Klarinet Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 1997/12

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: New topic...when to transcribe?
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 09:30:54 -0500

On Sun, 30 Nov 1997, Andrea Kellaway wrote:

> 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?

Andrea...

I have students set the instrument under their chair (the pin that is!)
with the horn at an angle and use a neck strap to support the instrument.
This is the only way to get the angle to be more like a clarinet. Yes,
you end up tilting your head a bit.....not as bad as the Charles Bay
advertisement suggests....but a little. I learned this from Oliver Green
in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and I played that way until only a few
years ago when I bought my first Buffet Prestige Bass with the modified
neck. If you are short, you may need a taller chair or to sit on
something to raise you up, but this is the only way I know to modify the
placement. I absolutely do not support the notion of changing the
embouchure because of a physical problem like the angle of the neck.
Other solutions?

Roger Garrett
IWU