Klarinet Archive - Posting 000669.txt from 1996/10

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Bass Clarinet
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 13:51:14 -0400

Sid,
If you have a plastic student bass clarinet, It probably has that wierd
neck so you have to play with a sax embouchure. However, you can buy a
replacement neck from various sources. Leblanc makes them for its older
professional basses which have the old-style "play like a sax" neck.
Charles Bay has been making replacement necks to fit all brands for
years. Contact him. His ad is in The Clarinet magazine (I don't have his
phone # offhand). I got a replacement neck from Lebland fro my pro horn
and it has made all the difference. And, as an added benefit, it tunes
better to.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Fri, 25 Oct 1996, Sydney R. Polk wrote:

> I would like to add that many people when starting on bass clarinet
> from soprano clarinet are not aware of the first finger vent key at all.
> When playing D or above (actaully I do it on C# also), instead of lifting
> your first finger completely, expose the pin hole in the key of the
> first finger. If you don't, you will have a heard time getting the altinisimmo
> notes to speak, even if you are doing everything else right.
>
> I have also noticed that clarinet players who have never played bass
> put the instrument oto high on the peg to try to get the mouthpiece
> to come in at a more severe downward angle like they are used too.
> While it is desirable to have the mouthpiece at a downward angle,
> bending the head and neck back to achieve this restricts airflow
> and causes repetitive stress-type problems. It is more important
> to have good air flow; the embouchure will adjust.
>
> I have been playing on a strap to get the mouthpiece angle, but
> I had to play a three hour gig on bass, and I seemed to have strained
> my thumb. Looks like it is back to the peg for me.
>
> Syd Polk
> :x
>