 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: poob
Date: 2003-03-03 22:42
why?
Last year I did Junior NE districts in Massachusettes. I play bs. clrnt., and every one next to me SUCKED. yeah, that's right
why? It's such a good instrument, why can't more intelligent people play it?
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Author: SusanB
Date: 2003-03-03 23:04
This could be a hot topic! I never noticed that bass players in my school (20 years ago) were bad. I don't know if it is an intelligence issue. Maybe the other players in your group just don't take it seriously. I personally love the bass. (I had college level lessons on it and the Bb. I play it in our symphony, some in band, and in a clarinet quartet. I play Bb in 2 college bands and our city's municipal band.) Some people are afraid of the bass. One lady in our quartet says that all she can get out of it are squeaks and chirps. I have not had problems with that. I think the bass is under-appreciated! It really is a great instrument. Play on, and enjoy!
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Author: mikeW
Date: 2003-03-03 23:09
Unless you are willing to demonstrate a correlation between intelligence and bass clarinet playing, or a correlation between intelligence and musical ability, what I think you're asking is why do most high school level bass clarinet players tend to be poor players?
One possibility is that band directors want to keep their best players on Bb soprano clarinet and ask the weaker players to play the bass clarinet. An additional factor is that most students are using school-owned bass clarinets which tend to be old, abused and poorly maintained. Finally, without some active teaching on the part of the band director or private instructor, the students might not be aware of just how much difference a good mouthpiece can make.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-03-03 23:37
When I was teaching, I couldn't keep the bass clarinets on the shelves they were so popular. So I simply let everyone, who wanted to play bass clarinet, take a semester long turn at doing so, regardless of ability or need in the soprano section. The result was always a good balance of abilities between the little ones and the "big'ns". We did the same for Eb soprano, although with less consistancy than with the basses. I always had at least two bass clarinets in our combined 7th & 8th grade Concert Band, and often had four. Bass clarinet was definately not looked upon in our band as the "slackers" instrument--often, clarinetist students considered it a honor to be the semesters bassist and were often students that were looked up to by their peers as "leaders." (BTW--all beginning clarinetists in 6th grade were required to play soprano clarinet--no Eb, alto or bass--for their entire first year) After that, they all had their choice--first come, first served so to speak.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-03-04 00:05
Hi,
As a former HS band director, I always tried to have some of the better players on the alto and bass clarinets (we were too poor for the contras). Maybe as a clarinet player (with plenty of service on bass), it could be no other way for me.
Many, many moons ago at Interlochen (1953-55), each of the sax players had to take a week on the bass sax in the concert band. What a blast that was!!!!!! I sat right behind the oboes with the bassoons; the oboe section was never the same after I got done with my week on bass.
So, the long and the short of it, Poob is that the others students were not as fortunate as you to be able to really enjoy the bass clarinet. If you want to really have some fun, consider a term on baritone sax. Now there is a noble instrument!
HRL
PS I have also had my go at bassoon and tuba. Great experiences.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-03-04 00:10
I agree with the above comments. Many band directors take a kid who can't cut it on clarinet, can't play upper register and generally is a lousy player and figures s/he would be better on bass. Unfortunately, this is against logic. You need someone who is really solid, can handle being independant, and is not afraid to put some air into the horn.
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-03-04 01:25
Try playing Contra! My last year playing in the university clarinet choir, I was aked to play "The Beast." After the DOB saw that I was playing contra in clarinet choir, he asked me to play it in the Wind Ensemble for tour that year. After that year, I held bassists in high regard! What a FUN concert season and tour that year. My poor left lung hasn't been the same since...HA!
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Author: ClarenceT
Date: 2003-03-04 01:44
...because junior ne district isn't hard to get into! Neither is senior districts. Neither is all-state. If you want something that's actually challenging, try out for YPO or GBYSO...or tanglewood.
and LHS sucks!
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Author: Webmaster
Date: 2003-03-04 02:25
To all - please watch the language. While we're all apt to toss an epithet once in a while into the conversation, there's no need to do it on a regular basis.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-03-04 17:47
I was amazed recently when a bass clarinet player joined our community orchestra. He was loud and played great. Completely unlike all of the bass clarinet players I had heard in school bands. I never knew a bass clarinet could sound so good. I was also wondering why the players in school were less than stellar [all right. I'm watching my language - you can guess what I'd usually say]. Probably a combination of really awful school instruments [bass is expensive] and selection of unmotivated players. I think if people heard great bass clarinets more often, they'd think about using the bass clarinet instead of a tenor sax.
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Author: chuck
Date: 2003-03-04 23:23
Mark: In my opinion, this thread should have ever seen the light of day. I f we can insist on resisting comments on spelling, grammar, etc. . . and I stand chided here . . it would seem that a certain level of decency in verbiage could be maintained as well. As expressed, this juvenile plaint is obnoxious and, as demonstrated, invites more of the same in response. Chuck
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-03-04 23:52
Sadly, some directors take their worst clarinet players and put them on bass. Not the smartest thing to do. What they need to do is look at a good player who wants to be the only one, or one of a few in a section. Face it, some students need to be part of a group i.e. the clarinet section.
While the parts cane be dull the foundation of a band, like the foundation of a house is extremely important, although perhaps not glamorous.
As to the question of intelligence and the bass clarinet, I myself have an I.Q. of 156 and I am no hack on the bass clarinet.
Jean
BTW, When I taught music and the kids knew I played bass clarinet I can't tell you how many of them wanted to try it. The instrument needs to be presented to the students as being desirable.
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