 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-02-25 01:15
I keep seeing posts concerning:
"Will my wooden clarinet [brand name of choice] crack in the cold weather, rain, having beer poured on it at football games, or be marched to death in sultry conditions?"
The common given answer is :
"Use your plastic Bundy, etc."
Considering the insanity that seems to aflict US Band Masters and promotional assistants, and assuming that marching in the rain, etc., is a character trait common only to the U.S. and possibly Canada and cannot possibly be thwarted; Why not:
Manufacture a ''greenline" type Forti or Amati or some other very satisfactory usable lower cost instrument that would be have, at least, a ten year usage factor, usable in all weather conditions and would last one until a more necessary expenditure for a higher "wooden" replacement [brand of your choice] could be afforded or is necessary for placements .
Demographically it seems to me that there is one hell of a market that is slipping away. Maybe the Chinese or some other national maker would be interested in such a project?
Bob A
Post Edited (2005-02-25 01:19)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-25 01:29
The big advantage of the Forté clarinet is that it WAS designed to be used either indoors or outdoors, in any weather condition.
My students who own Forté clarinets are VERY happy. So are their parents...GBK
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Author: Contra
Date: 2005-02-26 02:31
I'm still happy with Frankenclarinet, my Vito-parts monster.
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2005-02-26 07:06
I tried out the Forte' and I think the Doctor has a fantastic product. It addresses both the need for a hardy clarinet for all climates yet one that plays with nice, step up features found only in wooden horns. I was quite impressed with the Forte' and will recommend it to my private students. I would also like to see our school district start using the Forte' as a great beginner clarinet in the fifth grade. Our district likes to start the student on a plastic instrument and then in about the eighth or ninth grade, requests they move up to a wooden one. They then keep their plastic one for marching. Unfortunately, many parents are purchasing clarinet shaped objects online these days and they don't even last long enough to get the student to the marching band level in the ninth grade. They are then faced with buying a new wooden instrument but have nothing to march with. If the parents would have just invested a little more money in the beginning, their child would have a decent horn for marching band and for a long time really. The Forte' can be used for years for concert band, outdoor concerts and marching band. I think it's a terrific investment at a young age.
I have no financial interest in the Forte' ........I just think we can do better than what we've been doing for our young players in helping them along with success in playing the clarinet. The more rewarding (and less frustrating) it is to play, the more likely they will continue to play. I'm very passionate about this and want to get our school district to check out this clarinet but they are so deeply ingrained in doing things the way they've always done them that I've not been successful in even getting an audience with the district music coordinator to show her the Forte'. This is a huge,conservative school district. Frustrating!
Rebecca
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-26 12:02
Wasn't there a clarinet developed in Iowa that was made from corn cobs?
Bob Draznik
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Author: Dee
Date: 2005-02-26 13:54
There really is no need to go to the "greenline" type material since material makes little if any difference in sounc. If we want pro level clarinets to play outdoors, we (the consumer) have to insist that someone makes pro quality instruments out of a robust material. That material could very well be plastic.
By the way, any of the decent quality student horns (Bundy, Vito, Yamaha, Buffet B-12) sound and play very well when matched with a truly good mouthpiece and quality reed. Junk mouthpieces will make even the best horn sound like junk. Beginners will sound like beginners no matter what.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-26 18:45
Considering that the Clarinets will always be a minor instrument in the marching band due to being drowned out by the brass and drumline, whatever you play in it will be just fine.
Be sure to have a playable reed on, preferably legere.
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-26 19:10
forte clarinet? is that a brand name or is it louder? (half kidding half serious...I really don't know)
and greenline? heard of it...
I have always wondered why, in general, wood sounds better than plastic. (I can make plastic sound good...not GREAT, but good...) another scientifically based question that I am sure some knowledgable poster will feel inclined to answer...
-Lindsie
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-26 19:19
music_is_life wrote:
> forte clarinet? is that a brand name or is it louder? (half
> kidding half serious...I really don't know)
Forté clarinet is a woodwind.org sponsor.
http://www.forteclarinet.com/index.htm ...GBK (my Forté clarinet comments are on the Endorsement page of the Forté web site)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-26 19:51
There are many threads about wood vs. plastic.
Everyone agrees that the dimensions have a tremendous influence on the tone, but that's about all that they agree on.
There are those who say that plastic can sound just like wood if the dimensions are identical.
I don't subscribe to that, but there (many????) are players that do.
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