Klarinet Archive - Posting 000860.txt from 1998/04

From: Valri Stacy <VLSTACY@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: College/Bass clarinet
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 16:32:58 -0400

HI! I am a college freshman and I play bass clarinet. I played bas
s all through high school and now I am playing in college. In high school we h
ad five Selmer bass clarinets with the range down to the low C. They were all
in nice condition and played great. Now, I really play bass clarinet, not a cl
arinet player who plays bass! They are different in so many ways! Now, I had
to borrow the one I used through high school to get through the summer. Now at
college, USC just bought five Buffet bass clarinets (two years ago??) and they
are so nice!!! I have heard stories of how a few years ago they only had four
cheap basses and out of those only one was playable! Well, the point to thi
s is that I don't think it is uncommon. My high school was rather 'young' and
the instruments were not very old so I have just been lucky. After all this ra
mbling, my suggestions are to ask around at local high schools and see if they
have any worth playing and see if you can rent it. About none in college, that
is common also. Now, there is myself and girl who play bass clarinet rather
than clarinet which is uncommon. I think that is the reason. There are not en
ough people who actually play bass clarinet or who are required to get some exp
erience on it before graduating. I don't know if this will help any, but hey -
I tried!

Valri Stacy
vlstacy@-----.edu