 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: FatherOfTwo
Date: 2011-09-06 14:34
Hello,
A familiar story; a father whose daughter came home from school and asked to join 5th grade band. After the meet-and-greet and initial fitting, she chose clarinet.
The people from the local music store have been very nice. However, I was hesitant to buy a new clarinet for what might turn out to be a passing interest. And I just have a general dislike for the idea of renting long term. Enter Craigslist.
I found (Edit: and purchased) a clean Buffet B12 from a nice family whose daughter had given up band. It also has a Hite Premiere mouthpiece. The local store gave it a clean bill of health.
I play it cool around my daughter, but I'm one very excited dad.
I've been lurking a bit, reading the archives, finding answers. I'm sure I'll have more questions.
Thanks,
Mike
Post Edited (2011-09-06 19:17)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2011-09-06 16:15
Mike:
As you haven't really raised any questions above, maybe I'll just wish you luck and point out some of the thing you may want to consider.
Why would you be opposed to renting (short term)? It sounds like you don't even know if your daughter's initial decision to play clarinet will be one she regrets in general, or for another instrument. Then again, you can always sell the horn you buy, if it comes to pass that she isn't interested in clarinet. Plus, I would suspect success rates are higher with kids who start out with decent equipment (then again, when I was starting out, and wasn't much good, "we" could always just blame it on the instrument--one plus for renting).
Anyway--as many realize and appreciate, virtually all things in life are rented--even the things we "own." It just boils down to a financial transaction concerning how long you hold it, how (up front, over time, etc.) and how much you pay for it, and if you have anything to sell (possibly for a profit), when you're doing using it.
Again well known, all business transactions are subject to risk--some more than others. Clearly, auction sites like ebay and Craigslit might come with more risk than the music store in town which has been in business 30+ years, but with that additional risk, hopefully, comes better deals on these internet sites. And it sounds like the people selling the horn in question aaren't looking to get a bad horn off their hands--just one that isn't being used.
Do you have any intentions on buying that relate back to your belief that it will create the greatest degree of staying power with the instrument for your daughter?
If that were the case, speaking from similar experience, my daughter much preferred the pretty plastic pink clarinets on ebay over my Buffet R13.
Some of the board will praise the instrument you've chosen, while others will suggest clarinets they think are better values for the money.
I'm just glad if you can introduce a future contributor to the board, in the way of your daughter, to the dialog. Some of us here are getting old!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2011-09-06 19:48
Thank you for telling us your story, and I will look forward to your questions. It sounds as if you have taken a considered approach to the whole thing...and you managed to come up with a better instrument and mouthpiece than you may have gotten by renting. Good luck to you and your daughter with your adventure.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: FatherOfTwo
Date: 2011-09-06 20:35
I didn't make it clear originally, but I did purchase that B12 mentioned in my first post. I hope my daughter loves band. But if not, I can sell it and lose very little. It has been my experience, at least with guitars, that buying clean and used is the way to go.
What has surprised me is how I now find myself interested in the clarinet. I've always liked mechanical items and the craftsmanship that goes into them. Also, I'm a gear and tool junky. So many reeds, mouthpieces, ligatures! I imagine gear-acquisition-syndrome is as rampant here as it is in the guitar world.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chetclarinet
Date: 2011-09-06 21:40
A Buffet B12 is a good quality beginning instrument for your daughter and you are correct in assuming that you can easliy re-sell it for close to what you paid for it if she does not stay in band. Speaking of staying in band, many years ago, the band director came into my fifth grade class and asked for a show of hands of those interested in joining the band. I saw my friend Philip raise his hand and decided at that moment to raise mine. Philip stayed in band three months and I stayed 56 years and am still going! I have been a professional clarinetist for 48 of those years (Eastman School of Music Grad) have had a great life performing and instructing others about the joys of music and the arts and have no regrets!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: grannybflat
Date: 2011-09-08 09:18
If you really are that excited about the clarinet you could always learn yourself if your daughter decides it's not for her.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
