Klarinet Archive - Posting 001146.txt from 1997/11

From: Andrea Kellaway <ariosa@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: New topic...when to transcribe?
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 21:54:14 -0500

Thanks to Roger and Jennifer for all of your great advice!

Yes, Jennifer, I am playing on a more sax-like set up. That is why, Roger, I was so
confused at your statement that the clarinet and bass clarinet embouchures are a lot
alike. I too play on a student model, but it has a great tone, so I have never seen
any need to change, but it is the saxophone set up that is doing me harm, I agree.
Unfortunately, I do not have the money for a better set-up, and all the bass
clarinets my university owns have the same set up, so I am at a loss for what to do.
Is it possible to get a proper neck custom made, I wonder?

I also find it hard because my school neglects the bass clarinet in general. My
teacher, Patricia Kostek is a WONDERFUL clarinettist, but she openly admits that she
doesn't know as much about the bass clarinet as she would like to, althought she
WILL double on it if absolutely necessary. This year, Pat is on sabbatical, and we
have Earl Thomas subbing in for her, and it is only now that we have begun to
develop my bass clarinet technique....but with all my clarinet duties and Music
Education responsibilities, I have not had the time. Thankfully, I have stumbled
upon an excellent resource, it seems!

Andrea

Jennifer Rose McKenna wrote:

> On Sat, 29 Nov 1997, Andrea Kellaway wrote:
>
> > It's interesting to read this. I just joined the list, and I have been playing
> > the Bass Clarinet for many years, but it was not an available instrument to
> > study at my university, so I switched to clarinet and got in. For the past
> > four years I have been playing a VERY little bass clarinet at school, until
> > last November I performed a solo with the university orchestra on Bass
> > Clarinet, and now no one's allowed me to play my clarinet. I am now only
> > getting back into my clarinet duties, because my bass clarinet playing is
> > effecting my clarinet embouchure drastically. I was wondering if anyone else
> > has ever had this problem, and if they ever found a way to rectify it, other
> > than 20 more hours a day in the practice room! :)
> >
> > Andrea
> >
> > Josh-Boy wrote:
> >
> > > My roommate plays the contra quite well, actually; our band directors now
> > > basically expect him to play it! I have to agree with you, though: the
> > > lower clarinets are really tough to play, considering they require so much
> > > more air. I attempted to play the contra once -- no luck. Even the Bb
> > > bass clarinet proved to be rather difficult to me.... maybe its because I
> > > have played clarinet my entire musical career that I have adjusted to that
> > > and that alone... who knows?!?
> > >
> > > Josh
> >
> >
> >
> andrea,
> i hate to tell you this...i played bass clarinet for 5 years, and loved it
> too death, but i was also worried that at whatever university i decided to
> study at, a bass clarinet would not be available. i played on a student
> model bass clarinet for all those years, and the embochure for that one
> was horrible, it was all wrong, and i'll tell you why. the neck!! if it is
> shaped like a swans neck it is a tenor sax type neck that requires a tenor
> sax type of embouchure. If the neck is shaped more at a 50-60 degree angle
> it is a REAL bass clarinet neck and requires more of a clarinet
> embouchure, it really all depends on what type of neck you have. the
> better the neck the easier it will be to change back and forth. i had the
> horrid experience of playing on a horrible bass clarinet for all those
> years, and when i switched to clarinet full time, i developed TMJ and it
> will for ever plague me. i hope this doesn't happen to you. but i have
> spent alot of time developeing both of these embouchures. feel free to
> email me jrm0013@-----. ok?
>
> jennifer mckenna
> university of north texas
> jrm0013@-----.edu
> clarinet concentration/music ed major