 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ted Donaldson
Date: 2002-07-24 15:10
Ok... Here I am, A 13 year old kid, that truly enjoys music. As I look back on my accomplishments, I notice something. Sure, I was first chair all county. The other two bass clarinetist, were a year older than me. Yet, they sound like they have been playing for one year. This happens everywhere I go. And I know what is causing this.
I think it is completely and very much so wrong, when a conducter or band leader, switches his weak 3rd chair clarinets to bass. Sure, Bass clarinet parts aren't always that challenging, But once in a while, you get a really nice, melodic, hard part. Then these kids that a 3rd clarinet part would suit them, go bananas. They cry about having to play sixteenth notes. They cry about having to play eight notes!
I know this may come across as sounding cocky, but that is not at all what I am trying to accomplish here. What I am trying to say, Is that kids should switch to an instrument by choice!!! I believe that playing bass takes tons of skill.
I believe there is a website that mirrors what I have said, about free choice.
So now that I am off my soap box, what do you think about no choice switch overs?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-07-24 15:34
In my middle school band program, I offered all of my soprano clarinetists the chance to volunteer for bass clarinet duty. This "volunteer" approach worked quite well and none of our bass clarinets ever wound up "sitting on the shelves"--the bass players were always there because they "wanted" to be. In other words, the bass clarinet section was not the "dumping ground" for weaker players as quite often my stongest players would opt to play for a quarter or two. As a result, bass clarinet bacame a very popular instrument and many of my middle school band clarinetists went on to high school band with considerable bass clarinet playing experiance. Bottom line--I agree with you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-07-24 17:44
Some things never change.........When I was in junior high school (now called "middle school" here on the East Coast US) and high school, we're talking 30 years ago, most of the bass and alto and contra clarinets were indeed the 'rejects' from the soprano clarinet section. I was one of the exceptions, someone who was one of the better soprano clarinetists in junior high, but switched to bass because I loved the sound of the instrument, not because the band director made me switch because he had a seat to fill. And consequently I was always the top bass clarinet player in whatever high school honors band or orchestra I tried out for, not because I was intrinsically such a great player (I wasn't!), but because the competition was so mediocre. Seems like Ted finds himself in similar circumstances.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-07-24 19:56
The band director I have now actually does the following setup:
Best clarinets: 1st part and Eefer
Okay clarinets: 2nd part and Bass and Contra
Bad clarinets: 3rd part and the occasional Alto
He tries to divide it more evenly. Also, he'll occasionaly stick the person playing Eb on a 3rd part for more power.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jean
Date: 2002-07-24 21:18
If I have one more person tease me about playing bass clarinet I will puke. I switched to clarinet because my family was poor and they couldn't buy me a new clarinet. Instead I moved to bass as I could use the school's. I could play better on bass than most kids could on soprano. The bass opened a lot of doors for me, however I am known to keep it quiet that I play bass for fear of being "stuck" on it again. Frankly it isn't always enough of a challenge. Of course I am not poor anymore and have my choice of great instruments. Actually the clarinet my brass playing band director said was no good was just fine. I still have it and had it overhauled. It plays just fine, all it needed was some adjusting. Too bad the director didn't know enough to try that before writing the instrument off. It is a better instrument than the crappy plastice ones most of my peers were playing on. I guess he figured since the keys were tarnished the clarinet was junk. He was sooooooo wrong.
Don't get me started on how little training band directors receive in college to prepare them to teach all the instruments. Here in St. Cloud they get less than a week on the double reeds. So, if you ask me most directors don't know enough to be making a lot of the decisions they are making as far as their young students are concerned.
I truly do love the bass clarinet despite everything I just wrote. You sound like you really like it too. May I suggest you also play soprano so that you have more options.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David
Date: 2002-07-24 23:21
If you find the bass clarinet parts undemanding, go and nick the Euphonium part. All the good tunes live there.
I know. This is my escape from crappy tenor sax parts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Heidi
Date: 2002-07-25 03:36
Hello all!
I also went to bass in 8th grade...I was one of the better players in middle school and had a little more lung power. I stayed with it for 2 years and after I made first chair they wouldn't let me back..and haven't been back since. I still long for the foundation parts...that's why I like it so much. So, I'm trying to get into my college jazz band on bari sax...maybe that'll satisfy my desire for low sounds! I agree with Ted though, with very few exceptions, the weaker players get placed on the bottom so they won't stick out so much..it's a sad thing that should be remedied because without a good low brass/woodwind section the band lacks 'bottom,' which I think is integral to any piece.
I also think what David said was great advice too...that's a great idea I hadn't thought of..Bravo!:)
Good luck!
Heidi
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Laur
Date: 2002-07-25 03:53
Wow. In my band, my director does it totally different. Wait...Ouch.. lol, WHEN I was in High School, this was how my director did it.( Still in denial that i'm graduated and going to music school.) The best clarinist sits first chair, 1st part - double on Eefer if needed. The second best sits first chair, 2nd part.. The 3rd best sits first chair, 3rd part.. - then he distrutes the remaining parts basided on individual playing abilities and weak and strong points. It seemed to work this year. Also, there was a time when we go to choose what WE felt we should play. That actually worked out really well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-07-25 11:25
It unfortunate that the times have not changed, the bass clarinet is a totally different beast and requires alot of good technique just to get a good scale going. One thing that is for sure, a weak player will not improve becuase of this switch and usually many tend to quit altogether.Sincerely yours, Best of Luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ken
Date: 2002-07-25 13:31
How about just taking one for the team once and awhile?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-07-26 03:09
Mentioning that you play Bass clef is like admitting that you can weld in a shipyard... once word gets out, that's ALL you will get to do, because it is essential. Most universities are scrambling to get low voice instruments, for lack of applicants.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-07-26 13:16
The lower pitched clarinets are fantastic, and its a shame that they have had a bad rap for being for the musicically challenged. If anything, these are incredibibly difficult instruments. The lower pitched contra and sub contra are usable and excellent as instruments which are more flexible than the tuba. Becuase of the price one has to pay ,they are prohibitive except in case of universities who provide them for wind ensemble music. It seems also that Wagner wrote most of his bass clarinet stuff for the bass clarinet and quite alot of it is written out in A as is the bass clarinet parts in Ravel La Valse. Best of Luck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
