 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: pjpmom
Date: 2009-08-21 18:57
Hi, my daughter will begin playing the clarinet this fall. The E11 is the clarinet the school approved for her to start. Along with Vandoren M15 mouth piece and a Rovner ligature. Would it be possible to start her on another brand of clarinet, something along the same quality but more economical that this?
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-08-21 19:46
I'm not a professional clarinettist, but I started on a plastic instrument, not a wooden one like the E11. If you are not sure if your daughter is serious about playing, it might be better to start on a plastic instrument. I might suggest the Buffet B12 or the Leblanc Backun Bliss LB320/LB310 models. Or, since you live in Texas, maybe the Ridenour Lyrique RCP-146.
May I ask if your daughter is in elementary, middle, or high school?
Brian
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-08-21 19:59
Here in Switzerland, children starting music school used Noblet (Artist) clarinets for years as their standard instrument; these days it might also be an E-11 or something along these lines.
You also can't do much wrong with either a wooden Vito or a Vito V40, but millions of others have started with a humble Bundy; today's safe bet for a new one would be a Yamaha 250.
More important than the actual brand is that it is in fine repair. Refrain from buying a cheap clarinet shaped object from some mail order companies, however.
If you don't mind going used, check out Clarinuts, a sponsor of this Bboard, who offer refurbished instruments with some trial and warranty periods.
--
Ben
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Author: pjpmom
Date: 2009-08-21 20:17
She will be starting in 6th grade. How about a Tom Ridenour 147? I've heard good things about them for a beginner. I am just asking, I still have to ask the teacher if it would be ok to use another brand not approved by the school.
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-08-21 21:02
I've heard (on this board) that the Ridenour horns are pretty good for its value. I am even thinking about adding one to my collection (mainly because I require it for school).
Brian
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-08-21 22:09
Yup, its that time again , for "dispensing" advice on the complex clarinet mrketing/rental business and helping to direct parents toward quality vs cost vs recommendations/demands by school music teachers, many of whom know little about cls and may recieve "rebates" from music stores. I'm trying to sort out words and actions now for a single mother [with kidS] who needs to get a suitable, inexpensive cl . An Artley plastic , used but in good playing shape is available. Off hand I'd also prefer directing her toward a new, "intermediate" as mentioned above , but even their cost is too much. Am solicitating advice Here, TKS, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-08-21 22:46
Pjpmon, welcome to the group!
I started out when dinosaurs still roamed the earth (early in the Nixon Administration), and started out on a resonite Bundy. It wasn't great, but it got me from 4th-8th grade ok.
I now play the Ridenour 576bc as my main instrument. It's a great value, and the 146 is of similar design. It's the latest iteration (improved several times since the intro of the TR146, a while back). It has a decent mouthpiece and hard rubber barrel, and the body is made of ABS plastic, which is quite durable. Tom is the man! He knows clarinets backwards and forwards. He also has free financing/time payment options on some of his instruments, if cash is a bit tight. Plus, Tom will take care of you if any problems arise with the instrument, which is not at all likely. He checks out each clarinet personally, and it doesn't leave his shop until he's satisfied with the quality.
You mentioned the 147 models, but many of them are getting long in the tooth, and may also have been rental instruments in their previous lives. This means they may have been subject to rough handing. Safer to get a new 146 and have warranty protection IMHO.
BTW, I have played on some recent E11 horns, and was not overly impressed. My Lyrique plays circles around them and costs less. I also don'
t know that the mouthpiece recommendation is right for a beginner. My daughter had been playing several years before she moved yto a Vandoren mouthpiece, though the M13 was a better fit for her than the M15. I don't thing this mouthpiece would be agood choice for a beginner.
Jeff
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-08-22 00:41
I know of one very large school district here in the Dallas suburbs that starts them on E-11's, M-15, Rovner. They get good results. I don't particularily like the one size fits all attitude, but thats they way it is around here. They strive for uniformity in their bands. Like it or not, thats the way the schools operate in this area.
Your best bet is to talk to the band director at your daughter's school.
There are many good brands of beginner instrument. Its more important that the instrument is in good repair, especially important if you buy a used instrument.
I wouldn't buy an E11 one from one of the local stores, you can get them much cheaper from online vendors.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-08-22 00:56
Those of you who are familiar (I'm not) with the Ridenour, Yamaha, and Bliss clarinets can verify this--from what I know, I think the mouthpieces that come with them are good.
If you end up buying a mouthpiece, strongly consider the Clark Fobes Debut. I personally like the Vandoren M-15, but as others have said, it's not a great mouthpiece for beginners. I currently have a couple of younger students (one year of playing experience) playing on the Debut, and I'm very impressed with it (the students really like it too). It costs about a third of what the Vandoren costs.
Tictactux has given you good advice, and I agree with everything he says. I currently have a student who is using a plastic Vito, and it seems to be a decent instrument. As others have said, I'm not sure I'd buy an E-11 for a beginner. If you stick with one of the name brand instrument companies you should be fine.
I used to be a public school band teacher, and I did it for many years. It really bugs me when I read stories about schools mandating that students obtain a certain model of a certain instrument along with a certain (expensive) mouthpiece. As I said before, the M-15 is a nice mouthpiece, but it isn't for everyone. That's why instrumental manufacturers and mouthpiece companies make so many different types--everyone is different. When your daughter is ready in a few years to move up to a better mouthpiece (and possibly a better clarinet), have her try several different models until she find the one that works best for her. That's what every serious clarinet player does.
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2009-08-22 13:12
Yes, please consider the Fobes Debut. A very fine mouthpiece for beginners and less that half the cost of the VanDoren!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2009-08-23 02:08
I'm going to offer a (somewhat) dissenting opinion here, based not on the absolutes of the instruments, but on the sociology of being in middle school.
If your daughter is a free spirit, impervious to the conformist slings and arrows directed at those who dare to differ, sure, go ahead, get her a B-12 (which I think is a wonderful instrument) or Lyrique, or one of the other very competent instruments enumerated on this thread.
If she is a sweet, shy thing, though, and unsure of herself (as many, many middle-school/junior hi people can be), then please, I beg of you, don't make her suffer being the odd duck in an overwhelming pond. Bite the bullet, go with the flow, get the normative set-up. It will be worth it in terms of therapy dollars saved later on.
Many years ago (back BEFORE the dinosaurs roamed the earth), I was the sweet, shy thing. I suffered (and really mean SUFFERED) with the world's ugliest WWII surplus military metal clarinet, procured for me by my Dad's best friend (a professional clarinetist) because we were really, really poor. All the other girls (and they were all girls) in the clarinet section had these way cool Noblets and Evettes that were black and pretty and broke down into cute little pieces that fit in these darling little feminine cases, while I was stuck toting around something that looked like it could contain a pool cue. I was mortified in the way that only a 12, 13, or 14-year old can be mortified, and that angst has stayed with me all of my life.
Never mind the fact that my clarinet was the equal or superior of any of those, and that I was head and shoulders the best musician in the crowd. In fact, that probably only made the situation worse.
You know your child. Do right by her.
Susan
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Author: haberc
Date: 2009-08-25 00:36
Oh my gosh! there are so many solid, reliable, student instruments out there.
It's crazy to demand a particular model. For starters, the Selmer 300, Yamaha 20, Vito 3 (an amazingly consistent, reliable instrument very common on ebay),
Buffet B12, etc. If you want to go wood, Normandy, Selmer Signet 100, Yamaha, yes buffet E11, etc.
First, start with a decent horn and see if your child has an affinity for the clarinet. Don'[t go crazy.
Look for a reputable seller (on Ebay look for a no questions asked, money back guarantee). They're out there.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-08-25 01:31
There are plenty of brands, etc, etc out there, but if the school dictates something in particular, there's a reason.
You may be met with great oposition if you try to reinvent it, possibly not even be allowed in the group.
That being said, E-11's are so bloody expensive these days that I can't believe that the district is still forcing kids to start on them.
More than likely what the district director that made that requirement will tell you is that "it is what it is".
Worth asking about though.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-08-25 02:57
I really dislike it when schools mandate a clarinet setup. I see this from time to time and it seems silly.
If given my choice I like to start my students on a Yamaha 250 with a
Fobes Debut or Hite Premier mouthpiece.
No matter how careful they try to be, things happen to their clarinets and the kids also end up playing outside and a nice plastic clarinet seems to be a better choice. I just happen to find the Yamaha to be an excellent choice in that class of instruments
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