 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ted Donaldson
Date: 2001-09-29 11:31
Ok, i played my soprano yesterday, as i usually only play it on wednesday and sunday. I decided it i loved it very dearly. I thought it over thouroghly, and think I want to switch back to soprano in school next year, and play bass in church. I could be first chair, i mean i have 2 + more years of experience that all the kids my age right now. Next year I will be in 8th grade. That is the highest grade in my school. I have also thought about doubling. I would only play bass for songs that actually had a nice part for it. I want to have solos and stuff like that.
Please help me decide.
Also i was thinking. I usually make 20 bucks a week in allowance, and that adds up throughout the year. I was thinking that i could save up for a pro clarinet in a year or two. Here is the real big question of this post:
R-13
RC
Elite
Festival
Opus
Which one, i know the opus would take me a little more time. I sortave like the festival a little more, but i dunno much about sopranos.
Thanks...
Ted Donaldson.
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Author: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Date: 2001-09-29 19:52
Ted, don't limit yourself to the models you mentioned. If you can get access to a dealer with several brands of high quality clarinets such as Buffet, Patricola, Yamaha, Leblanc, Selmer, etc. go there and try them and see what you like. Yes, it is a good idea to look at models which have received good reviews, but remember you need the instrument YOU think is best for you. You may be pleasantly surprised by something that isn't as mainstream. I had my doubts about the Greenline series when I was getting my professional instrument, but the final selection was between a Greenline and the normal R-13 (I started with the R-13, Festival, Concerto, Infinite, and 72 series models.) The final vote was a tie, with my dad and brother going for the Greenline and me and my teacher going for the R-13, and since that is what I thought was best, that is what I ended up getting.
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Author: Mindy's Mom
Date: 2001-09-29 20:39
Ted, most schools don't have you doubling on the bass and soprano (ESPECIALLY if you are first chair soprano). I would never tell you what to play -- that is something you are going to have to decide by yourself or with the help of your teacher. In 6th grade, Mindy sat 2nd chair in the top band at Millennium and when her band teacher asked for "volunteers" to play the bass (from the clarinet section) Mindy didn't want to do it. After hearing the sound of the bass she went to the band teacher and told him that she would like to play it either that year or the following year. He told her "NO WAY!! I will not let you play the bass, you are way too good!" (please-- those of you who DO play the bass, please don't flame me -- those were HIS words, not mine or Mindy's). Subsequently, Mindy went on to play 1st chair in the top band for the next two years. She has never really wanted to play the bass anymore although she would still like to have a bass and play it at times. She is a good clarinettist and plays a Bb R-13 and is waiting on her Eb that is coming from France! (Hope that customs will let it through and not take it all apart lol). Glad to know you are playing in church. Try to get in some solos at church on either instrument and allow that to help you decide what you want to "focus" on at school. good luck
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-09-29 22:55
If Mindy gets to a conservatory she's going to get to play pretty much the whole family of clarinets, from contrabass to Eb, along with basset horns.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-09-29 23:11
Hey Ted, excellent to hear that you have aspirations and a goal in mind.
You are talking about SCADS of money, if you are considering only new horns.
Even if you are contemplating used instruments of quality, the cost for such a horn will easily exceed a kilobuck ($1000 or more).
If you pursue studies in a conservatory school of music, perhaps a better stick would then make a difference.
May I suggest that you first invest in the best mouthpiece you can currently afford?
Afterwards, the Classified page may have (a year or so down the line) a crop of good quality Sopranon clarinets with TRIAL PERIODS available.
Until you're ready to buy, your just reading the 'Wish Book' before the holidays.
Play evertything first. I have an Opus, it's built right. I play my Yamaha, so go figure!
anji
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-10-01 02:36
Covering bass and soprano solos.. now you're getting greedy. =) Just try to divide your time. Play soprano in one band, bass in another.. heck, throw in an alto somewhere else.. that's what I do. In a given day (Mondays always.. other days on occasion) I play bass for around 40 min in concert band, soprano for around 2 hours in marching band, and alto in my community band for up to 2 hours. It's all kinds of fun. You get a little bit of variety in your life. Your lips probably won't be too happy at first, though =)
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