Klarinet Archive - Posting 000514.txt from 2005/06
From: "sarah elbaz" <sarah@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] beginner's clarinet
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 15:00:56 -0400
Thanks Richard,
I agree with you. I use Buffet E10 or B12 for young students and of course change the mouthpiece.
Our students don't play at orchestra in the first 2-3 years. They first learn to play the clarinet , know something about intonation and support and play in small ensembles and then orchestra or band.
sarah
-------Original Message-------
> From: "Richard Bush" <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
> Subject: Re: [kl] beginner's clarinet
> Sent: 25 Jun 2005 18:37:20
>
> 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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-------Original Message-------
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