 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JKMc
Date: 2001-06-19 20:31
Today, when I went to the music department office to find out what instruments were left for summer sign-out, I asked if there were any wooden clarinets. One would think would think there'd be quite a few at a school with a music program that won first place at MusicFest Canada several years running. However, my band director said there were 2 old Signets from "God knows when." He also seemed a bit shocked that I was asking about wooden instruments, even more shocked when I asked to sign one out. According to him, "students don't want to play them, nor do they know the school even has them," even though they sound better. Weirder still, when I told him my Selmer CL300 would need replacing and I was planning on getting a wooden Buffet, he ranted about how wooden instruments are "too expensive" and "unnecessary," even if I plan to persue music in university. He seemd to be almost...anti-wood?
Call me stupid, but does something seem wrong here? I guess I've been hearing the American (very pro wood/R-13/Vandoren) viewpoint on this board too much, but do Canadian student clarinetists stray away from wooden clarinets? I know for a fact that they sell lots of wooden clarinets here, but who's buying them? Out of the many clarinetists I know in high school, only 1 has an R-13 and the rest play plastic Yamahas, even the ones majoring in music in university (it's not that they can afford it, a lot of these people are from wealthy families). No one (other than I) seems to be planning to get a wooden model...am I crazy, is Canada crazy, can someone give me some insight as to what's going on here?
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-06-19 22:48
I wouldn't care to comment from a pedagogic stance, but there are two clear sides to the issue, and both are based on the relative inexpense of the horn.
For most players buying a new horn, up to the collegiate level, a solid hard rubber or plastic horn is a preferable choice. Many of them have quality works and are very durable. Matched with a decent mouthpiece, kids can learn quickly and make a decent sound.
Instruments like this tend to age gracefully. From an administrative POV, the composites are a superior choice in Loonies or otherwise.
CONversely -
The cost of a top level clarinet relative to the rest of the orchestra is paltry.
Where else in the wind section can you purchase a world-class instrument for less than $3500 CAN? Those with promise on the horn should definitely consider a quality clarinet to advance their studies.
Instruments like these, when properly handled, can be a joy to the student for years if not a lifetime.
anji
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-06-19 23:19
I think it's the thing that while many music students in the US (not sure about other places) either own or rent their instruments, almost all the instruments in Canadian schools are owned by the school. At least around Toronto they are...
However, I think there is something weird with your school music teacher. At my high school (which I graduated from about 5 years ago), all but three of the clarinets were plastic. But you had to earn the privilege of playing on one of the wood clarinets (which were Noblets), which I and one other player did at the beginning of my (and his--both of us entered and graduated high school at the same time) grade 11 year.
Of course, I think my current instrument (R-13) is at least 20 times better than that Noblet...
Also, I think it's also the fact that many Canadians are ignorant about the option of renting or purchasing an instrument (other than the piano) or at least why most school instruments are in poor shape. There's also the factor that the instruments are often in poor shape that may discourage students.
There's also the attitude that many of them just don't care about getting a better instrument. In the clarinet section of my college band, I was the only one with a wood clarinet.
It could also be that private teachers in Canada generally don't know each other and don't reach out to the schools. There is also the cost of lessons, which are often quite high. (I doubt the Canadian portion of the teaching rates is a good representation) And quite a few of those private teachers have second jobs or are itinerant teachers in the schools.
That should offer some perspective.
Meri
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Author: JKMc
Date: 2001-06-20 00:22
The strange thing is, most trumpet/alto sax/flute players at my school have their own (quite often professional, in the case of flutes) instruments by Grade 9 (that's usually their 3rd year of playing) whereas some of the clarinetists in my section don't know there's such a thing as a wood clarinet!
Meri, another point about piano buying: the people I know who've played piano for a while usually own/rent/don't use the school's band instruments because their parents seem to be of the mindset that one has to scurry out and obtain their own instrument once they start learning.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2001-06-20 02:39
Maybe your teacher is not a clarinetist himself other than just the amount he had to learn to teach, and therefore doesn't know what someone more experienced in clarinet would know. I have learned that when you go for a music education degree in the States you generally spend six weeks learning each instrument which is probably enough to teach the basics, but... Now, maybe the requirements for teaching in Canada are different?
Just my thoughts.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-06-20 02:43
In my final year of high school, we had a "kick-ass" clarinet section! We were good, and ALL of us had wood clarinets. 4 R-13's, 1 Yamaha 72CX and a couple of Signet Specials. We sounded great. I don't know what Canada's problem is, but I'll take wood any and every day!
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Author: Anne-Marie
Date: 2001-06-20 13:10
App. 20 years ago I took 1 1/2 years of private lessons in preparation to audition at Ottawa University in the interpretation program for clarinet. The 2 teachers I had before starting University where in their last year at Ottawa U. The "standard" at Ottawa U. was Buffet R-13 and most students enterring University had already a wood Buffet. I have a hard time believing this story about teachers disregarding wood clarinets.
I live just across the river from Ottawa which is another province, Quebec. So, in my area, we can decide to study either on the Ontario side (Ottawa University and now Carleton University) or the Quebec side (Conservatoire de musique de Hull). In my days, these institutions favored the Buffet Crampon clarinets and preferably the R-13 models.
Also, when I was a student, the big thing was to do your bachelor degree here and then go for your master in the U.S. (Chicago was where most people wanted to go). So to me, it looks more like Universities here seems to follow the same "philosophy" as in the U.S. but again, I am talking about my own experience in the Ottawa region.
I have just started back on clarinet 6 months ago after a long long break. I have now and Evette wood clarinet and I am considering getting a new R-13 in the following year.
I just felt I had to comment on this......
Have a nice day!
Anne-Marie
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-06-21 00:51
Pam:
Or just ignorant. Mine were flute and trumpet players, and knew about the existence of the wood clarinets.
I know at U of Toronto students spend 12 or 13 weeks learning the required instruments for their teaching career. (which are clarinet, trumpet, and violin) Those whose major instrument is one of the above select a different instrument in the respective categories.
Although I think every music ed major should spend that time learning every instrument they will be teaching.
Meri
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Author: Andy
Date: 2001-06-21 02:19
Let me just say first, that I don't believe a word of what I am about to write.
A couple of years ago I saw an article that was reprinted fro mthe British Clarinet and sax Mag. The article discussed how a bunch of scienetists in Britain had been researching the resonance of different materials to see if it effected the sound. Well, the results stated that the type of material made no difference what so ever and the only thing that really mattered was where the holes were, how big they were, the mouthpiece, reed, the dimensions inside. Basically everything except the type of material used!
Now, my opinion, you can't beat a great wooden clarinet!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-06-21 03:09
Actually, Andy, it's been confirmed a few times ... but ... to get a clarinet to work well there's always been a number of hand-finishing steps that have to be taken. Wood in general looks better, feels better, and has a long history of being shaped and worked. Aesthetically it's a wonderful base material to work with.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-21 10:54
Actually the problem in comparing instruments is that with very few exceptions, plastic instruments are student grade (with the exception of Buffet's Greenline) and intermediate and higher grade horns are wood (with the exception of Buffet's Greenline). So the average person can not compare instruments of identical quality, design, hand finishing, adjustment & tweaking, etc
If you can find them, get hold of some old wooden student horns. Many of them are really dreadful and I would take a Bundy or Vito any day over them.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2001-06-21 15:21
split the difference===get the r-13 Greenline---Many say functionally it is a plastic clarinet but is a professional quality instrument. Many swear by it and say it is better than the wood r-13
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-06-22 13:22
Use the summer break to try something wood! Teachers sometimes just spruik a line not the truth.
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