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 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?
Author: bethmhil 
Date:   2012-02-12 21:15

We just had this discussion on Thursday in my Single Reeds methods class!

The general rationale is that bass clarinet parts are generally easier technically and rhythmically compared to soprano clarinet parts. Bass parts usually double bassoon, trombone, and bari sax parts, so the parts are usually made of whole notes and half notes, at least in young band repertoire. Even in college level rep., the bass clarinet parts are significantly easier... except in Maslanka pieces!

If a student has serious issues with rhythm and counting, then I might not disagree with the notion completely... Learning to count rhythms can be overwhelming to young students, and it might be beneficial to their learning and self esteem to put them on bass. They won't have so many (if any) difficult rhythms and technical passages thrown at them all at once on bass clarinet.

But for the most part, I very much disagree with the notion. There are plenty of less-than-exemplary rationales band directors use, but the one I've heard lately is "forcing clarinetists to use more air" by switching them to bass. It doesn't work. Not only do some kids feel like they are being 'demoted' when switched down to bass, but (in my personal opinion) bass clarinet is considerably harder to master than soprano clarinet, especially for young kids.

BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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 Topics Author  Date
 Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Kontra 2012-02-12 20:39 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
alto gether 2012-02-12 21:02 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Ken Shaw 2012-02-12 21:12 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
alto gether 2012-02-12 21:20 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
bethmhil 2012-02-12 21:15 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
bethmhil 2012-02-12 21:24 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Kontra 2012-02-12 21:26 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
kdk 2012-02-12 21:29 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
2cekce 2021-10-03 18:57 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Kontra 2012-02-12 21:33 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
clarinetguy 2012-02-12 22:07 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Sean.Perrin 2012-02-12 22:10 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
rtmyth 2012-02-12 22:41 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
davyd 2012-02-13 03:12 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
blazian 2012-02-13 03:52 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Lelia Loban 2012-02-13 11:55 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
David Spiegelthal 2012-02-13 14:41 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
SteveG_CT 2012-02-13 16:59 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
davidjsc 2021-09-26 13:11 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
davidjsc 2021-09-26 22:25 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
DarkenWolfie 2022-01-20 13:11 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Reese Oller 2022-09-22 06:27 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Bob Phillips 2012-02-13 15:56 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
danb1937 2012-02-13 17:24 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
ohsuzan 2012-02-14 01:30 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Hank Lehrer 2012-02-14 12:23 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
David Spiegelthal 2012-02-14 14:32 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Hank Lehrer 2012-02-15 00:22 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
clarinetwife 2012-02-15 03:07 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Hank Lehrer 2012-02-15 10:52 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
ohsuzan 2012-02-15 16:06 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
super20bu6 2012-02-17 10:54 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
GeorgeL 2012-02-18 00:24 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
davyd 2012-02-18 03:29 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
BobD 2012-02-18 09:40 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
bradfordlloyd 2012-02-18 10:31 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
davyd 2012-02-18 12:45 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
bradfordlloyd 2012-02-18 13:46 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Reese Oller 2021-09-24 20:23 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
SecondTry 2021-09-24 20:53 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
super20dan 2021-09-25 01:30 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
tucker 2021-09-25 02:54 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
super20dan 2021-09-25 04:39 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Tom H 2021-09-25 08:15 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
donald 2021-09-25 14:42 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Michael E. Shultz 2021-09-25 14:55 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
super20dan 2021-09-26 17:46 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
EbClarinet 2021-09-27 06:01 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
savvyliterate 2021-12-27 08:29 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
tripler 2022-04-01 00:43 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Tom H 2022-04-01 01:38 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Niclas.e.gustafsson 2022-04-27 08:46 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
donald 2022-04-27 12:34 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Hunter_100 2022-09-22 17:56 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Reese Oller 2022-09-22 19:54 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Hunter_100 2022-09-23 01:29 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
super20dan 2022-09-23 04:46 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Reese Oller 2022-09-23 20:26 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
David H. Kinder 2022-09-24 06:34 
 Re: Why do band directors put their bad clarinetists on bass clarinet?  new
Tom H 2022-09-24 08:53 


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