Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-01-18 01:17
I face a bit of a paradox of two central themes in clarinet play, that sometimes run at odds to each other for me.
On the one hand,
I would be hard pressed to find a place where opinion can vary, and people of good conscience and sound mind can disagree about so many aspects of play, and should be required to respect one another, more so than it study of clarinet. Clarinet players, no different than woodworkers, people who sew, or dirt bike enthusiasts like to talk "gear." That too should be respected, as nobody's forced to pay attention to the topic.
But on the other hand,
In an environment with so many opinions, so many options, so many people seeking that infinitesimally small improvement in their play--or even the perception (if not actual) improvement in their play, that they will throw science, money, and best practices "into the wind," and buy some crazy priced ligature whose cord was used by NASA, and whose metal was cryogenically frozen--and so many people only too happy to take their money--there appears to me to be no less calling to relevant truth, which is the only thing upon which sound (pun worthy of mention) decision can be made.
For 99.99% of us (that's 1 in 10,000, right?--it's probably higher) this stupid "reed strap" featured below isn't hard to get and stay on, and will take us far further than our abilities will outpace, until death do us part (from clarinet.)
http://shop.weinermusic.com/STANDARD-Bb-CLARINET-LIGATURE/productinfo/LK1N/
And if it won't, it will certainly suffice a beginner--the OP's original focus--even if that beginner's Julian Bliss--who funny enough, if he was here right now, based on Youtube video insight into his ideas, would likely concur with this.
"But Julians [substitute another named player if you desire] plays an XYZ ligature...and!!!"
...does he/she get it for free or get paid to play on it????? Do you play at that player's level where micro improvements make a difference? Do you ski better wearing the same brand and color helmet your favorite Olympian wore when getting the gold?
I get people's desire to talk and try new things clarinet. And in an effort to "torch myself before others get the chance" this comes from a Vandoren ligature using player--who'd I give every right to call a "smartpants" if not for my confession that the only thing that attracted me to the ligature was its double threaded screw easy on/off mechanism.
#BuyClarinetGizmosWithOpenEyes
Post Edited (2016-01-18 01:20)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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