Klarinet Archive - Posting 000119.txt from 1996/06

From: Neil Chungfat <chungfan@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Jazz Clarinetists
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 14:47:22 -0400

In regards to "alternative" instrumentation of jazz pieces, my school,
in previous years, has had both a jazz lab and a jazz band. The jazz lab
basically allowed anyone to come - string players and all, who would be
able to learn to improvise and some basics of jazz. The pieces used were
those with relatively simple heads and then a section for improv. My
school also has a jazz band that plays arrangements, though my band
director has allowed a few people to double parts on flute and other
instruments. However, my point is that perhaps if your director doesn't
want to include non-standard people into your jazz band, that you could
suggest having an alternative activity during the school week or
whenever, similar to the jazz lab we had. Best of luck to whoever started
this thread. BTW I play clarinet & tenor in HS, was not allowed to play
clarinet in stage band while in middle school, but then was asked to join
jazz band in my sophomore year if I would learn tenor sax, which I did.

Sincerely,

Neil Chungfat
chungfan@-----.edu