The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2007-11-08 04:07
I'm not sure if everyone knows, but I am a student at Concordia College and I am studying the clarinet. Anyway, I am looking at performing/grad school/teaching public music after getting my undergrad.
To get better acclimated to the performing field, maybe you could answer some questions for me.
Now, I'm not totally out of the loop, so please take me seriously when I ask these questions.
In the last year I have been playing a lot of Eb clarinet for band and now my orchestra (Mahler 1). A lot of people are impressed with my playing, and I feel very comfortable playing it. So I am wondering what the market is like for Eb clarinet? Are those jobs more of an auxiliary position playing only when needed? or are they full time? Do you think there will be many positions opening in the near future due to the "baby boomer" generation starting to retire?
Advice is much appreciated!
NMR
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2007-11-08 12:22
NMR,
Most of the Eefer positions are some composite of assistant principal/ Eb or second/ Eb rather than just Eb alone. Some are sort of the grab bag auxillary positions too where they want someone to play anything but Bb. Even someone with the level of proficiency of Peter Hadcock played both Eb and Bb. Of course when one of these positions opens having facility on the Eb really helps if you can make it that far in the audition.
I have loaned my Eefer out on numerous occasions to colleagues who play Bb well but need to demonstrate Eb playing. Most of them do a sort of crash course on it but most of this doesn't work. The Eb is really more of its own instrument than most people think. It requires a different philosophy almost. Therefore, I think that you are ahead of the curve in learning the Eefer now, but remember that a good percentage of your time will be on Bb in any position.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-11-08 22:17
It is not uncommon at many Eb/Assistant auditions that you will hear strong Eb players who need work on Bb, and strong Bb players who need work on Eb - then there are one or two players who are amazing on both. Most Eb auditions start with the Bb round - saving the Eb excerpts for the second round or semi's. So, you need your Bb excerpts solid if you hope to advance to the Eb round in most orchestral auditions.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|