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Music store incident

Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-12-30 18:54

I stopped into a small local music store that has a fair assortment of method books and sheet music. On the way to the stacks, I stopped to examine a table of more than a half dozen used clarinets. There were two Bundys, several Noblets, and a B12 Buffet. All the clarinets but one had minor leaks or other conditions that could possibly be corrected with an hour or so of labor, however the B12 seemed to be in very good, almost new condition. The keys were not sloppy, the sping action was good and both top and bottom joints held vaccum and didn't have obvious leaks on positive pressure either. As I continued on to the stacks of sheet music, I could hear the store owner take a phone call from a parent who was looking for a clarinet for their child. I figured that B12 would be the perfect instrument for a young student, but instead the owner tried to dissuade the parent from that clarinet even though the parent seemed to be calling expressly for that instrument.

The owner called the Buffet, "a proffesional instrument" and that the Bundy or the other "American made instruments" would be more appropriate for a student and would be easier to repair. He stated that these used instruments had all been checked by a repair technician and were trouble free.

I wonder how students manage to survive their first year of wind instrument study. I think back to 1968, when I was 14 and my brother who was already on the verge of becomming a proffesional musician checked over my first student instrument. I actually played his R13 for the first few months while he taught me some basics, before my parents rented the Ponte they would eventually buy for me. Although I didn't know it then, a small leak or slop in the keywork can result in an almost unplayable horn even in the hands of an advanced player.

Clarinet is hard enough without someone like the owner of Miami's Abe Music recommending leaky instruments for the beginning student.

Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com

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Garth Libre

2013-12-30 18:54