The Luyben clarinet ligature's best quality is its price: at under $10, it is the cheapest ligature on the market that still offers superb performance and tone quality. With easily adjusted screws that change the tightness of the ligature on the mouthpiece, the ligature can help you get the best sound out of your reed. It is made out of a durable, flexible plastic that won't add any weight to y...

I purchased the R13 Buffet four years ago and was very pleased initially. This clarinet has wonderful projection and allows for significantly more control in the upper registers than the more intermediate Buffet models, such as the International. The R13 has a mature sound and a rich tone that is appropriate for any musician looking to move up into the advanced/professional arena of clarinet mo...

I took this backpack on a year-long backpacking tour of Asia. It lasted from the Gobi to the Himalayas! It has a terrific carrying capacity and can be expanded to hold even more. As a 5'6," average-built woman, I had no trouble carrying between 40-70 lbs in this pack. The weight is well-distributed through an ingenious frame with hip support, so all the heaviness sits on your hips. For...

Kafka On the Shore, a 2005 novel from Japanese fiction author Haruki Murakami, is almost too esoteric to be enjoyable. Following the path of a 15-year-old runaway, the narrative is first-person and initially enjoyable. Murakami's writing style is rich with sensual imagery and leaves no emotions untouched, which hooks the reader into wanting to find out what will happen next. Alongside the s...

Vandoren Reeds are an excellent choice for an intermediate to advanced clarinet player. They have more resistance than the popular Mitchell-Lurie reeds, which allow for good tone but are weaker overall. Vandoren reeds are much stiffer and therefore produce better tone, although they take a little longer to break in. The V12 is a special edition that is softer than normal Vandorens, which can s...

Just as a good book should, Steinbeck's East of Eden keeps you on the edge of your seat while you breathlessly wait to find out what will happen to the characters. Following the story of a young boy who has trouble relating to his father, the narration begins in 19th century America in the aftermath of the Civil War. Adam Trask, the son of a decorated war hero, grows up with opposite intere...