Klarinet Archive - Posting 000197.txt from 2002/11

From: "William Semple" <wsemple@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Why Bb? (was: reverse Mozart)
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 12:20:26 -0500

There you go. The kind of answer from a professional that helps everyone
approach a problem, especially in starting with the largest instrument
first.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Forest E. Aten Jr." <forestaten@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Why Bb? (was: reverse Mozart)

> > As for Nancy's issue, she is asking for informed opinions from other
> > players, not a sweeping dismissal that suggests her question is stupid.
It
> > might be helpful that other players with known experience contribute
> > specific insight, which then would help her approach the instruments in
> such
> > a way that the transition from one to another is made easier.
>
>
> William,
>
> I play most of the clarinet family in professional settings in Dallas.
> Eb in the Dallas Wind Symphony www.dws.org
> 2nd clarinet/slide to bass in the Dallas Opera orchestra
www.dallasopera.org
> And do a lot of auxiliary clarinet work (extra) with both the Dallas and
Ft.
> Worth Symphonies.
>
> My point being that I play all of the clarinets....and make frequent
changes
> in what clarinet I'm playing every week.
> I find that since I'm working daily, and of course maintaining proficiency
> on all of the clarinets , that I do not notice that one is more difficult
> than another to play. (This does takes time each day. When I play
different
> clarinets during the week, I always start my practice and warm-up on the
> largest instrument first.)It only takes me a very short time to be
> comfortable with whatever clarinet I'm playing. If I don't play a
> particular clarinet for a longer period of time...it's quite a different
> story. But I feel that it is only because I've been away from that
> particular clarinet....not that one is more difficult than another. (But
> this is true even when I change from one Bb to another...I have lots of
> clarinets and use them all. It depends on what I'm performing and/or what
I
> want to accomplish in my playing)
>
> I would suggest to Nancy, that she practice most of the time on her A
> clarinet for a while. I think that soon she would feel very comfortable
> (perhaps even as comfortable) using the A. She noted that she was more
> comfortable on her Eb and even mentioned that it was probably because she
> uses it more often. This observation alone may be the answer to her
question
> and reinforces my own observation through experience.
>
> What's the old saying, "use it or lose it".....
>
> Regards,
>
> Forest
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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