 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GenEric
Date: 2017-08-23 04:42
I think that one of my positive qualities is that I don't follow the bandwagon but I use my own judgement to see what is best for me. I play on a Ridenour Clarinet and I get SO much backlash from many of my classmates and my teacher.
If any of you guys are techies like me, you would know that there is lots of backlash between the two laptops. Macbooks and Windows PCs. I used to be a Windows PC advocate and try to start an argument with someone who disagrees. I've grown out of it and have a mutual respect between all PC manufacturers and when somebody needs help picking a laptop, I use what information they have to get the optimal piece of hardware.
I feel like this is similar with the clarinet section in my school. Everyone in my school is brainwashed, it's buffet or die. This morning, a fellow classmate asked me, "When are you going to stop playing your crappy clarinet and get an R13?" This question made me recall the questions many of my other students and teachers has asked me.
"So this Ridenour clarinet is an intermediate clarinet? (i told him it was $700)."
"Why would somebody make a clarinet out of rubber when all the good clarinets are made out of wood"
"You NEED to get an R13 in order to stay competitive."
"I bet you'll sound much better on an R13"
I'm so irritated. I'm one of the best players in my section as a sophomore. I don't understand how people cannot make opinions on their own. I let them try out my clarinet but they always find a way to make the argument toward their instrument saying how my keys feel weird, it doesn't sound as good, or they just don't like it.
How do you guys deal with this? I'm getting so sick of this to the point where I just want to get 1st chair at all-state and show everyone I'm not playing with that R13........
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Author: echi85
Date: 2017-08-23 04:57
Perhaps this comes with age, but you should stop caring about what other people think about you. It's easier said than done, especially when you are still in school. Something that helped me in my student days was simply outplaying them. If you are better than them, why would you care what they think about you?
In the real world, no one really cares what you play on. The most important thing is that it works. It's the beauty of the profession. It doesn't matter who you know or what degrees you have, you simply have to be able to do it. In music, our job interviews are blind.
Lastly, it's human nature to want to have an "us vs them" mentality. People want to be at homeostasis at all times. Differences are uncomfortable and many people hate being uncomfortable. Change comes hard and slow. If you understand this, it will bother you less.
I should also add that I have never been of fan of any Ridenour product I have played. I've played on R13s my entire life. Just remember that my preference has nothing to do with your preference nor should it.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-08-23 04:57
That kind of stuff is no better than "Why aren't you wearing Levis?", or "Your haircut is out of date", or "No one listens to _____ any more". You either go along with that kind of nonsense (and probably participate in questioning others who do not conform)- or you make your own choices and ignore the riffraff. If you choose the latter, do not make the opposite error of thinking your choices are superior just because they are different. Perhaps they are, or aren't- but conformity has nothing to do with it.
All that said, dealing with flak all the time is tiresome. I bet there are a few R13 players who in their heart of hearts would prefer something different. What an enviable position for a manufacturer.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-08-23 04:58)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-08-23 06:18
If there's discussion at all, it really doesn't need to go any farther than "I play a Ridenour. I like the way it plays." Period. In an even, informative tone of voice, not a defensive whine. No reason to discuss price. No reason to discuss what it's made of. No reason to debate anything. Just play and find something else to talk about.
I've been playing for 60 years. Very rarely does someone I'm playing with ask me what clarinet I'm using. And, once I answer (it isn't a secret), the conversation goes in some different direction. No one I play with cares.
Karl
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-08-23 06:53
Always depends on the situation. When I play on Libertas in summer my peers seem envious of my consistent intonation and trouble free mechanics. Their buffets are swelling like a stuff tick...I'm having no issues.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-08-23 10:33
It certainly helps that there are folks on the top of the business playing everything under the sun. We could select ten players in significant solo and orchestra capacities, both past and current, and have ten different makers represented. When someone says, "[specific brand/type] of clarinet is the only way to go," I would simply offer evidence that says otherwise:
Martin Frost - Buffet
Ricardo Morales - Backun
John Bruce Yeh - Yamaha
Michele Zukovsky - Wurlitzer
Jonathan Cohler - Rossi
Emma Johnson - Eaton
Julian Bliss - Leblanc
Charles Neidich - Schwenke & Seggelke
Stephen Williamson - Selmer Paris
The Ottensamers - (corrected, see seabreeze's post below)
Of course there are dozens and dozens more. Someone take those ten brands (or add other brands) and choose ten other players!
Post Edited (2017-08-24 09:19)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2017-08-23 10:35
GenEric,
Karl, kdk, as usual, has given you some very solid advice. I regard Karl as one of the most respected members on this BB.
As I read through your posting, I had to determine what was actually going on. I had to name it and define it. It appears that you are experiencing very hurtful "verbal abuse".
I've included some clickable links below to some authoritative psychological articles that are instructive in dealing with verbal abuse. Hopefully, they, along with the advice given above, will help you with your problem.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201302/how-deal-insults-and-put-downs
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-handle-sarcasm-insults-put-downs-arnold-sanow
gwie, IMHO, appears to have hit a "home run" with his response. It is good to be prepared with responses to verbal abusers when it appears necessary.
Post Edited (2017-08-23 10:43)
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-08-23 11:02
Gwie's point is well-taken. Even in Germany and Austria, the Wurlitzer and the Hammerschmidt brands, for all their prestige, are not exclusively used by every great Oehler system player. The Ottensamers--Andreas and Daniel--play Viennese bore clarinets hand made by Johanna Kronthaler. Their father, who recently passed away, also played Kronthalers, preferring them to the better known and more widely used Wurlitzer and Hammerschmidt brands.
Post Edited (2017-08-23 21:25)
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Author: Klose ★2017
Date: 2017-08-23 11:20
Gwie's point is good. I play German system and it is really surprising that there are so many great brands which are used by professionals. On the other hand, it is somehow disappointing to find that French system market is basically controlled by one brand.
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Author: Toolaholic
Date: 2017-08-23 17:20
A lot of people on this board dislike Yamaha pro basses. I like it.( it's a 622II low C) I had a visit with Ed Palanker(53 years with Baltimore Symphony)last week. He liked it. Good enough for me. The bass was set up by Mike Hammer and Im sure that helps. I'm a novice so I appreciated Eds take on my Yamahas. He played my 650 too. Ed Liked that one too! I learned a lot in that visit with Ed. Bottom line if it works for you use it. Do not bow to peer pressure.
Post Edited (2017-08-23 23:24)
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-08-23 20:17
GenEric....Success is the sweetest revenge. Go make 1st chair state...that'll shut them up.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-08-24 09:17
Thanks seabreeze for the correction. I could not figure out what the Ottensamers played! :
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