Klarinet Archive - Posting 000802.txt from 1997/07

From: "Charles W. West" <cwest@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Bb to bass
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 14:10:24 -0400

Amy: Fred J. is right--reputable colleges and conservatories won't
let
you major in bass clarinet for the same reason you wouldn't major in
piccolo, English horn or contrabassoon. Technique and embouchure are only
part of what you accumulate--each instrument has a literature which one
must know. But you can find encouragement in that one who listens to your
college audition, if he/she is wise, is looking for talent, intelligence,
attitude, enthusiasm, dedication--in short, potential. In 25 years of
college teaching, I can't tell you how many polished auditions rendered
students who didn't do very well, and how many not-so-stellar auditions
rendered college graduates 4 years down the road who today are enjoying
successful careers in music. If you are wise and dedicated, you will
learn so much (and change so much) in college that you will think that
you
hardly played at all as a high school graduate. So give yourself a
chance--get an excellent teacher, work on soprano clarinet, and keep Bass
within your bag of options.
Best wishes.
Chuck West8

On Thu, 24 Jul 1997, Donald Walkner wrote:

> Klarinet members,
>
> I have another question to ask. Could anyone out there give me some
> advice on a problem I'm facing? I have been playing bass clarinet for
> five years. I really want to major in music, and I know my Bb clarinet
> skills aren't totally up to par. Will this greatly affect my college
> auditions? I have no technique problems, just my embouchure isn't that
> great because I have been playing bass for so long. Will colleges accept
> me if they hear my play both? I know there aren't to many colleges that
> let you major in bass. Not the ones that I would like to attend. Any
> advice would be very helpful.
>
> Amy
>