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Re: I need help on a professional clarinet.

Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2014-11-20 18:12

If I may start back at the beginning, do you know why your band teacher told you that you should get a "new" (i.e. a better..new or used) clarinet...assuming his or her advice is correct? And if so, what was the explanation?

Look, who wouldn't want a new matched pair of excellent Bb/A Buffet Toscas?

I know I would.

But before even determining which instrument is best of the ones you (or others) mentioned, I would suggest that you make sure you have a good handle (if you don't already) on what about your existing clarinet is falling short (as opposed to you, your mouthpiece or reeds) and what you could do(today or tomorrow), that you can't today on your current clarinet, if the (more) professional instrument is put into your hands.

Sometimes just getting a better instrument in a player's hands provides the motivation for them to work harder, even if they don't, at first, have the proficiency to take advantages of the better clarinet's featured. And that's cool.

But band teachers, many of which don't have high clarinet proficiency (and that's okay--they may have been teaching majors, not performance majors, and/or clarinet may not be their (main) instrument) sometimes need to have their opinions checked.

(Mr. Salizar, may you rest in peace, this doesn't apply to you: a wonder person, teacher, and clarinetist.)

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Now, suppose the reason to switch instruments is well grounded in rationale logic. What can you afford? And when I say "afford" I'm talking about 3 things. "What money do you have earmarked for such a purchase," how much do you personally desire a better instrument, and what things of personal value to you will you have to do without, if anything, if you get a new clarinet?"

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I think the suggestions above about which clarinet to get were all good. But make sure that you first have a good idea of why your getting a new clarinet, and why that new clarinet need be a professional model at this point in your development as a high school freshman.

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