Clarinet Mouthpiece

[FamilyGal]

DD plays the clarinet in the junior high band. We bought the clarinet from a Woodlands High student for about $75 two years ago. It is a very nice instrument and we have been very pleased. But, the band teacher just told my daughter she needed a Vandoren 5RV Lyre mouthpiece which I just priced at $189! :eek: Music Go Round is out of them, so I am going to try and find one on the web. That is crazy to require a $189 mouthpiece on a junior high instrument, in my opinion. Plus, she wants to switch over to bass clarinet. I am going to wait a little and see if she does actually switch because I don't want to spend the $$ for nothing.

Can any of you high school band moms let me in on what kind of money we will be spending in high school? I am fully supportive of band and am thrilled she loves it, but I am wondering if it is going to get expensive. Same with football. Her twin brother just started playing. So far, they haven't asked for money (other than $25 gym uniform). I know that has to change soon. Surely we pay for the padding, equipment and game uniform. And are there boosters for these two things?

[FamilyGal]

First one I found online was $80.00. Either they quoted me wrong or they are WAY overpriced.

[Wilson]

I played Clarinet through HS and never needed a special mouthpiece. What's up with that??

[FamilyGal]

Same here. I just used whatever my used instrument came with. "It plays better," claims the teachers. When my kid practices more than 10 minutes a week, I will consider spending $200 more on her instrument, lol.

I remembered that we had another clarinet put away somewhere. I am going to check the mouthpiece on it and see if I am lucky enough to already own this golden piece of equipment.

[schnauzermom]

I think if she switches to bass clairinet you have to get the $200 mouthpiece. I know at MCC they give you the bass clar for like $65 but you have to buy the mouthpiece. Maybe someone who played last year who isn't playing now can give you theirs. I know you can clean them. A friend did this.

[FamilyGal]

She was balking at a used one until I pointed out that the one she has NOW was bought used. They are very easy to clean. Gee, I hate paying that much for the bass clarinet mouthpiece even more. There won't be an instrument to go with it when I am ready to sell it! LOL Oh well, I played bass clarinet and bari sax too. We didn't have to pay to use them way back when. I am grateful to not have to go out and rent an instrument or purchase one. I will check and see if there are used mouthpieces on the bass clarinet if she ends up playing it. Otherwise, I will buy the $69.99 one I found on Amazon for her clarinet.

[FamilyGal]

In today's Chronicle: Hidden Cost Make Public Schools Far From Free
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5104781.html

I'm not really griping. I know band and athletics are voluntary and am glad my kids want to do them. It just adds up.


Other schools have started hiring collection agencies to gather delinquent fees from parents. Last year, for instance, the Ohio School Boards Association began promoting a collection agency called Transworld Systems Inc. to cash-strapped districts.

Wow, schools hiring collection agencies. I guess they have to get their money somehow.

[schnauzermom]

I just wrote a $91 check to MCC for band. I'm still not sure what I ordered. A formal uniform, t-shirt and ????? Plus there is a fundraiser next Fri. which I'm sure I'll contribute too. Golf team at TWHS was $300 but that included an optional bag. $20 for gym uniform $20 for both PTA's and directory's. Don't forget school supplies. Wow that's a lot more that I realized.

Football at MCC wasn't bad, the uniforms are free but you had to pay for the game day t-shirt and booster club fee. It was around $80 or so and I think that included a shirt for my dh.

[FamilyGal]

What grade is McC now?

[schnauzermom]

7th and 8th

[FamilyGal]

What happened to Knox? Is it still 7th and 8th also? Did McC replace Branch Crossing?

Anyway, that is the same grade as us. (York)

[schnauzermom]

Yes MCC is the old Branch Crossing the kids from there go to TWHS. Branch Crossing is now TWHS 9th grade only campus. Students from Knox go to College Park HS. Just wait until you play MCC they have 4 or 5, 7th grade teams and 4 or 5, 8th. Last year there were just over 400 kids playing football there. I think they have only lost a handful of games.

Jr high football is fun and I hope your son likes it.

[schnauzermom]

I just checked the website MCC has 6, 7th and 6, 8th grade teams. WOW that's a lot of football players!