 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richard
Date: 2001-05-21 12:50
Sorry, but I just have to have a general whinge about this.
Why is playing the clarinet so expensive? I'm torn between buying an alto sax for £500 and having enough money in the future to buy a/a pair of wooden clarinets (thousands of pounds, I expect). I can't actually afford either, but I'm getting all this information thrown at me :
as a clarinnetist you're expected to play saxophone as well at music colleges...
you need to learn on a wooden clarinet if you want to progress and get a nicer sound.....
You need a pair of clarinets to play in any decent orchestra....
I am only 16 at the moment, but I'm doing grade 8 soon, and I really want to play the clarinet professionally.
If anyone has any opinion on this - which I should buy, whether I need any/all of the above, what I should do, could you please reply
Thanks,
Richard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-21 13:32
Richard,
For now, don't worry so much about it. Get a good wood clarinet (you can get some really good buys on used ones) and just buy what you need when you need it. You might change your mind in a couple of years, or change courses a bit and you don't want to have too much money tied up in stuff you might not need. Also, as you progress you will have teachers who might specify certain brands or types of instruments and you would want to be free to be able to get those.
I would recommend to start looking for a good professional model clarinet. There are several listed on the classifieds of Sneezy. Even if some of those sellers don't have what you want, they might be able to help you find it.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-05-21 13:48
Some school programs have horns that students can borrow for the school year. That way one can try what ever and see if it is for them. Check with you teacher and see if something is available.
Take life and music one note at a time.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-21 14:04
Don't discount the 'Home grown' clarinets available from the Boosey works or makers that have gone under.
If you are willing to purchase horns that have repaired cracks (a test play is definitely in order) you will save STACKS of money.
I would also recommend getting into an inexpensive plastic or hard rubber horn with the best mouthpiece you can afford (you should be able to shoot the works for 150 pounds sterling).
If you need a clarinet in A, the school will likely provide.
Start small, keep it cheap until you decide.
Don't cut corners on mouthpieces or reeds, it's really all about the reed.
I recommend the Legere synthetic reed. They're quite good, and one will last as long as 10 cane reeds, with less fuss.
Bon chance!
anji
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-05-21 14:28
Good advice above, the best instruments are quite expensive because of the many hours spent by highly skilled makers to make them near- perfect . As a group, good cls and saxes are much less expensive than oboes, bassoons, some flutes and brass, just price a good French horn or an old violin for examples. We all have had to learn how to shop-around in this peculiar market! Luck, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2001-05-21 15:13
How about the trombone--a good one is still expensive, BUT, no reeds to select and pamper--and squeak anyhow, no swabbing after each use, no expensive re-pad jobs, no special barrels, ligs or bells to search for (and buy), no sensitive key mechanisms to become misaligned, no worry about cracking in cold weather, less special "alternate" fingerings, and no real need to double to get most good gigs. And, you don't have to contend with sitting in front of the trumpets!!!! :>)
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-05-22 02:02
William in a big band gig the bones will sit smack dab in front of the trumpets! Better suggest the snare drum instead. Not too expensive and if you can remember where you put your sticks you don't need replacements.
I do like the strings idea. Play the cello and you can be in Woody Allen's marching band!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-22 19:20
Richard -
Clarinet is the least expensive band instrument. The top-of-the-line Buffet, Leblanc, Yamaha and Selmer models are available for around $2,000 and handmade Rossis and Wurlitzers are under $4,000. Believe it or not, you can get a Buffet R-13 for less than a handmade alto recorder (which has no keys) from the best makers.
Compare a Haynes flute or a Loree oboe (each close to $8,000) or a Heckel bassoon ($20,000). Then price a decent violin, or ask Mark to tell you about his boat (if you have to ask, you can't afford it).
Count yourself lucky to play clarinet, for all sorts of reasons, including financial ones. You need a car to get to work. Why are you worried when you pay a tenth of the cost of that for what you make your living with.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-05-22 19:45
Ken Shaw wrote:
> Then price a decent violin, or
> ask Mark to tell you about his boat (if you have to ask, you
> can't afford it).
The boat is gone ...
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-23 02:10
NOOO, not the boat! Just when I find you you live near us? I had pictured myself in a helmet on Lake Travis.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-05-23 13:09
Ken is correct. Add to that the far, far greater expense of maintaining a sax, and the fact that sax players frequently have, for regular use, at least 4 sizes of the beast.
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