 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Stampers
Date: 2000-12-12 23:42
Hi folks! I am wondering what you thing about children sharing instruments when they are learning in school. I am personally against this practice but with so many financial constraints I can appreciate that this is often seen as a way to maximise on investment. I think the health risk is not worth the saving. It also makes practising even more off putting for pupils. Any opinions or links to any sites with further info would be appreciated. Cheers!
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-12-13 00:20
I would not be for the practice, but I don't know the situation and availability of instruments in New Zealand. I would at least have each child own their own mouthpiece and reeds. Who would be responsible for damage? If one child doesn't handle the piece properly and damages the instrument they could possibly deny it and claim the other had done the damage. Tricky, tricky!
John
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2000-12-13 02:55
When I have observed 4th and 5th grade bands, I have seen that the mouthpieces of the instruments are sanitized in bleach before used by someone else. The thought of the germs being passed around, I know, is...gross!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-12-13 10:47
I am told that bleach and disinfectant will do little good. Autoclaving will, and will probably destroy the mouthpiece. The medical profession tells me that a soaking in 70% solution ethyl alcohol in water (no more or less) is probably the best, but I am also told that if you think you are going to sterilize a mouthpiece you are dreaming. I am also told that we have evolved to live in a sea of bacteria and viruses and cope very well at resisting them.
One COULD say that most of us have much the same huge array of nasties that live in our mouths. But then we have had recent scares about a meningitis (I think) spread by sharing drink bottles! A clarinet mouthpiece must be much worse!.
A prominent Auckland shop 'sterilized' mouthpieces for music schools by sealing them in a plastic bag and radiating them with UV light. That would do little or nothing INSIDE the mouthpiece, and sealing in the bag would create a more favourable environment for the remaining nasties to multiply, I think.
So for peace of mind, just buy an extra mouthpiece. There is nothing too much wrong with a Yamaha 4C, they are readily available and cheap. If you want something flasher aim for Selmer Paris ones which are 2&1/2 the price but come with ligature and cap and are exceptionally cheap in NZ. Contact me for details..
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Author: uliano guerrini
Date: 2000-12-13 10:54
Gordon (NZ)
>but I am also told that if you think you are going to sterilize a mouthpiece you are dreaming.
>I am also told that we have evolved to live in a sea of bacteria and viruses and cope very well
>at resisting them.
at last, some common sense, I was starting to believe to be insane or that public health in Italy was SO superior compared with the rest of the world :-)
uliano
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-12-13 14:04
The only answer is to have your own mp.
The problem is to get the child to switch them everytime.
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2000-12-14 21:16
Stampers:
I taught band for 37 years in Texas and have seen the prices of new student line clarinets, for example, go from a coupe of hundred dollars to over $1.000 US. I know that this is a problem for the average family and where instruments must be shared, the minimum one can do is to furnish their own mouthpiece (reeds, etc.) to avoid as much contaxct with other children's germs as possible. This was done commonly with the large brass (baritones, tubas, etc) during my time and it work quite successfully IF the child used only their own mouthpiece and kept it clean and sanitized to the best of their ability. It was a No-No in my classes for students to switch horns AND mouthpieces, period..... This is a problem which you, your child's teacher, school and you are going to have to work out.
Good luck.
Bob Curtis
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Author: Stampers
Date: 2000-12-15 02:20
To everyone who has replied: many thanx! I'm being asked to teach classes where pupils share 3 to a clarinet: no money for seperate mouthpieces and we have to relie on the pupils remembering to always clean the mouthpiece b4 playing. I was wondering if anyone else was aghast as I am at the prospect! It is not only the health risk but the fact that they won't really be able to get any practice done. I think I'll check that all my insurance indemnity is in place :-(
Stampers
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