Klarinet Archive - Posting 000854.txt from 1999/10
From: "Dodgshun family" <dodgshun@-----.nz> Subj: Re: [kl] Bb Soprano to Bass Clarinet Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 22:14:17 -0400
>My band director sent in the applications for the District Band in my
District in >Pennsylvania. He decided he wanted to send me on Bass Clarinet
and I >agreed to go on Bass Clarinet if I was chosen as such. Well, I was
chosen on >Bass and unfortunatly I am not very familar with the instrument.
>I tend to pick up new instruments quite quickly, but I wondered what
kind of >input people on the list might have to help this Soprano player
adapt to his >clarinet's larger brother.
>I am sorry to ask such a broad question. As for the horn, I don't know
the >exact model, but it is a Leblanc Bass with the main body coming apart
into two >pieces.
First up, congratulations for making it into the band! I've recently done a
whole lot of work on my bass playing with my teacher, so I'll try and
remember the most important stuff she's told me. What type of mouthpiece is
with the bass? I play a LeBlanc bass (don't know the model, but it's a low
C instrument :) ) with a Pomarico 2 crystal mouthpiece. As far as I know,
very few people use crystals on bass. I like it because it allows me to
project without losing my tone or having to blow 'til I see stars! But
that's only my opinion - you may want to try some mouthpieces out. I'm
using standard Vandoren reeds, #3. My advice on reeds is to use a reed at
least as hard as your Bb reeds, if not 1/2 a strength harder. Tenor sax
reeds are also OK.
As for the actual playing:
- Support, support, support. Because the instrument's bigger, you need to
blow faster and get more air through it, and your diaphragmattic support
needs to be good all the time!
- Don't think of it as being any different to a Bb. When I stopped thinking
of it as a bass, my playing improved heaps!
- You may be surprised by the amount of mouthpiece you have to have in your
mouth - it's more than you may think.
- Don't bite up on the high notes, much as it feels like you may need to.
You'll squeak.
- If you do squeak, don't back off - get more air through the instrument.
This feels really strange at first, but it works.
- If you're playing up in the altissimo range (I really don't like doing
this on bass, but some composers insist on writing up there) you'll have to
sit down with a tuner and work out some fingerings which are in tune.
- I play with both a neckstrap and a peg - helps me on high notes because
the bass pretty much balances itself. Also means less strain on hands and
wrists.
Above all, have fun! I love playing bass and I get some really great parts
for it (Villa Lobos "Bachianas Brasileras" and Prokovief "Romeo & Juliet
Suite" being the current ones) - hopefully you'll have as much fun with it
as I do.
Anna
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