Klarinet Archive - Posting 000811.txt from 1996/02

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <mcheramy@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Vertical qualifications?
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 11:13:54 -0500

>Hi,
>I'm a clarinet performance major comming up on the end of my sophomore
>year. This is the time of the year when they ask you if this is REALLY
>what you want to do with your college carreer. And, Yes, I want to
>be a performance major. My only problem is that I'm very short. This
>may not seem like that much of a problem to anyone who is tall but I
>assure you, it is. The reason it's such a problem is because, from
>what I've been told, to make it as a pro, you must be able to play
>any clarinet in the family like the bass clarinet. This is were my
>handicap begins. See, I cannot even barely hold an alto clarinet much
>less a bass clarinet. Should this really stop me from persueing a
>career as a clarinetist? Thanks, gotta go.
>Carol Robbins

Stuff and nonsense. There are thousands of clarinetists who have successful
careers without ever touching a bass. It is a limitation, especially in
terms of smaller orchestras where the second player often has to play bass
as well (as opposed to the big ones where there's a third player). It may
mean you have to practise more to make sure you get a principal job! ;-)
And I would recommend you do some E-flat playing if possible, to open up a
few more options. But it's certainly not necessary to play bass to make a
career as a clarinetist.

It takes a lot of dedication and persistence to make a successful musician.
If you have that, you don't need to be vertically enhanced.

Altissimi non carborundum!

LGB

   
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