Klarinet Archive - Posting 000065.txt from 2006/10

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] Walmart clarinets
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 02:39:48 -0400

One of my students taught elementary school in the area. At the introduction night she told the parents not to get a certain major brand of very poor instruments. She gave a list of much better instruments, telling them that since the prices were the same ---get the better ones.

This large manufacturer sent a letter to her and her principal from their legal department with couched threats. Also my store was mentioned with vieled threats in my direction too.

She was merely passsing on the list of good instruments that I give to all of my students when I train them to teach band.

By changing to that good list this new 19 year old band director had a 93% retention rate in her fifth grade band. Previously under another teacher using the bad stuff it had been under 20%

The next day she went in to the principal and handed her her undated resignation.
She told her that at any time that she was not happy with her, she could put the date on that resignation effective instantly. Despite the principals insistance that she tell the band that _____ instruments were good she answered: "I won't tell the kids that _________instruments are good instruments nor that they should take free drugs."

She almost quadrupled the number of kids in that school system in 3 years. She also had the ones that studied with her doing college level etudes on sax in 5 1/2 months (Bassi 27 virtuoso studies) and working on the Jean-Jean on clarinet by the end of 5th grade.

She kept her job and I gave her an A for the course.

BIG COMPANY never did sue us, but they are HUGE with lots of lawyers.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael Moors <mdmoors@-----.net>
>Sent: Oct 6, 2006 12:32 AM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: [kl] Walmart clarinets
>
>The instruments at Walmart are better then the "hand me down"
>instruments that show up in my program. Not the best, but better then
>I expected. They showed up in my program 2 years ago. I found out
>you can get parts for them, they have regional centers for
>repairs. Music stores say parts aren't available, they are
>struggling to compete with the prices, use that as a defense. In the
>poor economy we're dealing with in Michigan, it's attractive for a
>parents to get an instrument for 200 dollars. The instrument issue
>is one thing........ I have students that buy reeds at Walmart. Less
>expense then Vandoren, LaVoz or Mitchel Lurie...... I give them a
>free reed, on that plays! They realize that 10 buck a box is a scam.
>
>First act sent a letter out to band directors threatening to sue them
>for "bad mouthing" their instruments. An major music company is now
>basically out of businses for stating their opinion.
>At 08:51 PM 10/5/2006, you wrote:
>>At 10:26 PM 10/4/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>>>Are these the ones I see in Wal Mart for just over $ 200.00----are
>>>they any good ? Thanks.
>>>Harvey
>>
>>In a word, NO.
>>
>>
>>
>>Bill Hausmann
>>
>>If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!
>>
>>
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