Klarinet Archive - Posting 000628.txt from 2002/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] baritone sax
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 09:56:36 -0400

At 10:41 AM 10/26/2002 +0200, Henrik Olsson wrote:
>in my case, I wanted to play the sax in school (having heard more
>sounds from Clarence Clemmons than from Eddie Daniels) but was forced
>by the teachers to play clarinet for the first year. After that
>year, I though the sax seemed too heavy so I didn't change
>instruments.... Now I've grown up, and wanted to try the sax for a
>change. For me as an amateur playing for fun, it's nice with new
>challenges.

I added saxophone to my "repertoire" later in life, because I wanted to
someday be able to play Big Band music. It is a relatively easy thing for
a clarinetist to pick up, since the reed issues are virtually the same,
embouchure fairly similar, and fingerings MOSTLY the same as clarinet in
the clarion register. You'd better learn to use vibrato, though! The Big
Band music HAS been a ball to play, and the added versatility also has made
me very much in demand for local pit orchestras for musicals as well.

It is not uncommon in this area to start all potential saxophonists on
clarinet. One reason, I think, is to reduce the number of saxophones
starting in school bands. Clarinets are also less expensive! I think they
also teach more precise finger technique than saxophone, where you can be
fairly sloppy about finger placement on the keys. Saxes are heavier, it is
true, but the neckstrap supports all the weight, so it is actually EASIER
on the right thumb than clarinet!

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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