 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2004-06-19 03:32
Hi, all. Last week I had a fairly lengthy discussion with a student of mine that I have been teaching piano and bass clarinet (disclaimer: I am not a bass clarinet specialist and the family knows that). She is in her early high school years, age 15. Anyway, she didn't practice a whole lot this year. When I talked to her she said that she is fine with the technic stuff, but that solo-wise she would like to play some rock-n-roll (!) and not so much classical. Two of my goals for her right now are a fatter tone and stronger and more varied articulation, so rock may not be so far off the mark. However, she has also enjoyed playing pieces from the Mozart Divertimenti with a couple of my soprano clarinet players. So, I have two questions:
1) Am I crazy to teach her Freddie Mercury?
2) What ideas do folks have for duet repertoire either for soprano and bass clarinet or for two bass clarinets?
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Author: Valley Clarinet Girl
Date: 2004-06-19 07:36
Try getting her involved in her High School jazz band. Most band directors include at least one rock type tune in their concerts. (Sorry, I haven't heard any Freddie Mercury tunes covered) Jazz rhythms and articulations are a great way to get her to play more aggressively. Also, they tend to be a bit complicated for us classical geeks and can be great training. Besides, there are some great jazz bass clarinetists. I have a yet to hear a rock 'n roll bass clarinetist, but that isn't to say she couldn't break new ground! It would be easy to have her cover a tenor sax part (teach her how to read down an octave)
Also, woodwind quintet literature (at least the lighter stuff i.e., show tunes, Joplin transcriptions) can also be another way to get her playing music that is more hip to her ear. Transposing a bassoon part can be a bit tricky at the age of 15. If she's not ready for transposition, there are some great computer programs that can do the job for her. But if she can handle the transposition, have her go for it. Bassoonists are rare in our neck of the woods and my ability to transpose has paid for my bass clarinet.
And then there was Klezmer. Bass clarinet thrives in that arena. Check out recordings of the Klezmaniacs or the Budapester Klezmer Band. If the music speaks to her, go for it. (Again, teach her how to read down an octave unless she has a REALLY decent horn) Klezmer duets and fake books abound and you will both get a huge blast out of the music.
As far as duets go, if a song has been written, it's probably been arranged in duet format. And don't limit yourself to bass clarinet duets. She needs to learn to read down an octave anyway so check out saxophone duets, flute duets, trumpet duets, etc. As long as you are both in the same key, what does it matter? If you can't find something in particular, check out lastresortmusic.com chances are, they will have it in some form or another.
Hope this helps!
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2004-06-19 14:11
Beethoven duet for clarinet and bassoon is a good, not so difficult to play.
The only difficult is to transport from the bass clef for the bass from the bassoon part.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-06-19 16:33
Actually, Freddy Mercury doesn't sound that crazy at all. "Another One Bites the Dust" would lead her through at least a few things.
One possible problem: The fact, mentioned above, that there really isn't much of a role available to this instrument in rock and roll. Students should be encouraged to pursue their interests, but they have to understand and accept what part of the REAL world that instrument belongs in. I would also take it as a warning sign that a student hasn't practiced much AND wants to change styles. This could turn out to be the first in a series of maneuvers to escape real challenges. I've seen a couple of bright-but-lazy students retreat from clarinet to bass clarinet to saxophone to pure frustration.
I also have my doubts on how to get past the ceiling for a bass clarinetist who doesn't have or practice a regular clarinet. Books are hard to find past the middle school level, and the cheaper instruments make it difficult to take on regular clarinet materials as the tessitura rises.
Trying out for school jazz band would be a good challenge and would probably inject a dose of reality as well. (she may have to pick up a saxophone) How about an adult community band? It won't necessarily satisfy the urge to rock, but it might provide an environment where the realities of the bass clarinet prove more stimulating than at school.
As for rock, there's no reason why it can't be at least part of the educational mosaic. Specific suggestions:
1 - Teach her some licks from the lexicon of air-guitar favorites: Signature licks from Smoke on the Water, Iron Man, Sunshine of Your Love, (the Iron Butterfly tune that we all know, but I can't spell), etc. And, of course, Another One Bites the Dust.
2 - For duets how about a little exercise in elementary improvisation? Two students of mine developed this on their own. Learn the I-IV guitar pattern that provides the main structure for "My Girl" (each is a complete one-octave pentatonic scale) Encourage her to improvise over the pentatonic scale that goes with the "I" chord. You can take turns playing together--one improvising over the pentatonic scale, and one playing the I-IV pattern as an accompaniment. "Stand by Me" is a good vehicle for this same activity as well.
She isn't going to go but so far on #1, but #2 will really teach her something. Plus, coping with the practical realities of it may make her appreciate how easy some of her regular work is.
3 - An addition to the Quintet suggestion. Since it is an awful lot of work to transpose from bass clef (and maybe tenor clef!) at age 15, it would be good to know that Rubank has a quintet book which has an alternative bass clarinet part. Rubank's woodwind trios Vol.2 also has a bass clarinet as an alternative to the bassoon, as do many arrangements written for woodwind trio by Bill Holcombe which are available from the Gazebo Series at Musician's Publications.
Where there is no reason not to get some rock style skills, I do think that you have to be careful to make your student understand the world that her instrument lives in. A student who wants to play rock should already be making a healthy attempt on her own--and why not on piano? A student who wants to be spoon-fed in an unusual niche is quickly going to exhaust what little in baby food there is to offer. I hope that this gives you a couple more spoonfuls, but your student needs to do the equivalent of picking her own fruit ASAP, and butchering her own meat in the long run.
Best of luck to you both.
Allen Cole
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-19 16:46
javier garcia m said:
> Beethoven duet for clarinet and bassoon is a good,
> not so difficult to play. The only difficult is to transport
> from the bass clef for the bass from the bassoon part
The Beethoven "3 Duos for clarinet and bassoon" (WoO 27) is transposed for two clarinets in the Langenus book - Part 3 ... GBK
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2004-06-19 18:01
Thanks GBK, I was wondering if the Beethoven was anywhere already transcribed. I want to keep my foot in the door with her with classical since she enjoyed Mozart.
Allen Cole, I have some of the same concerns. She does indeed have a student instrument, and it is difficult finding appropriate material. I have been thinking about writing some scale and chord studies that would be advanced enough for her but would take into account the instrument. Have you done some of this?
As far as Freddy M goes, my plan is to have her play some of the vocal lines on the bass clarinet and angle her theory lessons so that she will eventually be able to chord along on the keyboard. That I think would give her some useful skills and let her have fun as well. If she really works with me on these things, then I will be able to tell if she is avoiding challenges or if she simply does want different stuff to practice. I would like to see if I can get her to enjoy both F Mercury and F Chopin.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-06-20 01:09
Have you thought about writing her some "walking bass" etudes. You could repeat patterns in different keys as well.
If she plays pretty well, you might try to find a copy of "Eight Etudes" by Bill Reddie. I think it's out of print but you could try Southern Music.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-06-20 05:44
Clarinetwife, I don't know how advanced your 15-year old is, but one band book that does provide some good exercises--in ALL major and minor keys--is Accent on Achievement (Book 3) from Alfred. I am also exploring the Belwin Student Instrumental Course, and am actively using the 2nd level book of Tunes for Bass Clarinet Technic.
Even so, it's hard to know where the next step is. I'm trying to cajole both of my bass clarinet parents to actually purchase a B-flat clarinet.
Allen Cole
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2004-06-20 23:35
Thank you, GBK. I have the clarinet-Bassoon version, that includes a soprano part for a C-pitched instrument.
I played it both soprano clarinet with bassoon, and bass with flute.
Playing the C soprano part with Bb clarinet there is no need to transpose for the bass, reading in bass clef.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-06-22 18:10
Don't be afraid to have her play soprano clarinet duets on the bass clarinet (or two bass clarinets if the other player can). Sure, such pieces tend to be written in the higher registers where bass clarinets don't spend too much time in concert band or orchestral music, but it's great practice and will get her over the fear many young (and older!) bass clarinetists have of 'playing high'. And there's the added advantage of having a huge selection of music available.
When I was in high school my buddy and I played a soprano clarinet duet on our bass clarinets, took it to county and state festivals --- we got a few weird looks from the judges, but nobody threw tomatoes at us......
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