotic search for the thing that is
going to change her playing is not atypical in the world of
clarinetdom.

We are all neurotic to greater and lesser degrees, swearing by
this or that mechanical piece, mostly in the belief that if it
works for us, it will work for everyone.

I'm surprised that we don't all wind up in total emotional
breakdowns.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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