Klarinet Archive - Posting 001204.txt from 1999/03

From: "Marty Marks" <RxReed@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Instant Sax (long)
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:37:57 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Bowman <kbowman@-----.com>
Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 5:18 PM
Subject: [kl] Instant Sax (long)

>As a doubler on sax and as a teacher of both clarinet and sax, I've
>been following this thread with some interest. I'd like to make a few
>comments on this "instant sax" concept.
>
>First of all, I think the "fewer fingerings" that at least one person
>mentioned regarding sax vs. clarinet refers to the fact that the sax
>lacks the alternate left and right fingerings for B, C, and C# (middle
>of the staff). While this is true, I'd like to point out that a LOT of
>clarinets in this world also lack these alternates, as there are a LOT
>of albert/simple system clarinets in the hands of clarinetists around
>the world. The "fewer fingerings" suggestion may also have referred
>to the fact that the basic range of the sax is much shorter than it is
>for clarinet. This is not to say that the sax cannot play an extended
>range, just that the recognized range is from Bb below the staff to F
>or F# 2 1/2 octaves higher while the clarinets recognized range is a
>little over 3 octaves (typical high school level ranges). Also, the
>clarinet relies *much* more on the pinkies that does the sax,
>probably due to the clarinet overblowing a 12th instead of an 8va.
>
>Now for a little of my background: I learned to play the sax after I
>had been playing clarinet for a few years (maybe 4, I don't really
>remember too well). I *really* wanted to play jazz and was told that
>I really should take up sax to do that (I did get to play a couple of
>Woody Herman tunes on clarinet in high school :). When I first
>got my sax (a student-model Yamaha that I still play, 22 or so
>years later) I *was* able to instantly get a sound and play the
>most common sounds. Was I instantly competent? NO WAY.
>No where *near* as competent as I was on the clarinet at the time.
>And now, all these years later, I'm still nowhere near as good on
>sax as I am on clarinet (I just don't spend the same amount of
>time practicing it). Some things learned on clarinet are transferable
>to the sax - finger technique, breathing and air flow, reading music,
>etc. But some things are just different - the sax altissimo register
>is *murder* - both in terms of fingering and intonation. Vibrato is
>usually a foriegn concept to clarinetists. And a whole slew of other
>things. So, while I think a fairly accomplished clarinetist (even, say,
>a high school student) can pick up a sax and instantly play a tune,
>there are many factors that have to be worked on in order to be
>truely competent (probably the biggest factor is the tone - it's hard
>to get an idea of what a good sax tone should be when you've been
>working so hard on hearing a good clarinet tone!)
>
>As an instructor, I have to be acutely aware of the differences between
>sax and clarinet because you can't teach clarinet and sax the same
>way. I actually find sax harder to teach - probably because I'm not as
>developed on the sax myself. Although, it seems to me that my sax
>students advance a lot faster in the initial year than my clarinet students
>do (I have two students who have played just over a year who already
>have a wonderful tone and are beginning to develop a vibrato).
>
>I have a rare adult student who has been playing sax for 20 years and
>wanted to learn clarinet. He was able to get a sound on the clarinet
>(although I have to constantly point corrections to his embouchure) and
>he could play a few tunes that did not cross the break. His biggest
>problems are 1) dealing with the 12ths and the different note names for
>similar fingerings between the chalemeau and clarion registers and 2)
>the additional "wind" needed to play clarinet. It's almost humorous
>watching him attempt to play a scale into the altissimo - he instictively
>wants to use the throat Ab key and the R.H. trill keys like sax palm
>keys - he *really* has think when he goes that high.
>
>A Sidebar:
>Since I purchased (what I consider to be) a very good tenor sax a
>year ago, I've been really excited about developing my sax chops
>(It's a 1937 Conn 10M). I have to admit that it's hard getting motivated
>to spend time working on sax tone when I *know* that it will take at
>least as long to develop a good tone as it did on clarinet (many years).
>Sometimes I just want to say "screw it - it's good enough for jazz" but
>I know that hard work will pay off in the end and I'll enjoy playing the
>instrument much more when I feel more comfortable with my progress.
>
>Now if could only find time to work on my flute chops too :)
>And, while I'm at it, I'd like to play piano like Gene Harris
>
>Kevin Bowman
>Clarinet & Saxophone Instructor,
>Rochester Conservatory of Music, Rochester, MI
>and
>Saxophones, Clarinet, & Keys,
>B-Side Blues Project
>
>
Thanks Kevin - As a saxophonist and clarinetist who works just a hard at the
saxophone as the clarinet, I was angered and frustrated by the remarks of a
couple of members of the list concerning instant sax. There a periods when
I must play only clarinet. When I do need the saxophone it takes just as
long to get back into shape on that horn as it does to get my clarinet chops
back. I'm not even refering to the altissimo register which I don't use very
much for the type of playing I do. That's a whole other area of study.
It takes years to develop a beautiful sound on any instrument.
I while back I tried to learn to play the recorder. Now that's an easy
looking instrument. No keys. Just holes and a limited range. I thought I'd
be playing the entire baroque repertoire in a few months. What a revelation
that was! I had to quit because to play at the level I would be satisfied
with was too time consuming.
Marty Marks

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