Klarinet Archive - Posting 000131.txt from 1996/07

From: Ronald Atienza <RATIENZA@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: What should I learn?
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 15:30:14 -0400

On Sunday, July 07, 1996 12:36 AM, Patrick Kwan[SMTP:Wackko8281@-----.COM]
wrote:
> Hi, I've played the clarinet for almost 4 years now. I want to start on a
new
> instrument. What instrument(s) will not ruin my embrochure. And I'll have
an
> avantage (Did I spell that right?) on that instrument due to my clarinet
> background.
> What instrument will that be?
>

Perhaps alto saxophone or oboe. I play alto sax also and I don't think it
ruins your clarinet embrochure too much, just as long as you continue to
play your clarinet every so often.

I agree. . there is no instrument that will "ruin" a clarinet embouchre. . When
I was taking saxophone
lessons, I had clarinet teachers tell me that doubling makes your tone raunchy a
nd it ruins your
clarinet chops and all that. . .but it isn't playing the second instrument that
ruins your tone and
technique. It's only when you don't practice both instruments with careful atten
tion to the
appropriate embouchres and hand position that your playing will suffer ( I've ha
d sax players tell me
that clarinet playing screws up their sax playing.. it works both ways.) You won
't be an effective
doubler as much as you'll be an okay player on multiple instruments.

And yes, clarinet players can have advantages on sax and oboe. . . The open hole
s and complex
fingering system forces good technique. Many sax players started on clarinet or
studied the
instrument intensely-- Eddie Daniels, Cannonball Adderley, Lou Marini, Jr. etc.

So yes, it's fine to start a new instrument ( makes more money for you on a Unio
n gig) be it sax ,
flute, trombone, tuba or whatever. As long as your fundamentals on clarinet are
strong and
constantly practiced, there is no problem.

Laters,
Ron