 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-12-01 22:10
Recently I have been finding a 3rd instrument to triple alongside the clarinet and bass clarinet, And I came 2 final options: the flute and the double bass(sax did not work for me) which [as a beginner]I both manage to make pretty decent sounds out of them. As I am pursuing for a conservatorium and eventually being an orchestral or ensemble musician or a a teaching faculty at a conservatory, which of the 2 instruments above will be more useful as a 3rd instrument alongside the clarinet/bass clarinet?
Note: I already am playing 2 types of different fingerings since my bass is German system. So fingering difference is not an issue.
Josh
Post Edited (2014-12-02 06:39)
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Author: davyd
Date: 2014-12-01 22:52
Alto or tenor sax, or Eb clarinet.
What is a "double basssax"?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-12-01 23:11
Do you consider clarinet and bass clarinet to be completely different instruments even though they're of the same instrument family? While the bass clarinet does require something of a different approach to get the best from it (as do other clarinets) so it can be considered a specialist instrument, it's still a clarinet and not all that far removed from Bb/A soprano clarinets in that respect.
Depending on what you want to do with your instrument doubling in the future, flute and sax are instruments that will get you theatre band/pit orchestra work as they're the most common doublings so they should both be considered. Also big band playing primarily requires saxes (two or even three sizes), then clarinet and flute (and piccolo) as many big band charts demand doubling on all three instruments.
If you want to further expand your horizons, then oboe or bassoon should also be considered. There are some music colleges that offer woodwind doubling courses for playing in show bands and teaching all the primary woodwinds.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-12-02 06:39
Davyd: sorry it was typo mistake. I meant I managed to play the flute and double bass decently(even though I never had proper lessons), but the sax doesn't work for me.
Chris: For my case, in quite a degree the bass clarinet can be considered as a different instrument because mine is a German system horn(both bore and system).
So what I meant to ask is that between the double bass and flute, which should I choose, but now obviously the flute seems to be the better way to go, right?
Josh
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Author: wanabe
Date: 2014-12-02 12:47
You haven't told us what kinds of music you play or like to play. From what has been discussed so far, you might have trouble squeezing yourself into a bluegrass band. The double bass would fit right in, but that flute just wouldn't make it. Other than that, what types of music are you turning out?
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2014-12-02 13:15
Why play two different systems of clarinet? It seems your life would be much easier if you chose either the Boehm or German system and stuck with it. Just a thought.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-12-02 16:13
Each of those instruments has its own advantages and disadvantages (some of which were mentioned). So in the end I'd consider all of them and decide based on the one you just like better.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-12-02 16:56
I'm in favor of learning as many instruments as we can cram into our budgets and schedules, but then I'm a flea market cockroach who can't resist a bargain. I also agree with Hurstfarm:
>If you're planning a career in music, I'd vote for the piano.>
In fact, I'd vote for piano for everybody, whether we plan careers in music or not. It's such a great instrument for understanding music theory and harmony that it enhances learning on all other instruments, especially for doublers who play on transposing instruments.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-12-02 21:56
Jim, thanks for reminding me! I play various kinds of music, from Classical to Country Folk, from Tango to Klezmer. However I rarely play jazz and more contemporary genres. I am already an acoustic bass on the German bass clarinet in a country acoustic band. I occasionaly play in orchestras and big bands.
Nellsonic, I started out All-Boehm, but I strongly prefer the Germanic bass clarinet sound, so I changed to a German system instrument. There certainly are challenges adapting different fingerings, but it is worth it. I look for the precise sound I want, not always an easier life.
But back to the topic question, I wish to pursue a degree in a conservatorium and eventually become a conservatory faculty or as an orchestral musician which also occasionally performs with other ensembles. So which of the combination works better for my desired career, clar/bass clar/double bass or clar/bass clar/flute?
P.S. Does having the the ability to play multiple woodwinds increase the competence for a teaching job at a conservatory?
Josh
Post Edited (2014-12-02 22:03)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-12-03 03:15
From what I gather, conservatoire teachers are mainly specialists on one particular instrument rather than a Jack or Jill of all trades.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Dibbs
Date: 2014-12-03 14:17
This is a bit of a left field suggestion but how about a tarogato? It's fingering is like a German system clarinet but it overblows at the octave like a sax. It would fit in with your folk/ethnic music tendencies.
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Author: katiemules1
Date: 2014-12-04 21:11
Saxophone is a GREAT doubling instrument. They have the same fingerings as the upper octave on the clarinet. The embouchure is so different, being more open but once you grasp the concept of this, it is easy to double on this instrument. Especially because you know the articulations and you just have to get used to the octave key and embouchure.
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