 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Popper
Date: 2009-06-13 07:40
My daughter was issued her bass clarinet for High School Marching Band on Monday. I have been searching for information on the internet and believe that the instrument she was assigned may have been in error.
She was assigned a Selmer Paris R instrument. It is all wood. The only numbers that I can find on it are N09861 located on the bottom of each half of the instrument and then a 987 on the underside of 2 of the paddle keys. I have been unable to find information on the quality/value of this instrument but believe it to be a more advanced model than the Leblanc plastic instrument she was assigned in Junior High. Especially given that she can play more octives that she has ever been able to.
I also thought that wood instruments were more suseptible to the weather elements. My biggest concern is being responsible for damages. Also, there is no lyre holder on the instrument leading me to believe that it was not intended as a marching instrument.
Can anyone advise me as to whether they would recommend her marching with this instrument and if so what the value might be so the I can decide if I need to look to get her a plastic or resonite body instrument for marching with?
Thank you for your advice/opinion.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2009-06-13 08:44
It seems an older instrument of Selmer Paris. These are professional instruments that I would not use for marching.
It might also more heavy than a non-wood instrument.
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Author: aero145
Date: 2009-06-13 09:24
I ditto Jeroen’s advice. This instrument was not made for marching and/or outside use, it is a very fine instrument (when it is in order of course!) which I would take good care of.
The plastic instrument should be fixed and used for marching instead. It’s also probably lighter and of course it’s got a lyre holder for the music.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-06-13 13:45
'xcept that it doesn't reach nowhere deep enough. Bass literature on a tenor ain't no fun, somehow.
--
Ben
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-06-13 15:39
Like you can hear those low notes on a football field or in a parade.
Personally, I think that marching bass clarinets is one of the dumbest ideas a band director can have. They are heavy, awkward to hold and play standing (without a peg) let alone marching, and prone to damage that can be costly to repair. Kids (especially if they are small in stature) risk injury trying to hold them in marching position and you can't hear them. Low brass are a far more effective way to provide the bottom for a marching band.
If I were a school superintendent, I would fire any band director who insisted on marching bass clarinets in my district. And if a band director asked my child to march one, I would tell him/her exactly what I think of the idea.
But, to answer the original question. If your daughter must march bass clarinet and you are personally responsible for damages to the instrument, I would recommend finding a cheap plastic one to march with.
Best regards,
jnk
Who played bass clarinet in concert band throughout junior high and high school. I am eternally grateful to my band director for having the common sense not to ask me to march with it.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2009-06-13 17:11
There's no such thing as an "acceptable" bass clarinet for marching band -- well OK maybe a brightly-colored plastic Bundy, but nothing better.
What they should do is take all the double-reed and harmony-clarinet players and have them be a flag line, or else designate them to be equipment schleppers.
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Author: clarinetdude108
Date: 2009-06-14 06:10
I agree with the posts against marching bass clarinet. It is completely pointless. Just march clarinet, or better yet, learn to double on saxophone, or anything else... just don't march a bass clarinet. You will never be heard on anything you play, and you won't even be able to play once some person next to you bumps into your horn. Trust me. I did it for two years until i managed to come up with enough excuses (which involved me giving my marching bass to some other kid) so that I could march tenor sax (and you could definitely hear me on that.. hehe).
The first band director I did that too didn't really care.
The 2nd (we got a new head director the next year) made up some stupid story about this amazing sound marching bands can create with a good bass clarinet section on the bottom to try and persuade me with that story because aparently I was "just too loud" on tenor. I laughed. Ive watched other bands with 5 bass clarnets on the front sideline, and I couldn't hear them from the front row of the stands. I dont understand why I should slave through marching band with a bass clarinet knowing no matter what I do I will NEVER be heard and doesn't matter at all.
All marching band does is leave you with a beat up horn for concert season. It's just not a good idea to march a bass clarinet in my opinion.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2009-06-14 21:11
One of my students is a bass clarinetist who marches on a a soprano Bb clarinet in the fall and switches to bass clarinet during concert season.
As a mother AND a someone who marched for three years on a soprano clarinet, this is my thinking:
1. Try out for colorguard (flags).
2. Try out for drumline--small bass drum, cymbals, or keyboards, if she has piano training.
3. Try out for drum major.
I did colorguard my senior year in high school and was drum major all four years of college. I don't regret for one moment that I didn't march with my instrument during those years.
I'm in agreement with the others who've said that bass clarinets are basically useless (or redundant) in a marching band. Concert band, however, is altogether different.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-06-15 01:25
many band directors believe you need a good wood instrument for marching.
i get slapped all the time for recommending plastic instruments ; i'll get fired over it one of these days.
since the band director controls the student's grade, its best to consult with the director on this issue... if its a school owned instrument it will be the schools problem to keep it in repair once it gets banged out of alignment (and it will). going against the band directors wishes will not be helpful towards having the child have a fun, positive experience in marching band. e.g., some battles are not worth fighting - ask the band director - 'dont you have a plastic one she can march? this is a professional model - shouldn't it stay inside'? then see what they say.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Popper
Date: 2009-06-15 03:50
Thank you to everyone for your responses. From what I could find on this instrument, I thought it was a higher quality instrument.
I will consult with the band director and express my concerns over the value of this instrument being using in Marching and in the crowded stands.
My daughter started out on Clarinet and does have her own but she just loves the low notes. If the saxaphone is a good alternate, maybe she would be interested in doing that. It is to late for color guard or drum line. Those tryouts and placements have already been held and she is a freshman so Drum Major is out of the question. She has already expressed interest in being drum major one day.
Again, thank you all for your advise/opinions.
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2009-06-15 06:58
I know we take marching band in Texas very seriously but, marching a Selmer Paris wooden bass? Really?
Tell your director that my school has a weatherproof Selmer bass (plastic Bundy) just made for the outdoors that I will gladly trade him for his "inferior" marching horn. ;-)
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