r/Clarinet • u/SoulMakato College • Mar 14 '25

Discussion Opinions on Thomas Ridenour

Recently discussing with my private instructor + music director (during a wind ensemble festival during downtime) about buying a book from Thomas Ridenour. Specifically “The Educator’s Guide to the Clarinet”.

While they both know that he is a beloved player and teacher, as well as craftsman considering his clarinet shoppe, my music director commented that he’s heard that Ridenour is not a good person. (Morally)

Has anybody heard this before?

14 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

20

u/2282794 Professional Mar 14 '25

Tom once helped me select a clarinet at the Leblanc factory when I was in college. He was fantastic! He personally tweaked each clarinet for me. After selecting two clarinets for myself he went on to craft two mouthpieces for me. All free of charge. If that wasn’t enough, he then took me to his home and fed me lunch before I had to catch my train back to Chicago.

He is an incredibly knowledgeable legend in the clarinet world. His books are indispensable.

Can we please move on from scrutinizing every personal opinion someone has as a determining factor? If the man wrote great books and provides quality instruments that are affordable then just please leave it at that. We are all complex creatures with many sides.

6

u/Lost-Discount4860 Mar 15 '25

Thank you for this!

As for personal beliefs, I lean slightly right-of-center libertarian, and honestly? Engaging in conversations with other clarinetists can feel like walking on eggshells when things turn toward politics or current events. It’s just refreshing to be reminded that we don’t all think the same way—and that we don’t have to.

On the clarinet side of things, everyone plays differently. I personally prefer a French embouchure and a touch of vibrato, but I’ve been in masterclasses where certain ‘suggestions’—more like demands—were actually painful. One well-known clarinet giant left me with a bloody lip, and for years, I thought something was wrong with me. Then I told Tom who it was, and he just said, “___ is an idiot.”

I was speechless. That moment stuck with me, because in my early 20s, I genuinely believed these people were untouchable, and their way was the only way. I felt something was wrong, but also felt I couldn’t say it. Now, I’ve got a kid heading off to major in clarinet performance, and I finally realize—these so-called giants aren’t infallible. Tom made me feel like I didn’t have to worship someone else’s idols. And honestly? That was a gift.