The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-04-18 23:03
Over the years, many of you have mentioned playing non-classical music (whether in addition to classical or not). Folk, modern jazz, old jazz, swing, world music, Klezmer, et al.
I thought such a thread might be a way to help form a few musical connections with others having similar interests.
I'll start (in order of primary focus to less focus):
Pre-1940s jazz/pop.
Old Hymns.
Swing.
Post-1940s jazz.
Very occassional classical.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2023-04-19 01:34
I play "at" jazz. That is, no expert at all, but I can do a few things. Our concert band does a few dixie tunes with me as the clarinetist, and I've played in a couple of groups that did some blues stuff where I could improvise a bit. Have played the Artie Shaw Concerto 12-13 times over the decades.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: TriPut
Date: 2023-04-19 10:16
As a pit orchestra musician, I play a LOT of non-classical styles - everything from pop and early rock to swing to jazz to ragtime to klezmer and of course the traditional musicals have a style of their own.
I also used to be a member of a semi-pro big band, so I was playing swing from every decade quite heavily for several years.
I've also spent my fair share of time playing with symphonies and wind ensembles, although admittedly not recently - time and opportunity get in the way.
Most of my friends who play primarily as an amateur or occasional semi-pro are similar in that regard - we play many styles. We all have our favorites, but generally we're all reasonably competent at most or all of them.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-04-19 13:05
I've always done 80 percent Classical: 20 percent jazz. I went through a period during which I had vision issues, so I was very glad to be able to play jazz, improvise and not have to read the music.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: davidjsc
Date: 2023-04-21 00:13
Almost all I play now is European ethnic and traditional stuff, mostly Swiss, Scandivanian-Baltic, and English folk songs.
DSC
~~ Alto Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; B-flat and C Boehm Clarinets; Albert C Clarinet; Oboe ~~
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2023-05-08 21:58
When I was a student, jazz was a "no-no", as were ethnic styles.
It appeared that a BA in Clarinet Performance would put me in a practice room playing scales and Rose Studies for 4 years, so I got a degree in Mathematics instead, which kept me employed for 45. But things are much better now. Most colleges today have jazz studies programs, and specifically look for style diversity in their music faculty. It is wonderful that schools now realize playing in multiple styles makes for more rounded instructors.
Post Edited (2023-05-08 21:59)
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Author: Hugues Fardao
Date: 2023-05-09 01:28
I don't play classical music on clarinet (I'm a formaly a rock/funk bass guitar player) : I play Free Jazz in solo, and I listen to Free Jazz, my fav' style in Jazz musics. In the streets or during jam sessions, I know some swing or jazzy songs themes to play with friends or local musicians.
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2023-05-09 14:16
I am in yr first category ; pre 1940. Although my group ( we are all pensioners and never resumed after covid) used to go up to jazz and pop of later decades also. But for my personal tastes, music stopped around 1940. What a shame the peak of "Chicago" creativity was partly hammered by the 30s Depression, and the loss of all those recordings never made.
Principal inspiration : Johnny Dodds, BG, Shaw, Bechet
Played Bb and Bass Clarinet, Eb if you were exceptionally unlucky, Soprano and Tenor Sax
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Author: kilo
Date: 2023-05-09 23:49
I've been playing rags, polkas, and bossas as part of a bass clarinet/classical guitar duo.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-05-10 09:30
John Wesley, I have musician colleagues and friends that never listen to nor play a note of anything other than Western Classical music. I pity them!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: johnwesley
Date: 2023-05-11 00:30
Yeah Ruben. I tend to be pretty smart ass. You're right that those who don't play "outside the box" are missing quite a lot. Sitting there playing written notes. I've always said "I'm a player, not a reader." Did play bass clarinet in high school orchestra and understand not improvising on the "masters" work, but there's nothing as liberating as playing off the cuff with a group of people. Be it jazz, Dixieland, pop or even rock.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-05-11 09:24
John: I play mostly Classical, some jazz and wouldn't like to do without either. They require the use of different parts of the brain! If I could, I would also like to play folk music like music from the Balkans. When I was a teenager, I played some rock on sax and quite a bit of salsa: the latter is really hard!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2023-05-11 16:03
Over the recent past playing in clarinet choir, a wind band (harmonie), jazz jam sessions and now the village fanfare for the memorial ceremonies, I regret not playing more classical pieces but the few we do see come across our music stands tend to put me in my place ! I am neither a great reader nor good player but I love it so much I really appreciate the opportunities to play such a wide repertoire and my diverse collections of instruments (currently in use are a Selmer alto in the harmonie, Buffet RC Prestige clarient choir, Silver King (4 parts, gold lacquer) for outdoor fanfare). I really love the clarinet because it adapts so well to such a huge range of musical styles, I want to do classical as much as jazz or choro or gypsy traditional and is one of the main reasons I added clarinet to my instrument family (I started as a jazz guitarist and have also added the harp , during covidconfinement).
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-05-11 22:24
Djudy; When I was 13, my music teachers switched me over to the oboe on the grounds that everybody and his brother played the clarinet and playing the oboe would give me greater access to badly needed scholarships. But I went back to the clarinet after a couple of years, because the clarinet allowed me to play all kinds of music, not just Classical. I hope to play with you someday!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-05-11 23:16
I mostly play standard concert band repitoire in 3 of my high school's bands, but I also occasionally play clarinet in our Jazz Lab program (Clarinet isn't allowed in our top of the line Jazz Ensemble). I play bass and contrabass for most things concert band, except on occasion playing clarinet (more than I'd like :( ) or bassoon. I play bass clarinet and bassoon for the Illinois youth Symphony Orchestra, and I love it!
I look forward to what I hope to be a long musical carreer!
Reese Oller
Clarinet student (performance major at Millikin University)
I can play bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, BBb contra, alto saxophone, bassoon at a decent level, and flute in a pinch.
Post Edited (2023-05-11 23:17)
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Author: lydian
Date: 2023-05-11 23:52
Reese Oller wrote:
> Clarinet isn't allowed in our top of the line Jazz Ensemble
Lucky you. I've had to double on clarinet in all of the big bands I've ever played in. I get prohibiting it at least means you can only play post 1940s charts which could be considered a plus.
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