Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 2004/02

From: "Timothy J. Kosto II" <tjk095@-----.lehigh.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: C Clarinet
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 09:18:05 -0500

Although I have at times looked at the price of a used A clarinet for per=
forming
in both small chamber ensembles and orchestras, I have not yet justified =
(at
least to myself) the cost, let alone a C clarinet. Seomtime in high scho=
ol,
while performing with a local community colege orchestra, I was first
introduced to A clarinet parts and simply had to learn transposition on t=
he
fly. So long as it is done regularly, transposing becomes fairly
straightforward (brass players, especially french horns have to transpose=
music
on a regular basis). Additional clarinets are a convenience and perhaps
necessary for professional performance (something I cannot address as I a=
m
professionally a chemical engineer, and play music for fun and the cost o=
f
music) and I have found transposing at least A clarinet parts straightfor=
ward
so long as I practice the transposition regularly. Like foreign language=
s, if
you give it up for a while, the skill becomes pretty rusty.

Tim

Quoting Erik Tkal <bbtkal@-----.net>:

> At 08:38 PM 2/7/2004 -0500, David Blumberg wrote:
> >Unless you are playing full time in a paid position, they are a waste
> >of money (the C Clarinet).
> >There isn't one Orchestra anywhere in the states that will require you
> >to have one when auditioning. Nice to have to add to your collection,
> >and you can fell all proud that you are playing what the composer
> >specified, but in all practical applications, spend your $$$ on a good
> >A and Bb first and foremost. Even get an Eb and a Bass before getting
> >a C and you will increase your chances of getting gigs.
> >(unless you are playing with Dan L., then you damn well better have a
> >C ;)
>=20
> --------------------------------------
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> David,
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> Of course then there are those of us who are pure amateurs and don't ca=
re
> about paying gigs. I recently bought a C clarinet, but not to play
> orchestrally, although that may come, and my girlfriend is borrowing it=
for
> some community orchestra stuff. I bought it because my family has this =
nasty
> habit of occasional impromptu musical get-togethers. I have no problem
> playing keyboard or guitar or trombone, but trying to transpose a Bb
> instrument on the fly is just not worth the effort to me. So a C clarin=
et is
> perfect in that I can just read along and it provides a much more enjoy=
able
> experience.
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> Erik Tkal
>=20
>=20
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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>=20

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