 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom W
Date: 2006-01-13 11:51
My son is an eighth grader who currently plays a Selmer 1400B. His band director says he is one of the better musicians in his school band and has made the All-County band this year.
While some advanced players on this board still play on their Vitos and Bundys, I assume most don’t. Do most players upgrade because they’re looking for a different sound, or are some clarinets easier to play in tune then others?
When do you really know when it’s time to upgrade (either plastic or wood) your clarinet?
Thanks,
Tom W.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-01-13 12:07
I think you are really asking, "When do you know when it's time to upgrade your child's clarinet?"
We had a recent discussion, prompted by me as it happens, as to whether more expensive clarinets are easier to play that student-level instruments. This might seem an inane question, but I asked it because, for some instruments (trombone for example) there are design compromises in student instruments that are intended to make them easier for beginners to play. The consensus was that this does not apply to the clarinet, and student-level clarinets have no advantages from a purely musical point of view (though they may have advantages from the point of view of economics, of resistance to adverse weather conditions, and of lightness of weight.)
So, from a purely musical point of view, the time to upgrade is as soon as possible, always assuming you can afford it, and the kid will take care of the instrument, and the kid will use the cheap instrument when playing outdoors.
I'm not a parent, so no doubt I shouldn't give you lessons in parenting. But I would suggest that the time to buy your kid a $2000 clarinet is when he wants it more than anything else in the world, and when he understands exactly how much $2000 means to you, and when he agrees that, if he doesn't practice, it gets sold again. The time not to buy it is "but Daddy, everyone else has an R13."
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2006-01-13 22:36
The time to upgrade your child's clarinet is when these conditions are all met.
When your child, and his teacher both think it is time for an upgrade.
When your child is mature enough to care for the instrument properly.
When your financial situation allows it.
I speak from personal experience when I say that what is important to a 13 year old child, might not be important to that child when he is 16.
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Author: george
Date: 2006-01-13 22:47
David, you might not be a parent, but you know a hell of a lot about being one.
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2006-01-14 02:37
Just to add what David said about "when he understands exactly how much $2000 means to YOU)...what about understanding how much $2000 means to HIM? I was 14 years old when I upgraded to my R-13 in 1975 with MY OWN money. I REALLY wanted it and got two after-school jobs so that I could save-up to get it. Although I now own several clarinets, that R-13 is still the most special one in my collection because I had truly worked my butt off for it. (If memory serves, it cost ~$750 in 1975 dollars, which is ~$2,800 in today's dollars).
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-01-14 19:23
It's probably time to shop for an upgrade for your son if he's as good and interested as it sounds. A Buffet R-13 is always a good buy--especially if you can find one that is only slightly used. That way, if your son wants to play in college he'll be set and you won't have to upgrade again. And, you can be certain the R-13 will always "play well with others" at whatever level he achieves.
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