Author: HAT
Date: 2003-04-02 13:23
Don't overestimate how hard it is to play the eflat clarinet well.
Just because so many people play the eflat clarinet horrendously doesn't mean it's terribly hard, only that a lot of bad players play it. Some of them play it without a concept of playing that matches what the instrument is generally capable of.
In my experience, good musicians who play the b flat clarinet exceptionally well can pick up the eflat clarinet rather quickly.
There is absolutely no shortage of superb professional eflat clarinet players in the world.
My advice is to learn the clarinet. Boy am I becoming an old fogey.
But if someone gives you an eflat clarinet, take advantage of that. But to drop $2,500? Your call, of course. What I am saying is if you want to be good at it, you don't have to worry about 'waiting too long.'
In terms of equipment, you will never find an eflat clarinet that tunes as simply as a great bflat clarinet. But that is partly the nature of the parts the instrument plays. And remember, 'putting the needle in the center' does not equal 'playing in tune.' But it's a good place to start from.
The key words in eflat clarinet playing, as I see it are listening, control, flexibility, intellect, experience and restraint.
Listen to my words or leave them, but I have played a lot of eflat clarinet (not nearly as much as Larry Liberson, John Moses or Greg Smith, but quite a bit).
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The Clarinet BBoard
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