Author: William
Date: 2010-10-11 15:13
Teens are very impressionable, the "gotta have it" if they see it kind of generation--I know, having been there once myself. Backun barrels and bells have an appealing look and the fact that a lot of professionals use them makes them even more attractive. But the fact is, most of those "pros" have already developed there performance abilities and would sound just as good--or at least, like the advanced players they are--on their stock equipement, less the the expensive Backum after product add-ons. And, they are already playing top-pro clarinets, not Buffet E11's. My advice would be by pass the expensive Backum barrel and bell set and invest that money in a top of the line clarinet--Buffet R13, Prestige or Tosca. Your son will be SO PROUD to own the clarinet of his dreams, much more the his old clarinet clunker with the added parts. And the improved sound and musical expression will be evident to all--even without the Backuns. Then, when the next Chicago Symphony Orchestral clarinet position is up for audition, if he spends the proper amount of focused practice on his Buffet, maybe he will be ready.
BTW--if he were my son and he is as motivated as you say he is, I would spend all the money it takes to buy him a matched set--A & Bb--of Toscas picked out with the help of Lisa's Clarinet Shoppe. She was a great help to me when I selected my Buffet Prestige bass clarinet and I recommend her expertise in instrument selection. There is nothing like playing the very best there is.....just my opinion.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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