Klarinet Archive - Posting 000851.txt from 1998/04

From: Edmund William White <ewhite@-----.us>
Subj: College/Bass clarinet
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 14:01:12 -0400

As a college-bound Senior, I was shocked to discover that the
university I'll be attending this fall has very few bass clarinets in
good working condition. I thought that only occurred at the high school
level. Although I don't intend upon being a music major (instead,
Mathematics/Computer Science), I enjoy playing, and would like to take
advantage of my college's programs. I am scheduled to audition for the
university bands this June. The audition consists purely of sightreading
(no scales, etudes, or prepared pieces). In addition to competing for a
good spot in the program, I realized that I'd also be competing for the
right to a good instrument. I don't own a bass clarinet, but have played
my high school's '71 Selmer Paris for the past two years. I've placed
well in my State and District bands AND orchestras on this horn. My last
contact with the instrument will probably be the university band audition,
and then comes the summer. My university owns 14 bass clarinets (mostly Bundy,
with 2 Selmer model 3x's, reserved for the top spots in the
band/orchestra). They hold summer band programs, so I won't
get a chance to use an instrument during that time, regardless of my
placement after the auditions. Is this an uncommon situation? I'd
appreciate any ideas as to how I should maintain my bass chops over the
summer. I play the soprano clarinets, so I won't be totally out of
practice when the fall comes, but I regret not anticipating this
situation. Has anyone here gone through this, because I'm assuming that
most players at this level don't own their basses.

Edmund White
ewhite@-----.us