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Re: Value of an Evette Schaffer K-series

Author: MSK
Date: 2015-04-22 05:13

I don't live in Texas, and can't begin to understand the local culture of requiring an entire section to have professional quality clarinets much less of a particular brand. In my own high school days, Half the section didn't even have wooden clarinets. Many of the wooden ones were Evette, Normandy etc - definitely not the quality your daughter already owns. Only the top students had professional quality instruments of any of the major brand -- and that was a mixture. We sounded good and won many competitions. Attending our admittedly small state's All- State concerts last month, I can say that most of the Junior Band and some the Senior Band all State clarinets were still playing their beginner plastic instruments with upgraded mouthpieces. I doubt that any who get into All State do so without private lessons though.

Even though I had already been tutoring my son at home, I saw a world of improvement in his sound after he began taking private lessons. The teacher could work on embouchure and dynamics in a way that the band director can't possibly address in the larger group. Furthermore, chances are that the band director isn't even a clarinet specialist. My son is on his fourth band director and none are primary clarinet players. A private teacher might also have insight into navigating local music politics, helping your daughter blend her sound with an instrument she already owns, or choosing an alternate if it is really required.

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