Klarinet Archive - Posting 000825.txt from 1998/02

From: Sally A Braun <00053386@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Possible Bass Clarinettist?
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 09:23:31 -0500

Shelley Scott wrote:>
> Hi everybody.
>
> In my jazz arranging class, we are to play and record our compostitions.
> Well, my teacher doesn't think that a clarinet has much part in our
> arrangements (!) so he wants me to play bass clarinet. No problem, right?
> Wrong! I've never played bass before! I would like to know if it is
> possible to be able to pick it up and handle the pieces with some
> practice. What do I have to know before I pick it up? How different is
> it from the soprano? Or would I have major problems and I should just
> forget the whole thing?
>
> I appreciate *any* advice anyone can give!
>
> TIA,
> Shelley Scott
>
Dear Shelly,
I play bass clarinet. I picked it up a couple of years ago for a
concert ensemble. Don't think of it as a different instrument as
soprano clarinet, just lower and bigger. The only difference I have
discovered between the two aside from the obvious (size) is that more
air is required. The mouthpiece position should remain the same. It
will feel different because it is larger, but angle of the mouthpiece
etc should remain constant in the switch from soprano to bass.
I do have to angle the base of the instrument in to get the proper
angle, and each brand of bass is different. It depends upon how the
neck of the instrument is shaped. Just remember the angle of the
mouthpiece is most important.
Many clarinetists have a
tendancy to pinch as the range goes up (at least I do:) And the bass
an help me to overcome this problem. If you pinch the reed on bass at
all, the sound just isn't produced. Another note, is that I use the
same strength of reed on bass as I do on Soprano....I choose vandorn
3 1/2, but strength of reed is an individual thing and depends what
sound you are looking for.
If there is anything else I can help you with concerning the bass
clarinet, please email me.

--
=^;^=

Sally A. Braun
Principal bass clarinet, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Wind Ensemble

e-mail: 00053386@-----.edu