The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2006-08-23 17:14
I just saw a television commercial for Kmart. It's a back-to-school blowout, and features a garage band which includes a clarinetist! There are two girls sitting in the driveway on a car watching the band, and the requisite loud drums, guitars, etc. as well.
Katrina
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-23 17:31
Any clarinet sold by Kmart is probably best left in the garage ...GBK
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-23 19:25
We have a guy in this area who buys returned merchandise from those big box stores (they sell that stuff off in truckload lots), and among the appliances, tools, fishing gear, etc. are always lots of Simba, Borg, First Act, etc. instruments. I don't know if he does any "fix up" to them, but he sure does sell a bunch of them through local auctions and flea markets.
EuGene
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2006-08-23 19:34
Just to clarify: I don't think the ad was touting clarinets, because they were advertising clothing and other "appearance" necessities.
I just thought it was cool that there was a clarinet in a garage band!
Katrina
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-08-23 20:03
> lots of Simba, Borg, First Act, etc. instruments
"Borg" as an instrument brand? That has a slightly uneasy connotation in my ear.
Hmmm, "Darth Tone" would be a nice nick for my new old Alto...
--
Ben
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-23 20:31
Interesting thing about the Borg clarinets I've seen for sale is that they came with two barrels in side by side holes in the case and one had a canvass outer carrying bag . . . does that make 'em pro horns? HeeHee.
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Author: ChrisArcand
Date: 2006-08-23 22:39
Yes indeed, my friends. They do sell "musical instruments" at Target, K-mart, Walmart, etc, etc...I can't even think of a good enough analogy for this...it's horrible. The only thing worse than that thought is the thought that there has to be people that actually buy that junk.
Darth Tone...that's funny.
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Author: Grant
Date: 2006-08-23 23:44
Then they blame the teacher when Johnny or Susie lose interest because the keys keep bending or falling off.
Peace on Earth and May You always have a reed that PLAYS.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2006-08-24 01:11
What would you say to a student whose parents just picked up one of these "instruments" for him/her. I've never seen one... but can't imagine how horrible a learning experience it would be for anyone, let alone a beginner.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-24 02:00
Sean.Perrin wrote:
> What would you say to a student whose parents just picked up
> one of these "instruments" for him/her.
We've had this discussion before -
If the parents have already bought the instrument and returning it is not an option, they should realize that most of these instruments WILL play adequately, but only for a short period of time.
However, when they eventually develop problems (as most do) they should be thought of as disposable. Usually not worth the time or money to fix.
Just like small appliances, cameras, consumer electronics, etc... this is just one more product which manufacturers have finally made as a throw away item.
Hopefully, these $100 instruments will foster a new discovery of music for children, before the frustration of their flimsy quality sets in...GBK
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Author: allencole
Date: 2006-08-24 04:59
If you like to see clarinets in garage bands, rent "Welcome to the Dollhouse" sometime. Nice 3-piece group of clarinet, cheapo keyboard, and drums.
Allen Cole
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2006-08-24 14:45
I was hoping for more of a discussion on garage band clarinets than a re-hash of the CSO's...
Thanks Allen!
Any other tales of garage band clarinets????
Katrina
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-24 15:45
Katrina:
Best I recall, it was a basement rather than a garage, but some time ago the back cover of an issue of Readers Digest showed a painting of several older men who had gotten out their old 1950s/1960s looking rock band equipment and were really jamming on old fashioned rock 'n' roll . . . they were playing old guitars with tube amps, drums, and one had a clarinet. In the picture the teenaged daughter of one of them was on the basement stairs and was begging them to tone it down. It was a really neat picture that I kept, but lost it somewhere. Maybe someone here remembers it.
EuGene
Post Edited (2006-08-24 16:49)
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Author: donald
Date: 2006-08-25 07:48
Allencole- i remember Welcome to the Dollhouse (by the same guy that made "Happiness", right?) but i don't remember the garage band.... i'll check it out
i played clarinet in "alternative" or 'garage" bands through the 1980s and 90s, and i remember one embarrassing band called "the Parkers" that i played with in the main square of my hometown, Hamilton. We played a song called "A"..... it was the chord of A for several minutes, but it got the kids dancing! Another song was called.... "E-B-E" but i think by then the magic had worn off.......
donald
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