Klarinet Archive - Posting 000689.txt from 1996/05

From: "William A. Helmers" <reedman@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Jazz Clarinetisits?
Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 21:58:39 -0400

Although raised a clarinetist, I passed myself off as a sax player my senior
year in high school so that I could go on a European tour with a jazz
ensemble. I wound up playing lead alto, but grabbed my clarinet whenever I
had to improvise, because I could "think on my feet" a lot better with the
clarinet.

This experience has come in handy, since I am now comfortable playing a sax
book for symphony pops concerts as well as covering classical sax parts. It
makes the job more interesting, and it is a good way to pick up a few
doubling fees along the way. Doubling is extremely useful in contemporary
chamber music also.

I would advise you to tell your jazz ensemble director that you are now a
sax player, and go from there.