Klarinet Archive - Posting 000281.txt from 2006/08

From: Margaret Thornhill <clarinetstudio@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] equipment upgrades vs. "magic bullets"
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 22:09:09 -0400

We are lucky to live in a time in which there are many fine custom
clarinets and clarinet components being made. Custom work comes at a
price, as it should for the hand labor and limited production involved.
Is it worth it? Often top quality equipment can make a noticeable
difference, especially for certain players.

That said, for the past several years I've been observing a phenomenon
that gives me some concern as a teacher. I call it the search for the
"magic bullet." The story goes something like this:

A new student--an adult or young adult--comes to my studio for lessons
or a consultation. He or she usually has: an R13 that is nearly new, a
decent mouthpiece by a known maker. Typically she plays quite well, but
still has work to do to improve her legato, her support, her
articulation. Before getting any feedback about her playing, she will
typically ask: "Should I buy a new clarinet?" or (fill in the blank)
high-end mouthpiece, clarinet body parts in exotic wood, etc.

What is actually meant by this question is: "Will different, more
expensive equipment make me a BETTER PLAYER ? Is there any EASY way to
become more professional, more accepted, part of the club, more likely
to get hired?"

If the student could be honest with himself, he'd agree that the
instrument is only as good as the player, but for many, the desperate
hope for a "magic bullet" is actually fed by memory. Most of us haven't
forgotten the thrill of getting our first really good clarinet.
Suddenly, everything seemed so much easier! That experience really did
make us feel like better players overnight. So did the progression to a
really excellent mouthpiece, or the replacement or refacing of a
treasured mouthpiece that is no longer right. Farther down the road,
that feeling of sudden ease is recaptured after a much needed instrument
overhaul: leaks are gone, springs are perfect, noise is reduced. A few
hundred dollars worth of repair by a qualified technician may change
your mind about replacing the clarinets you already have.

To upgrade--or not to upgrade? My answer is--it depends. I depends on
what you've already got, whether or not it is in good repair, and to
large extent who you are. For a clarinetist or collector long in the
purse, it's your decision. For a college student or working person on a
more limited budget, it's probably best to look to yourself first for
changes you can make by investing your time --before your money--in your
playing.

Recently a young man came to me for a consultation who was a student at
an eastern music school.
He was on a need-based scholarship and wondering if he was getting value
for money in his current studio situation. Despite this, he had recently
gone in debt to add $3000 worth of glamorous upgrades to his setup.
When he listened to himself on tape, he was shocked by his
inconsistencies. He never dreamed that his sound was so far from being
truly "professional." He himself realized that the upgrades made little
difference in what he heard. For a fraction of the money he had already
spent, he could more appropriately have invested in a simple home
recording setup to listen to playback of his practicing, making his
collaboration with his private teacher much more productive.

The conclusion? Upgrade if you love it, if you can afford it, if your
repairman shakes his head at the setup you already have, or if this is
your first time around the block. But don't expect that the instrument
will make the player. For that, you need hard work, patience, and
someone you trust to point you in the right direction.

Margaret Thornhill
Los Angeles
http://www.margaretthornhill.com

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