 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-14 14:05
So, I am wondering what you all think on the Eb vs Bass front.
I am a student looking to specialise in England in one or the other. Im slightly leaning toward bass just because of my awful experience with the piccolo. I am looking at a career in either classical or musical theatre playing (hense the piccolo), and don't know which clarinet to do. I would love to do both but now its not really about only doing one, its more to do with the cost of the instruments (Eb being 1/2 the cost but bass being more enjoyable).
Im stuck; I don't really want to sell any of my other instruments (am selling oboe and old B12) and would be relying heavily on donations from family members.
Ive been told that there aren't enough good bass players in England, hence foreigners in LSO and Philharmonia, and too many Effers.
Im also hoping to get into my local youth orchestra which is Grade 8 standard, but the 1st chair is filled so adding a double would make me a more desirable second player?
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2014-07-14 15:24
"Ive been told that there aren't enough good bass players in England, hence foreigners in LSO and Philharmonia, and too many Effers"
Whoever told you that is severely mistaken. You won't make friends easily when you come to the UK, from wherever you're coming from with that attitude.
Correction, I see you are in the UK. :-/
Peter Cigleris
Post Edited (2014-07-14 15:26)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-07-14 17:06
When I was in school I decided to learn both. First I boought cheap brands, big mistake, had to upgrade within a year but the store I purchase red them in NY gave be full value as a trade it to upgrade. My take is this. The bass clarinet is a different animal, it says clarinet in it's name but it's much different. I've taught many "doublers" how to play the bass that were having problems with the upper register even though they played clarinet, sax, flute etc. So I'd suggest you spend your time learning bass first. I have some good hints on my website about playing it. The Eb clarinet is just a small clarinet. Any good clarinet player can easily learn how to play it well in much less time than a bass. I took lessons of the bass for a while and have taught many students on clarinet and bass. When I've had students that wanted to play Eb I'd give them one or two hints and they would do the same thing I did, play it. The biggest problem with learning the Eb clarinet is being able to use your ear. Eb is played by ear. Find a comfortable mouthpiece, practice some and it's like a clarinet, it is.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2014-07-14 17:31
Assuming your information about bass vs. Effer in England is correct, that provides an answer. Think of yourself as a business and do what a good entrepreneur does: evaluate realistically your capabilities and interests, explore what your market needs and wants, prepare a business plan of how to get to where you want to be financially and professionally, obtain the best equipment and training for the job that you can afford, let the buyers know of your product (a great bass or effer player), keep detailed records, and review your progress frequently to see if you should keep doing what you are doing or revise your plan. As musicians everywhere know, the financial part is important, but not the whole story, so keep that in mind during your journey. Good luck!
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-07-14 23:35
What is your source for the statement about not enough good bass players in the UK? Top calibre orchestras in every country audition world wide for their players and the fact that say there are British players e.g. French Horn, Oboe etc in the Berlin Phil. does not imply that there is a shortage of high quality home grown talent in Germany.
On a practical note even as a bass or Eb player you will need to be Exceptionally capable on the Bb/A clarinet to get work - in our local county youth orchestra the requirement is grade 8 with distinction just to be considered for an audition.
For theatre work the prime requirement seems to be for exceptional talent on saxophone and Bb clarinet and a very good competence on say flute and bass clarinet. There doesn't seem to be a lot of call for the Eb in the pit band.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2014-07-15 00:18
Of the two, the Bass would probably be the better choice: there's more need for it, in a wider variety of settings. I can't speak to playing at the professional level. But here at the community orchestra level, we need someone on bass clarinet about every other concert, whereas we need Eb clarinet about once every other year (usually just for the "Candide" overture).
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-15 01:53
Thanks for your replies. The not enough bass players comment came from the clarinet guy at howarth. Speaking of howarth, I was there today. I tried a Uebel and Buffet bass cl, both of which I found difficult to play and hard to get the sound I wanted from them both. I tried two e flats also, a selmer recital (which was epic) and a rc prestige which was less than satisfactory. I think the eb would be easier to get to grips with but not necessarily benificial in the long run. The clarinet book in wicked calls for Eb Bb and Bass, granted there are few others that require Eb and alot more that require Bass but Bass is often, from what I've seen, paired with bassoon (which I dont want to play, ever). I need a new sax too :( too many things!
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-07-15 01:59
Oh....eefer! I thought you were considering the Alto clarinet.
Bob Draznik
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2014-07-15 11:19
The clarinet book in Wicked also includes Sop sax
Peter Cigleris
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Author: William
Date: 2014-07-15 22:16
As an owner and player of both clarinets you mention, I have much more opportunity to play my bass. I did get a chance to play the effer in our orchestras romp through "Candid" last week, but there was a three year lapse from it's last call for Berlioz. Of all my pro clarinets, my effer gathers the most dust...........
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-16 00:07
So what sort of stuff do you use your bass for?
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-07-16 02:10
> So what sort of stuff do you use your bass for?
From "proper" Bass Clarinet parts over Tenor Horn down to Tuba parts (for the latter, a low C instrument comes in handy, you can play most notes an octave lower)
--
Ben
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