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Stepping Back: 2nd, Bass, or Alto/Contra-Alto??

Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2017-06-26 20:45

I'm a clarinet player/hobbyist in my late 40's. In the past year, I switched from a very cushy corporate job, which I very much disliked but which offered lots of time for hobbies including playing in a variety of different groups. My new job is far more enjoyable, but far more demanding, which has caused me to cut back my playing activities significantly.

I'm currently playing in just one group (a high level concert band made up of a combination of music teachers, college students, and others from the surrounding community), and have been playing 1st clarinet and Eb clarinet when needed. However, playing in the springtime, I found it very difficult to keep up with practicing and learning the parts given my job's significant workload and limited practice time.

As I approach the fall (I took the summer off from playing), I have let the director know that I need to take a bit of a "step back", and he has suggested a few options: move to 2nd clarinet (I've played it before and it has been fun), move to bass clarinet (we already have 2 players, and I have played bass in my distant past), and alto/contra-alto clarinet (an slightly odd combination, and it would be dependent on available/necessary parts, but it could actually be fun). He has left the decision completely up to me.

I'm leaning towards the alto/contra-alto just because it's a bit crazy (and when would I have the opportunity again?)....but are there really any parts for those horns? Maybe I should just play 2nd clarinet and not mess with the auxilliary horns? Any thoughts or guidance from those who have played these parts in a concert band previously?

Thanks in advance.

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