 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-08-05 21:28
Ok, so this year I'm marching bass clarinet. I'm using a a great playing Bundy bass with a Selmer C*, metal lig, and a med. soft Fibracell. The problem is, I want to play louder than I already do (bari sax loud). What mouthpiece will allow this? I always have plenty of air, but I can't force enough through the mouthpiece.
- Martin
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-08-05 22:00
I wouldn't be concerned about it. You will barely be heard.
I'm sure, if given the choice, most marching band directors would dump all their clarinetists in a minute if they could acquire 2 or 3 additional brass players...GBK
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-08-05 22:09
GBK,
Only the selfish ones.
On the other hand, some would give up 1 or 2 brass players to improve their clarinets, because god knows most bands need to. It's disturbing how generally the clarinets are the dumping ground for those who do not practice and who don't care much at all and only come to the practice to talk with friends doing the same. But of course their are those few who go above and beyond and aspire to be great.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-08-05 22:32
Ryder wrote:
> It's disturbing how generally the clarinets are the
> dumping ground for those who do not practice and who don't care
> much at all and only come to the practice to talk with friends
> doing the same.
I guess you haven't been in enough junior high and high school bands to notice the space holders who occupy the percussion section ...GBK
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Author: Jkelly32562
Date: 2008-08-06 01:00
Marching bass clarinet is as pointless as marching english horn, or oboe for that matter. It is not a marching horn, switch to soprano for marching season, and play in the upper octave like everyone else, then you'll be heard. In a band the size of 200, you would need 15 bass clarinets to make a point. It's also bad for the horn, and you neck.
Jonathan Kelly
jkelly32562@troy.edu
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-08-06 04:07
Believe it or not, I play loud enough to be heard well on the field. I switched to bass FOR marching season (if I was still on sop I woul play everything up 1 or 2 octaves or sometimes a 5th). Our clarinet section is a good size too. It's featured almost every year. So anyway, even if it isn't for marching, what mouthpiece would be more free-blowing than my current C*?
- Martin
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-08-06 07:26
My B45 bass mouthpiece is louder and gruffer than my C*.
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2008-08-06 08:01
I once got a tip from someone (and demonstration it works) to put some kind of plasticine in your mouthpiece -- he used 'silly putty' -- to make the distance between the reed and the inner backside narrower. It's as if the 'wall' opposite the table (reed) is made thicker. It creates more blowing resistance, but also makes you sound louder.
The substance can be easily reshaped or removed again, without a trace. That also allows for easy experimenting to check if it works for you and if you like it in general.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-08-06 14:30
Replace your bass clarinet mouthpiece with a hard-rubber Berg Larsen 130/0 tenor sax mouthpiece.
Replace your bass clarinet with a Bundy tenor sax.
Then be heard!
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2008-08-06 14:59
My advice on marching with bass clarinet:
Don't do it!
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2008-08-06 15:03
OK, here is my real objection.
Invariably, the same bass clarinet used on the marching band field will later be used in concert band.
The bass clarinet has a very delicate mechanism vs. its weight and size. Bass clarinets go out of adjustment just by looking at them. A bass clarinet used on the marching band field will made a poor concert band instrument. They just get banged around too much, in the stands, on the field, on the bus, to later work well at all in a concert situation.
Walter Grabner
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Author: William
Date: 2008-08-06 15:19
Also try putting a piece of tin foil (aluminum, etc) on the mouthpiece table just below the window. Cut it the shape of the reed base but just a bit smaller so it is completely hidden when the reed is put on. This artificially opens the tip opening of your mouthpiece and allows more volume.
BTW, I've heard ( and professionally adjudicated) the Lake Band of Milwaukee, WI--a summer touring competitive band--use their clarinet section quite effectively during their field presentation to boost the general effect score of the field show. But this is a group that spends its entire winter developing a drill presentation coordinated with custom musical arragements, all designed by a staff of experts that instruct the kids. Definately, not your typical one-director school marching band situation. Unfortunately, in most high school and college marching bands who only do halftime shows, the brass and percussion sections are allowed to be mostly "out of control" by overworked school directors due to lack of prep time and the need to be heard by sports audiences who arn't really there to listen in the first place.
But my point is that woodwinds can be used effectively in a marching band although I must agree with GBK and conceed that most often, they are "seen, but not heard".
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Author: renee
Date: 2008-08-06 15:52
play on the crappy mouthpiece that came with the horn....that way you won't break the C*
marching band is just loud.... and you can't really play as loud as a bari (for 8 minutes while running around in circles like a dumbass) so why don't you just scream loudly, then you will be heard.
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Author: clarionman
Date: 2008-08-06 21:02
renee,
That was really funny what you wrote, LMAO.
--------
Regarding a marching bass clarinet I don't think is a good idea. I was in marching band during my 3 years of high school. We never had a marching bass clarinet. Some of the other school with 300+ members marching on the field even with 10 bass clarinet, some contra-altos and contra-bass, yes they had marching contra-altos and contra-bass, playing next to each other all the time. I could not hear anything from them.
If you say can play loud enough to be heard from the field makes me think how big is your marching band.
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Author: S. Friedland
Date: 2008-08-06 21:46
Remember, "Take the Money and Run", the movie with Woody Allen? He plays cello in the marching band and it is really funny.
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2008-08-06 22:23
I enjoy bass sitting down. Marching, no way! Not even when I was young. I was one of the kids (back in the day) who switched to brass (trombone) for marching band.
I don't regret it a bit.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-08-06 22:28
Too funny!!
I didn't see this thread at all when I mentioned the bass cl in marching band as a ridiculous thing and thought of the woody Allen movie too!
Btw, in that film was played the music by quincy Jones that ended up being the Austin powers theme.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-08-06 23:19
Ok, so I'm still marching bass (nice try with the tenor). There are only about 100 people in my marching band, but we are one of the best in our area. The bass clarinet I'm using isn't the same one I use for concert season. Normally I play a Selmer Privilege or a Buffet. Believe it or not, I CAN be heard on the field. I'm not worried about breaking my C* while marching.
Maybe I LIKE being a dumbass (dumb bass?) for a few months while I still can!
- Martin
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Author: clarinetdude108
Date: 2008-08-07 00:15
Ok dude, you may sound loud to yourself, but I promise you, you aren't to the people up in the box. Try playing tenor sax. I refuse to march bass now because I realized what a joke it was trying to be heard. That and I got my Buffet low C horn and now everything else I cant stand to put up with. (and I'd never march the buffet)
Bass clarinets will almost never be heard on the field. Bb clarinets will only be heard if the players use their air properly and are relatively in tune. Playing above the break helps alot too, as well as having several good players.
Keep your bass inside. Its delicate, so why put it in a rough enviroment? Its just not made to be marched. If i was a band directer i wouldnt let anyone march bass clarinet. I would make them learn Bb or sax or anything else.
For those who noticed, I joined these forums just becuase i saw this topic. I'm quite passionate about it.
Take your Clarinet and march it, and learn to use your air and project as best you can. You will need a big, focused sound thats in tune if you want to be heard.
I really suggest taking Davids advice, although any jazz mouthpiece will do.
Sax, is another story. They can be quite loud on the field, especially if you get the players off the C*s and plastic mouthpieces and give them jazz pieces. Not screamers, but pieces with a small baffle and fairly big chambers, to get a warm sound, but with the projection you need.
I would also recomend some kind of synthetic reed to anyone marching a clarinet or sax.
If you must march bass for some crazy reason, perhaps a harder reed with more focused air will help you project better. The loudest bass piece I own and have ever played is a Grabner jazz piece, and it can give a HUGE sound.
Clarinetdude
Edit: Volume =/= Projection. think about that.
Post Edited (2008-08-07 01:23)
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2008-08-07 03:05
From my perspective from a competitive marching band, the bass clarinet is a necessary part, as is every other march-able instrument. Double reeds are simply out of the question, but low reeds aren't when harnessed properly. When you properly balance the ensemble, instrumentation and volume wise, you'll hear them, and their unique character will shine. The same goes for Baritone saxophone.
A good competitive marching band should simply be a wind ensemble that moves fast.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-08-07 03:51
Maybe I won't be heard well, if at all, but I can still try right ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif) ? I don't think I would be allowed to switch to tenor (we already have 6, though not all good) or bari sax or clarinet just for marching season. My director doesn't typically switch people for any reason.
And "dumb bass" wasn't a judgment of your language skills renee. Just a joke.
- Martin
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Author: clarinetdude108
Date: 2008-08-07 04:02
Ryan, the bass part is almost always a double of something else, making it optional. I'm all for bari sax on the field as long as no one is hurting themselves, because it is powerful enough to be heard. I doubt up in the box they could tell blindfolded if your band had bass clarinet or not. And if by some miracle they could, i doubt they would count off on your bands sound assuming everything else was good.
Despite what people say, marching band isnt wind ensemble while moving. Even brass players complain about how much louder they have to play.
Marching band is its own game, and you cant play it like concert band and expect the best results. For example, anything piano is probably never going to make it to the box if you are a woodwind. You also have to ajust your dynamics to your location on the field. In my book a good competitive marching band is a good competitive marching band.
clarinetdude
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Author: clarinetdude108
Date: 2008-08-07 04:35
Maybe if you mention some of the appropriate points he would allow you to march Bb. Marching Bb should actually improve your bass clarineting.
In my opinion doubling is not a bad thing.
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2008-08-07 17:17
The main reason for having a bass clarinet in a marching band is so that someone can yell "Look, a bass clarinet!".
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-08-08 02:45
The bass clarinet and bari sax parts are the same. At some points it's even different from the tuba parts and in the second movement (slow) it's a bass clarinet/bari soli. I've already marched sop clarinet for two years, so I wanted to try something new on the field.
Yes, BassetHorn, that's another reason I wanted to play bass. Who wants to be running around with a dinky little clarinet? I've gotten alot of "you play THAT!?"
- Martin
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-08-09 13:35
"I want to play louder than I already do (bari sax loud)."
Easy solution - transpose the bass clarinet parts up a perfect 5th and play them on bari sax.
How's that for a slice of fried gold?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-08-10 04:36
are we helping the OP, or just attacking bass clarinets in marching bands?
like it or not, they exist, and many band directors require their use.
try a Fobes Basso Nova. I find it projects fairly well, sometimes better than a C*. Or simply try a different C* - they're not as consistent as they used to be.
HTH
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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