 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-10-12 22:59
For those that remember, I was upset a few weeks ago that our All-State tryout music was so "easy", taken from the Rubank Advanced book 1. Preliminary results just came back for us. For the 4 chairs available...
...only 2 Bass Clarinetists tried out from the entire state. So much for "this music is so easy that anyone can play it!" I'm not sure whether Alaska is just swimming with Bass Clarinetists with no technical ability (I suppose that's possible, considering the parts assigned to the BC in a lot of high school concert band music), or whether it's swarming with Bass Clarinetists who don't care/are too busy.
So the musical powers that be are holding re-tryouts, and are practically begging anyone who plays a Clarinet-like instrument to send in a Bass Clarinet tape. Quite a switch from New Mexico, where at least 20 Bass Clarinetists tried out for one of the 10 slots from the southeastern region alone - I'd imagine the other 3 regions of NM had similar numbers.
So no one from the villages playing an ice vito to beat me out this year, it seems. A shame.
But in curiosity, for anyone somewhat involved in the high school scene, is this a nationwide thing, lessening interest in extra-school music activities, like Solo and Ensemble, All-State, etc? Or is it just here?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-12 23:06
My guess is that ALASKA, given its population, location, etc. just isn't swarming with bass clarinetists at all.
Kinda like the time I wrestled the guy who was second in the state in Alaska. And beat the pants off of him. And I didn't even qualify for states in NJ.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-10-12 23:11
Well, I live in Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska (pop 250,000), and there are 7 high schools in our city.
There are 3 Bass Clarinetists at my school (5 last year, 2 dropped the instrument), and I know there's at least 5 at another high school. But on average, if we say each of the 7 high schools has 3 Bass Clarinetists, that's 21 in my city alone. Add BCists from other decently sized cities, like Juneau and Fairbanks, and you'd think we'd have more than 2 Bass Clarinetists with interest/ability to try out. Especially when trying out requires no travel, as you send it tapes for auditions, and the audition material is pretty accessible.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-10-13 00:45
It's Alaska and the lack of easy transportation to different parts of it that's the reason of the low turnout.
As well the economy there isn't very good as the Rich part year visitors make housing prices way too high. Many there have to have 2 jobs just to make ends meet (I was there this past summer and that's what the tour guide told us - it was in Sitka)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-13 02:15
Not to mention that you're assuming that every bass clarinetist (or at least MOST of them) has enough of a passion of music to WANT to put in the extra time and effort to join a state band. Or can due to transportation to actual practices (like David mentioned above). Or whose parents are willing enough to entertain the idea of them being a very serious bass clarinetist. You're also assuming that the bass clarinetists WANT to be bass clarinetists. I know that the case in MANY schools (although it shouldn't be) is that a clarinetist who is not strong enough to hack it in the section is often given a bass clarinet due to it's "easier" parts and told to play that to help out the band.
Out of the 21 in your city and whatever amount in surrounding areas, these may not be feasible scenarios/assumptions to make.
As for myself, I never made any state/region bands due to the fact that while in high school I took wrestling more serious than music and the concerts for these bands often interfered with wrestling meets. So I chose not to try out. Also, I didn't take music serious enough that I would have been a strong contender in the first place.
All in all, no matter HOW many people show up, make sure you practice and practice hard. You may end up first chair. And you may think, "Wow. I'm pretty good." But think about the rude awakening when you move to an area (assuming college in a different state here) where there was more competition and so maybe those people put in more practice time. Don't take anything for granted. ESPECIALLY if you win state chair by default or through very little competition.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-10-13 15:18
However, someone has to be the one that's better than everyone else when someone else moves from interstate who was previously playing 1st chair. That made no sense.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-10-14 15:57
Here in central Virginia, the interest level among players of harmony clarinets is pretty low. However, there is more interest in some other areas of the state and some fine players are being produced.
It's still an unfortunate fact that many students are on bass or alto clarinet to escape intonation problems or technical difficulties on the regular B-flat instrument. Some are saxophonists that didn't make the cut for the band. Increasingly, I'm seeing kids who started on bass clarinet before the rental was up on their b-flat, and who play bass only. To say the least, they are used to a leisurely pace in learning. And let's not forget that most harmony clarinets are school instruments and may be in a poor state of repair.
Even at All-District tryouts, I generally see fewer players than there are participating schools.
The good news for you, Bob, is that there are good opportunities for people who are serious about this instrument and who develop real skills. Some of those opportunities, however, may seem unusual.
Allen Cole
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