Klarinet Archive - Posting 000513.txt from 2005/06

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] beginner's clarinet
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:38:49 -0400

I would like to suggest that there are maybe four big items that
would cause many, such as Sara Elbaz to have such negative or
prejudiced opinions about student level, plastic bodied clarinets.

1) Student level instruments are often sold with very poor
mouthpieces. A may have missed someone's comments on this, but I
don't thing anyone has stressed the importance of a really good
mouthpiece, even or or ESPECIALLY FOR the beginner. Poor quality or
uncharacteristically acceptable clarinet quality is much more the
outcome of a poor mouthpiece than the fact that the instrument has
plastic body parts.

2) Many student model clarinets are patterned after much more
expensive models built by those particular companies. In a very basic
way, they have the potential to play very similar to those instrument
models that served as a pattern. The student models often fall short
because some of those steps that take TIME to do (and time is money)
aren't done. Two of these steps that quickly come to mind are exact
or additional tone hole work and establishing more accurate pad
height openings.

3) Another big difference is that student model instruments,
while patterned after pro level instruments in basic ways of bore
size, tone hole placement and tone hole size, have been shortened, or
bastardized, by the maker to 'get them up to pitch for the beginner'
and satisfy band directors who don't demand and get their students to
play with firm, well formed embouchures and adequate breath support.
Some instruments are shortened by as much as 2.5 mm. This only causes
the instrument to play out of tune with itself. Pulling the barrel
can correct the problem IF and only IF tuning rings are inserted to
fill the gap created in the bore between the bottom of the barrel's
bore and the beginning of the upper joint bore. Once this is done, it
will probably be necessary to establish different key openings for
the top ring key, the throat G# and throat A keys.

4) Student model plastic clarinets remain the instruments of
those who advance at a slower rate. While they may not sound good,
the top players in the class upgrade to fine wooden instruments.
There might me some unfair association with the poor sounding student
on plastic and the advanced student with his wonderful new R-13. The
reality is that the player is the much bigger part of the equation.

I contend that most student model clarinets can be made to play quite
well in tune and with an acceptable tone quality. Knowing what to do
and finding a tech who can do it is the secret.
I also contend that a high grade mouthpiece should be on every
student's instrument. It need not be terribly expensive, just very
good for the money. I recommend the Clark Fobes Debute.

Richard Bush

On Jun 25, 2005, at 11:51 AM, sarah elbaz wrote:

>
> I play a greenline buffet as well and like it very much.
> I think that children should play a good instument, the first years
> are the most important.
> Most plastic clarinets are complitly out of tune.
> Sarag
>

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