 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-12-02 23:48
Okay.. I'm sick of playing out of tune.
I did the whole closed mouthpiece bit - It dosn't make any difference.
Barrel/ Reed / Lig combo's didn't help either.
My question..
Am I too young to get an R13 ? or a "professional" level Clarinet ?
I'm turning 16 next saturday and I plan on majoring in Music Education in college. I'm 4th chair in my band ( pretty good up against Sr's.. ) and I love playing..
Will it still be okay to use in 2 years for College ? I want to go to Crane School of Music, Potsdam NY .. Is this acceptable to use ?
I played a few clarinets today at the music store. What is average price for a R13 ? ( Silver Keys, New ). Does anyone else have any other instrument suggestions
HELP !
Laurie
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-12-03 00:14
I don't think that an R-13 is *ever* unacceptable per se. You can get more premium instruments from a variety of manufacturers (incl. Buffet, LeBlanc, Selmer, etc.) . . . you can also get so-so to good to great R-13's from Buffet. Some of the world's greatest artists play(ed) R-13's.
And NO . . . you are not too young for an R-13. You can probably pay less than $2,000 for what you want . . . less than one year's car insurance for a teenage boy, and you get to keep it forever!
If you want to stick with Buffet, you might consider a Greenline . . . no cracks . . . ever. If you can pay considerably more for a horn, the Selmer Signature (hope I got that model correct - think I did) seems to be pleasing everyone who picks one up. But a good R-13 will take you where you want to go.
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Author: Mrdi
Date: 2000-12-03 00:21
LeBlanc Concerto,or an Infinite.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2000-12-03 00:22
Hi everyone. This is my second post on this board and my first in a really long time.
I'm 15 and I want to be a music major. I have an R-13 which I love. You definitely are never too young to get a better clarinet. But you should try lots of kinds to see which you like best.
You want to go to SUNY Potsdam? I've gone to their summer program for two years. I really liked it, but I'm looking for somewhere with more competition next summer. Dr. Woy, the clarinet teacher, is nice and really knows what he's talking about even if he's a little weird- and he plays an R13 himself. I wouldn't want to go to college there because it's in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-12-03 00:59
Micaela -
How is the summer camp ? I'm planing on going this yeah.. Is it fun ? Yeah .. It's in the middle of nowhere.. but it's supposvly the best teaching school for music in NYS..
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Author: tb0b
Date: 2000-12-03 01:14
I'm turning 16 in July and I have had an R13 since September.
It plays very well (in tune too!) and costs about $2200 w/ the silver plated keys.
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Author: High School Soloist
Date: 2000-12-03 03:03
Hail. I'm 16, a Junior, and first chair in my band. I've been playing on my R-13 for a little over a year now and I've not once been dissapointed. Just make sure you try a few out to get a feel for the one you like, and bring a tuner around to check its general intonation (make sure the horn is in tune with itself).
Oh, and make sure that you don't let your horn crack like me. A good idea is to get a two or three year cracking policy or something to that end. It might save a lot of grief in the end. However, age shouldn't be an issue, just take care of the instrument, and remember that you've made a big investment in that instrument. Hope that helps a bit!
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-12-03 03:33
If you've got the financial resources... I bought one for my son in August. He turned 17 last month and is a Junior in HS. He plans on college music major. I did mail order, with shipping it was just under $1750 with nickle keys. His teacher played it and pronounced it fit, as did both my son and I, and we also checked it carefully with a tuner. (I had a return option.)
I've never had a pro quality horn, I play on a 31 year old intermediate level Selmer Signet Special. To me the difference is like going from my Chevy truck to a Lexus.
We have a rule... That horn goes to school only for concerts etc. Otherwise he uses the old faithful Bundy in School and on the field.
Good Luck!
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Author: mw
Date: 2000-12-03 04:54
There are many, many sources from which to buy a Buffet R-13. For a new Buufet R-13 with silverplated keywork, you can find them for about $1800 up. (I got a quote last week from a catalogue vendor for an R-13A for $1875 with silverplated keywork). Some of the better known catalogue sellers are WW&BW, Muncy, IMS & Weiner Music. There are chain stores & loads of independent music stores. Prices vary of course. This is a pretty good time of year coming up in January as vendors who bought for the new school year and/or hoped to move an item during Xmas season may be more inclined to sell at a lower price. Good luck. mw
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Author: Rob
Date: 2000-12-03 05:06
I bought my first pro grade clarinet when I was 12 years old. While it was not an R13 (it was a Series 10 - I couldn't find an R13 that would play in tune out of the 15 or so I tried) it was certainly not something for which I was too young. Besides, everyone else in the clarinet section played on Selmers (9s and 10s) and Buffet R13s so it became sort of an expectation. Even thought I had to work very hard carrying golf bags at the country club to make the payments ($87.50 a month - yes it was a long time ago), it was well worth it and I never regretted it for a second. You are certainly not too young.
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Author: Tracey
Date: 2000-12-03 06:42
A lot of clarinetists around my area usually buy top of the line horns, especially R13s when they are around your age. I bought an R13 late into my 8th grade year, and as a freshman I was second chair in my band (I don't know if it was the R13 or me), which is good because I think that year we only had 6 or 7 freshman in the whole band. Another good example could be a girl who graduated from my school a few years ago, she bought a special model Buffet Festival. She ended up being first chair in select band every year, in youth symphony, and in school. She was the 2nd chair in the Stanford band last year as a freshman, using the same clarinet. So yes, pro grade horns can withstand use by teenagers.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-12-03 13:34
You are not too young for a professional level clarinet. If well taken care of, a clarinet can last a lifetime.
But before investing, you really need to find the causes of your problem with your existing Selmer CL200. It should play reasonably well in tune. If you don't find the problem, you could have the same problem on a new horn. For example, key heights are crucial for any clarinet. Even brand new, high quality, pro horns often need adjusted to play in tune.
Do you have a private teacher? Have him/her check out your current instrument. In one of your other posts, you mentioned that a technician checked it out and suggested adjusting some keys. Try having them adjusted and see if it helps.
If you don't have a private teacher, I suggest you try to get one *before* investing in a new instrument. This is for two reasons. One, they can be very helpful in selecting and testing a new instrument. Two, there is always the possibility that your technique is a little off and this shows up more on some notes than others.
Make sure all the tone holes are clean. Certain notes are extremely sensitive to even unnoticeable build ups. The register key hole is already small and any buildup here will cause problems.
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-12-03 15:48
Hi Dee,
My Selmer plays well in tune, but thoes 4 notes are always out. I have had it looked over by about 3 techs - Key heights are perfect, tone holes are clean. The tech lowered the tone holes on the upper joint, and it did not change the pitch. I do have a private teacher, and he has tried my instrument. He is competely baffled by it. I know it may sound drastic wanting to buy a new instrument to correct a problem such as tuning, but I've tried everything.. and nothing is working.
Laurie.
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2000-12-03 17:03
Laurie,
Try Kesslermusic.com. Not advertising for them, but if you're serious about a new R-13, they will save you some bucks. I take lessons there and have been considering a new R-13. Their price is well under $2,000.00.
Good Luck!
Kevin
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2000-12-03 17:12
Wow, you guys are really lucky. Someday when I'm a parent I hope I'll be able to purchase a good instrument for my kids early on (if they end up wanting to do music =).
I didn't own a decent clarinet until I was 20. I had been playing on a beat up Selmer Signet 100 since middle school, and it carried me through high school, all state, and my early auditions for college orchestras/wind ensembles.
I saved up for three years to buy an instrument. In a local San Diego, CA shop I found a 1983 R-13 that had been sitting unplayed in a shop, brand new, for 15 years. I ended up paying only $1400 for it...a year later when I finally bought my own 'A' I purchased a Leblanc just because it wasn't a buffet, and played with a lot less resistance than most of the other 'A's I tried. =)
My point in all of this is to say that while better instruments are great for everyone, don't feel that you absolutely need to have a n-thousand dollars instrument to measure up. It's certainly gratifying to know that your own musicality and skills can carry you even if your instrument isn't all that fancy. It's unfortunate that some people out there think that there's a huge correlation between "good players" and "brand name instruments," especially in junior high and high school.
It's all about the music! And your sound. As far as the mechanical aspects of instrumentation go: your budget is ultimately going to decide what happens. So make the best of what you've got. =)
G.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-12-03 18:05
Laurie,
It does look like you've done all the proper investigations then. Have fun shopping for a new horn.
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2000-12-04 02:55
Hi! I'm also sixteen and a junior in HS. I would totally suggest an R13... but you're not guaranteed that your intonation problems will stop. HS bands play sharp and at least with my R13 and Pyne mouthpiece, I'm in tune to A440....but flat to the rest of the band, including the girl who's second chair and plays first part with me!
If you can get out there, go to Woodwind and Brasswind in South Bend, IN. My mom and I drove out there from Wisconsin and it was totally worth it. I tried 13 R13s (How ironic) with silver keys and found the one for me. The clarinet alone (without the bag which I would recomend and the mouthpiece and ligature which are totally necassary) was about $1800.
It's awesome. I love my horn.
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-12-04 16:26
Amanda: You can get a shorter barrel for those times when a band tunes sharp, and some mouthpieces are available in a sightly higher pitch. I have a Morgan that tunes a few cents higher than all my others. That was a nice characteristic before I got a shorter barrel.
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Author: Julia Meyer
Date: 2000-12-04 22:29
hello---i'm from potsdam originally, now I'm going to SU for music education, actually--on clarinet and piano. (My parents wouldn't let me stay in potsdam) Dr. Woy is wonderful---I took private lessons with him and he can help you with just about anything. i went to the summer camp for 3 years, and enjoyed it every time. Another really good camp which I highly recommend is the New England Music Camp in Maine; i went there after my fresman year in HS.
Whatever happens, good luck and feel free to email me!
(jumeyer@syr.edu)
Cheers,
Julia
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