 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alyra
Date: 2004-02-03 10:12
As some of you know, I recently took up clarinet again before Christmas, after not playing for about 5 years. Before that, I played in a Senior Concert Band at Parliament etc., nothing too flash, and a small jazz group. (Clarinet and Bass Clarinet).
Now, I got the guts to enquire about the local district concert band here, but now I don't have the guts to go next week! The director is looking for more clarinets, and he's invited me to come along to the first rehearsal next week and see if I like it - but I'm worried I won't be up to par....!
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-02-03 10:48
Go for it, Alyra! You'll be playing in a group anyway, so no-one's going to notice if you're not playing everything absolutely correctly! You haven't got anything to lose, and I bet you'll really enjoy it. Good luck! 
Joanna Brown
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-02-03 10:53
Just aim for the topmost note in any complicated arpeggio.
I'm so far back on the bandstand, that I would sit outside - were I to move back any further. It's all good.
I think most band transcriptions encourage the use of clarinet en masse to offer tone color and counterpoint in the lower range of the instrument.
Remember - they need you.
Now go find a good reed, and show up early.
(Take a chair in the 2nd section - and move if only if asked.)
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-02-03 12:14
As my clarinet instructor told me when I was in a situation similar to yours, the main thing is "don't play during the rests".
The rest of it will come if you stick it out.
It feels great to see yourself improving from week to week.
I think I may end up being an excellent player, if I live to be 150.
Go for it !!! It's a great experience.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-02-03 12:34
Just go.
There are lots of skills in band playing that you can't learn by practising at home, even if you live to be 150.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Alyra
Date: 2004-02-11 10:40
I went tonight.
Most of the songs seem to be what we played in the senior concert band at school - so they're familar at least. One problemo! There was a bass clarinet there, which is what I played. Now, my brain was hooked on bass clarinet because thats what it could remember! Its going to be hard to train it to clarinet parts lol....:P
The director really wants a 1st clarinet but gosh I just want to sit at 3rd for a while untiL I get a hang of it
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Author: Alyra
Date: 2004-02-11 10:41
Oh, and I'm really happy, because when we tuned, my clarinet was in tune yippppppeee!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-11 14:02
As in Pinafore, "Twas many years ago, when I was young[er] and ?charming?, I took up B C playing". It was needed and the chair was available in our community band. It took a while to find "MY" good bass, cure leaks/squeeks, but have enjoyed it greatly, playing a few "solo" parts/setting some rhythmic tempos/helping bassoon-bari sax players [cues] and even getting the tubas to "do it rite" at times. With some vision problems, the individual music stand is great, as is the attention by players/conductor when I do it well. At times, another BC'er joins me, and I DO try to keep her/him coming, pointing out my advancing age and volunteering to go to my ALTO cl when they have the parts rehearsed. We happily have almost enough sop. cl players, have had NO "public" tryouts for seating, likely some conductor-suggestions to get balanced coverage of the parts. All in all, its educational fun playing even some tough pieces, like by R Strauss and Khachaturian [sp?]. DO IT, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-02-12 20:18
Don your memory is almost perfect
The HMS Pinafore quote is ...
A many years ago,
When I was young and charming,
(As some of you may know,
I practised baby-farming.)
Buttercup
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-12 21:05
Many great TKS, Diz, I've really been looking for someone to "rise to the bait" on these snippets of wisdom from the many musicals which most of us have played. In Texas vernacular, "You done good". I happily recall the laughs I recieved on playing the cl "echo" [rip?] A down to D . Ah, Memories, it seemed to be a fitting intro to thots about band playing, like another favorite, "right here in River City". [meaning Anywhere USA, maybe abroad?] It would be a sad world without a bit of humor, wouldm't it?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-02-12 22:01
Don ... yes indeed, I try not to take life too seriously otherwise my dogma will get run over by my kharma.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2004-02-13 02:43
Yet one wonders how Ralph and the Captain could have been babies at the same time...but I suppose one shouldn't ask these questions when discussing comic opera.
Have fun, Alyra! Sounds like you had a good start.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-13 07:34
Excellent! The first step is always the hardest. That goes with ANYTHING. But once you get running again, I bet you won't be able to stop! Have fun in there!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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