I wanted to mention this, en passant.
Most clarinets are designed with at least seven open holes, such as this (the seventh hole is where your left hand thumb goes, on the back of the horn).
However, some people either have fingers that are way too small or have some other hand problem that prevents them from being able to cover these holes, so they get something called a "plateau clarinet", such as this.
Here's the unfortunate thing: only one company (that I've found, at least), currently makes the plateau clarinets: Leblanc. The model they make is the one I linked to, above, the Vito 7214P. The worse thing: it's very, very expensive new: $1595. And it's plastic.
There is an option. Buy a used one.
eBay is generally your best bet, with (currently) three plateau clarinets selling in the neighborhood of $300 - $500 (like this one). All you have to do is search for "plateau clarinet".
However, remember your standard eBay purchasing guidelines:
* Assume that it will need at least $300 in repair.
* If it says it has pins, bands or cracks, skip it.
* Assume that if it's not listed or seen in the ad, you're not getting it. You don't see a case? You're not getting one. You don't see a mouthpiece? You're not getting one. You don't see a particular joint (or barrel or bell)? You might not be getting one.
* Doing a quick Google search, I see that some Eb sopranino, A and D clarinets were available in plateau form. If you're a beginner, you want a Bb clarinet.
Most common plateau clarinets seem to have been made by Normandy (that's a Leblanc model), but several other manufacturers seem to have made them, including Selmer and Richard Keilwerth.
Most clarinets are designed with at least seven open holes, such as this (the seventh hole is where your left hand thumb goes, on the back of the horn).
However, some people either have fingers that are way too small or have some other hand problem that prevents them from being able to cover these holes, so they get something called a "plateau clarinet", such as this.
Here's the unfortunate thing: only one company (that I've found, at least), currently makes the plateau clarinets: Leblanc. The model they make is the one I linked to, above, the Vito 7214P. The worse thing: it's very, very expensive new: $1595. And it's plastic.
There is an option. Buy a used one.
eBay is generally your best bet, with (currently) three plateau clarinets selling in the neighborhood of $300 - $500 (like this one). All you have to do is search for "plateau clarinet".
However, remember your standard eBay purchasing guidelines:
* Assume that it will need at least $300 in repair.
* If it says it has pins, bands or cracks, skip it.
* Assume that if it's not listed or seen in the ad, you're not getting it. You don't see a case? You're not getting one. You don't see a mouthpiece? You're not getting one. You don't see a particular joint (or barrel or bell)? You might not be getting one.
* Doing a quick Google search, I see that some Eb sopranino, A and D clarinets were available in plateau form. If you're a beginner, you want a Bb clarinet.
Most common plateau clarinets seem to have been made by Normandy (that's a Leblanc model), but several other manufacturers seem to have made them, including Selmer and Richard Keilwerth.
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