Author: gwie
Date: 2017-08-18 22:00
Beginners who have not developed their airstream or embouchure play flat. This is why some student instruments were made with sharp tuning in the throat tones, in order to mitigate this sort of issue when kids learn those first few notes and make things more bearable for the band teacher in elementary-age group instruction. Ridenour doesn't do this to any of his models, which need to play properly for everyone, not just beginners. I'm sort of surprised that your daughter's teacher doesn't know this.
As for the shop, we can't fault them for sticking with what they know of their authorized dealer brands, which for clarinets pretty much is Buffet, maybe Yamaha, and whatever Conn-Selmer is selling these days. For the tuning, it's hard to say. Someone who has only played say, Buffet their entire life, will find the basic intonation of a different brand somewhat wonky their first time out, because they've always compensated for the tuning characteristics of a particular brand, and have to become familiar with a different set of parameters to be in tune. And to be honest, no clarinet is perfectly "in tune." We all have to learn how an instrument behaves and provide the appropriate input to make it function...depending on an individual's setup it is easier for them to accomplish this on some instruments versus others.
I would contact the Ridenours directly, as they have excellent customer service. See if they will get you a slightly shorter barrel that your daughter can use for the time to keep her pitch up until her playing develops some more.
My experience with their instruments is a purchase of a Lyrique A clarinet for use by my students in my school orchestra. The instrument gets played a lot and has held up well over several years. My only complaint is that the keywork is not of the quality of the big brands, but then again, the instrument only cost me a fraction of that of its competitors so it is acceptable.
Post Edited (2017-08-18 22:01)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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