|  The Clarinet BBoard 
 
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    | Author: Clarinet02 Date:   2001-12-21 04:11
 
 I'm planning on majoring in music education and was wondering if it is necessary that I purchase an A clarinet for college, even though I'm not doing performance.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Sneakers Date:   2001-12-21 04:43
 
 Even if you do play in orchestra you may be able to get by without your own A clarinet.  Some universities have A clarinets that students can check-out to use, although I must be honest and say that the two universities I attended managed to purchase A clarinets of very poor quality, even though they were Buffet R-13's.  Also, you could transpose A clarinet parts to Bb clarinet.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Mark Charette Date:   2001-12-21 04:48
 
 Sneakers wrote:
 > Also, you could transpose A clarinet parts
 > to Bb clarinet.
 
 Many times - not. You'd need the low Eb on the Bb. Also, much of the chamber music and solo repertoire is written for A clarinet.
 
 However, if you're sticking to band music, a Bb will work fine.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Micaela Date:   2001-12-21 21:28
 
 Check with your college (if you know where you're going).  I think most have A clarinets to lend out when needed, but there are occasionally quality issues like Sneakers mentioned.  But if it's a school with a big music department and you only need an A occasionally, you can probably borrow one from someone or other.
 
 However, I bought an A in June. I'm not even in college yet and I've used it much more than I ever expected I would.
 
 
 
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    | Author: charles Date:   2001-12-21 21:41
 
 I'm sorry, it's out of subject but in saxophone
 - Bb soprano : 2 step lower than middle C in piano ( one octave=12 setp )
 same as Bb clarinet
 - Eb alto : 9 step lower than middle C in piano
 - Bb tenor : one octave lower than Bb soprano
 - Eb bari : one actave lower than Eb alto ....
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 .
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 .
 Would you please do this for clarinet?
 Thanks.
 
 
 
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    | Author: David Pegel Date:   2001-12-22 02:45
 
 I think it's like this. It's not fully off subject, but...
 
 For universal purposes, let's call them half-steps. That's what they really are.
 
 Ab Sopranino: One octave minus a whole step above Bb clarinet (8 half-steps above written pitch? someone verify me on these.)
 Eb Soprano: One fourth above Bb Clarinet (3 half-steps above WP)
 Bb Soprano: 2 half-steps below WP
 Eb Alto: One fifth below Bb Clarinet (9 half-steps below WP)
 BBb Bass: One octave below Bb (14 below WP)
 EEb Contralto: One fifth below Bass, one octave below Alto (21 H/S below WP)
 BBBb Contrabass: two octaves below Bb (26 H/S below WP)
 EEEb Octocontralto: two octave below Alto (33 H/S below WP)
 BBBBb Octocontrabass: THREE octaves below Bb (A whopping 38 half-steps below WP)
 
 I hope my figures are right. It would explain why only a few EEEb and BBBBb clarinets exist in the world...
 
 
 
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