Klarinet Archive - Posting 000761.txt from 1997/10

From: jensmore@-----.net (Moren, Jennifer)
Subj: Re: Clarinets players becoming sax players
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 21:49:56 -0400

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> From: Laura M Ruck <lauraruck@-----.com>
>
> Subject: Re: Clarinets players becoming sax players
>
> "In our high school Jazz Band, 3/5 of our alto sax players started on
> clarinet. I picked up sax last year in order to be in the Jazz Band
> because there aren't clarinets in it. I had only been playing sax for
> about a month before we had tryouts. I made it in, and am 4th chair to
> people that have been playing sax for many years, two of which started on
> clarinet. It's not easy to make it into our Jazz Band either."

I also picked up sax way back in 9th grade (yikes) and made lead alto at
one of the top HS's in the state for jazz. Kids starting on sax are used
to playing accompaniment music in concert band and seldom see a lot of
notes and rhythms, plus the actual melody. Many elementary schools do
start on Clarinet instead of sax! However, all of those sax players will
catch up on jazz style, and especially improvisation. Study up on music
theory (altered chords, modes, II V I's, etc.)and listen to all of the old
jazz legends you can! A little flute playing will come in handy too...