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Re: clean

Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2010-06-20 15:36

I have seen many community band clarinetists swab their instruments during non-playing moments of rehearsals and performances, but I have never seen a bass clarinetist swab other than at intermission or after the performance. And the bass clarinet (and contra-alto) has the additional problem of having a metal pipe extending upward from the mouthpiece, thereby ensuring a rapid collection of moisture.

The most common response I have witnessed and practiced to this collection of moisture is to dump it, hopefully not in the purse or case of a person sitting near you. In the ultra-dry southwest where I have lived for my entire community band and bass clarinet career, this water usually rapidly evaporates.

Of course, brass players have the same problem with condensation and solve the problem in the same manner.

I have trouble imagining how someone would unobtrusively pull the neck off a bass clarinet, pull the mouthpiece of the neck, and swab the neck, on stage during a performance.

How do properly trained bass clarinetists solve the 'moisture in the neck' problem?

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