 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jenplus4fr
Date: 2008-06-18 14:49
I hope you'll bear with me here. My 7.5yo daughter has been playing clarinet for a year now and loves it. We're considering buying her a clarinet this summer, and her teacher recommended the Buffet E11. A local music store didn't have that one, but had a LeBlanc Noblet and a LeBlanc Rapsodie at great discount prices. How do these compare, esp. with a young child in mind? Thanks for your help.
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-06-18 15:22
They are all good instruments. From your daughter's point of view it should make little difference which you buy.
Buffet are market leaders, and that has two consequences you should bear in mind:
1. The teacher most likely plays Buffet, and may have a VERY strong preference that her pupils play Buffet too. If so, it may be better to go along with the teacher.
2. If your daughter continues to play, she'll probably want an even more expensive instrument in a few years. In which case the E11 may be the easiest to sell.
A few other points:
1. Wooden instruments are heavier than plastic ones. Your daughter may find the new instrument a strain to hold.
2. Wooden instruments need much more care than plastic ones. Is your daughter old enough to understand this?
3. Whatever you choose, get your daughter to play it before you pay. Make sure she is happy with it. If you can persuade the teacher to test it as well, so much the better. Be aware that "identical" clarinets vary, partly through manufacturing differences in the wood and partly through differences in how they are adjusted.
4. If your daughter's current instrument is decent and if your finances allow, keep it as a spare and for playing outdoors. Every player needs a plastic instrument.
For what it's worth, I think a 7.5 year old with one year's playing needs only a standard student plastic instrument with a decent mouthpiece and good reeds. Unless she is remarkably talented, the wooden instrument will be more trouble than it's worth.
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Author: Jenplus4fr
Date: 2008-06-19 16:56
Thank you so much for your help. After reading this, and then talking with her teacher, I think we'll stick with the Buffet. He didn't like the Noblet, and while the Rapsodie was probably on par with the E11, he mentioned various reasons why he preferred the E11, including the resale value which you mentioned. As for buying this for a young child - she's currently renting a wooden/resin one, and weight hasn't been an issue with the neckstrap; cleaning, however, is a daily issue, and will continue to be, I'm sure. It's a gamble whether in the long run, it will be worth the extra expense, but for now, we're delighted with her enthusiasm and motivation, and are willing and able luckily to take the risk.
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