 The Doublers BBoard
|
Author: Merlin
Date: 2006-04-15 23:03
My name is Merlin Williams, and I work as a woodwind doubler in Toronto.
I've played all of the woodwind families (to greater or lesser degrees) in professional situations.
I work most frequently these days on low reeds, but do a lot of clarinet playing as well.
I play a lot of big band gigs, especially on bari (doubling bass clarinet, clarinet, flute) or lead alto (doubling clarinet, soprano sax, flute, picc).
I've also played percussion in orchestral situations as a double - there's not much to do in "Pictures at an Exhibition" after the alto solo, and they can always use extra hands in the kitchen.
That's just scratching the surface, but hey, there'll be lots of opportunities to fill in the details.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-04-16 00:51
Hi Merlin! It's always good to run into you here.
I live in Olney, Maryland which is about 20 miles north of Washington, DC.
Over the years I've done quite a bit of doubling work on saxophones (soprano, alto, c-melody, tenor, baritone), clarinets (Bb & C soprano, alto, bass), flutes (soprano, alto), bassoon, piano, percussion, and composition & arranging in mostly jazz, studio, show, dance, and experimental settings.
Given my busy work and family schedule, I made a decision a couple of years ago to focus on clarinet and tenor saxophone....doing mostly big band playing and some occassional contemporary small group things.
I'm a huge fan of vintage Buescher saxophones. My horn of choice is a 1934 New Aristocrat (2676xx) tenor. Last year I came across a 1960 Couesnon Monopole Bb clarinet that I quickly discovered to be an absolute gem. For me, it has many of the qualities that I like so much in 1930's Buescher saxophones: dark, fat, vibrant sound, and superb intonation. I also have a Patricola C clarinet that I use when lighter tonal colors are needed.
Guess that does it. This forum section is a GREAT IDEA. Thanks Mark!
Roger
Post Edited (2006-05-23 12:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jamietalbot
Date: 2006-04-16 08:28
Hi Merlin-this is a great idea!
My name is Jamie Talbot.
I'm a professional doubler in London, UK.
Currently I,m in the pit band for Guys and Dolls in the west end, but I also do a great deal of studio work- films,tv,albums,jingles ect.
I,m mainly a sax player but clarinet is a close second with flute trailing in third place.
I play selmer alto & tenor and Yamaha soprano and baritone.
Clarinets are B & H 1010 Bb, Buffet Prestige Bass & Yamaha Eb.
Muramatsu flute with FA head, Rudall Carte Piccolo and Monnig alto flute.
Looking forward to keeping in touch with this forum!
best regards,
Jamie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2006-04-16 18:38
Hi Merlin,
My name is Steve Epstein and I live in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, about one hour west of Philadelphia. I'm an adult amateur who played clarinet as a kid (school bands and private lessons), put it away for 20 years, and restarted about seven years ago.
My main "gig" is playing for contradancing, which encompasses a repertoire of folk fiddle tunes from the British Isles, Ireland, the American South, New England and French Canada. Reels, jigs, polkas, schottisches, rags and cakewalks -- anything that is or can be made into 32 bars. Plus a bit of Eastern European, and, as long as the folks from BMI or ASCAP aren't listening, a very small bit of early jazz and an even smaller bit of pop. I also play for English Country dancing, a repertoire consisting of short versions of baroque pieces, English folk songs, and more jigs and reels, among other things. A lot of this unpaid but some is paid, though rather poorly.
For all this I play a C-clarinet, a C-melody sax, and a recently acquired alto clarinet. I also have my old Bb clarinet from childhood, as well an alto and a soprano sax.
Steve Epstein
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DressedToKill
Date: 2006-04-16 18:45
Hi everyone! How exciting that there's finally a doubling forum, eh? :-)
My first instrument was the viola (started at age 8 on the world's most horrid 14 inch viola...it was basically a violin strung as a viola), followed very closely by the cello. At 12 I was given an old Bundy clarinet, and by 13, had taught myself the fundamentals of the entire woodwind family, double reeds included. At 14, I was given an amazing violin as a Christmas gift from Grandma, and thus completed the stable. Even though I started as a string player, I've always considered myself a clarinetist first and foremost. (And I am still an absolutely horrific pianist...)
I've been fortunate enough to study with amazing people like David Breeden, Ricardo Morales, Carol Wincenc, Julie Ann Giacobassi, Tom Stacy, and Masao Kawasaki in my travels between NYC and San Francisco, but have decided against a full-time career in music in lieu of a more lucrative real estate and marketing consulting career. I still play every day for my own enjoyment, though, and wouldn't be averse to picking up a pit gig here or there ;-)
Nice to meet you all!
Best,
Joshua
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Markael
Date: 2006-04-16 22:42
Greetings, all.
I have been playing clarinet since the 7th grade. I don't have a regular gig playing clarinet, but I do teach clarinet and piano.
Last year I bought a used Leblanc Esprit bass clarinet, which I play in our church ensemble.
Before buying the bass I had considered alto sax, which I played a little bit in high school stage band. So I do have an alto mouthpiece and some reeds.
For now [Bb soprano] clarinet and bass clarinet are enough wind instruments for me.
Mark
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bret Pimentel
Date: 2006-04-17 00:40
I did a bachelors degree in saxophone at Brigham Young University, then went on to a masters at Indiana University in multiple woodwinds (the 5-instrument degree). I graduated from there last year, and am now working on a doctoral degree in 5 woodwinds at the University of Georgia. I also play a number of folk and ethnic woodwinds.
Some of you I have seen around at the doubling forums on saxontheweb.net:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=19
And my own website, though primarily intended for self-promotion, has stuff of interest to doublers:
http://www.geocities.com/bpimentel
Thanks, Mark C.!
Bret Pimentel
Edited to make links clickable.
Post Edited (2006-04-17 00:42)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Trish
Date: 2006-04-17 02:07
Hi, everyone -
The instruments: Clarinet (Bflat, A, Eflat soprano, Bflat bass), Sax (soprano, alto, tenor - bari in a pinch), Flute/piccolo, oboe. I've been known to serve as an auxillary percussionist. Over the years, I've also played some trumpet, sousaphone, and did a stint with viola, as well as the standard class piano and enough guitar for a campfire singalong ;-)
These days I play the woodwinds and play around with my keyboard. I mostly do community theater pit orchestra gigs, with the occasional venture into local community symphonies as a sub on clarinet, but I've played a lot of jazz along the way and did a number of years with a big band when I was a kid.
I don't make my money playing, obviously, but a lot of the money I make goes toward supporting my habit!
Trish Putnam
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevesklar
Date: 2006-04-17 03:14
Started sax in 1974. Picked up clarinet in 1978 (xylophone, cello in 82 plus many others). Went to Univ of Michigan for sax performance. changed majors back when the school budget crisses hit plus i had a few medical problems which prohibited my major. oh well.
Currently I play in local bands. mostly sax though. But plan on finding room outside for clarinet playing.
But, most of my time is spent repairing saxophones and clarinets which i've recently in the last 5 years gotten serious about, other than that dabbling in and out of it for the past 15 yrs ?
I love playing clarinet though. The tone is awesome. I need a bass clarinet one of these days -- which may have to wait after having my 4th kid this past Monday (3 boys, and the 4th a girl - yippee !!).
building up clarinet info on this page http://www.saxmaniax.com/snclarinet.htm - if anyone can add anything just let me know for building up a clarinet history knowledge page.
Steve Sklar
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-04-17 11:35
It's a lot of fun reading all these introductions and spotting some familiar names here, too. I'm an adult amateur. Clarinets: sopranos in Eb, Bb and A, Eb alto and Eb contra-alto. Saxophones: Bb soprano, Eb alto, C-melody, Bb tenor and Bb bass. Recorders: sopranino in F, soprano in C, alto in F, tenor in C. Piano. Bodhran drum. I've also fooled around with cornet, flute, suona, penny whistle, various ethnic flutes, and pipe organ, but wouldn't claim to play those. My favorite instruments to play are the contra-alto clarinet, the bass saxophone and the Yamaha Clavinova (electronic keyboard).
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ryan Young
Date: 2006-04-17 18:01
Hey everybody-
I'm Ryan Young, im a highschooler from Troy, Ill. Ive played Bb clarinet since 4th grade and i play clarinet in concert band, but may play Eb next year. I was first chair at the IMEA district festival. I play Bari sax for marching band, bari and tenor for jazz band and bari tenor and alto for pep band. I really hope to learn how to improve my playing on all of my instruments and cant wait to see what tips i can pick up
Ryan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CircaRevival
Date: 2006-04-18 00:26
Hello, I'm Louis, a high school student from Syracuse, New York.
I've played tenor for about four years, and just got serious about it last year. I play only tenor sax right now, but plan on getting a bari eventually. I've played clarinet since August of '05, and am about to add bass clarinet.
I play tenor in Jazz band and concert band at school. My Bb clarinet technique is very iffy, I need TONS of work and shedding technique books. I plan on shedding like my life depended on it this summer and being able to play in my school's musical with this beast. On bass, which I took in for repair two weeks ago and plan to get back this week. I'm going to have to shed this this extremely hard too. I will double this in addition to tenor in concert band and plan on playing this also in my school's musical. I can't wait to get some great info on clarinets here.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-04-19 16:17
Howdy, y'all,
My name is Dave Spiegelthal, I'm a former Maryland resident now stuck on the wrong side of the Potomac River in Virginia, and my day job has nothing to do with music.
At night I morph into a musician wannabe, doing the following in a half-assed manner:
-- Repairing and restoring vintage clarinets and saxes
-- Refacing mouthpieces
-- Playing bass and sometimes soprano clarinets in community and semi-pro orchestras, concert bands, clarinet chamber groups and theatre pits
-- Playing saxes (mostly baritone and tenor, some alto) in a few professional jazz big bands/dance bands, rock bands, and jazz combos, with occasional lame doubling on flute
-- Trying to re-learn oboe (after a 30-year layoff)
Hope to meet some of you in person in the future!
![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2006-04-20 00:42
It's like many of the people I like to read all come to the same forum. I'm a late bloomer saxophonist who started up again three or four years ago after a 27 year hiatus. I play sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bari, and bass sax. In the last year or so I've started trying to figure out the flute and clarinet. If I can do this, anyone can.
My wife Suzy played clarinet through high school and then took a 30 year break. She now plays Eb and Bb soprano clarinet, Eb Alto and Bb Bass clarinet, soprano, alto, and tenor sax. She is so serious about this that she takes lessons twice a week.
We both play in a community jazz ensemble and concert band. Every once in a while we throw a pick up group together, a kind of x-tet and play a gig or two. I usually use the name 'the Dissonance' to name that group.
Are we having fun yet?
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
Post Edited (2007-01-06 23:07)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kchui999
Date: 2006-04-21 02:28
Hi everyone!
Im Chui and im a High school junior living in California. I play all the clarinets and saxes, and ive recently been doing some work on bassoon and french horn, which, i must say, has been an interesting experience.
I'm a 4-year California High School All State clarinetist, and I usually play a few gigs on tenor and clarinet here and there, whatever i can find. I know a vast majority of you have been playing for longer than I have been alive, and I'd really like to gain insight into whatever people know.
I'm quite the "band geek," constantly searching ebay and the forums for interesting equipment and interesting woodwind information. I've been reading the clarinet bboard for about a year now, and its been really great. I hope to get a lot more out of the doubler's bboard now that there is one.
~Chui
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevesklar
Date: 2006-04-21 12:44
Lelia,
yup, we can talk about french horns and not get dissed ..
Chui,
I used to play french horn until about 6 years ago when, for some stupid reason, I sold it. It was a very nice single Buescher french horn that I bought back in 1982. I should have kept it at least for a display above my fireplace mantel. I always loved the timbre of the FH in brass - reminds me so much of the clarinets timbre in relation to other woodwinds.
been looking at ebay at french horns lately too. i actually prefer the marching french horns vs the regular concert ones. could come in handy on stage in a jazz band. Looks like a weird, oversized fluegelhorn.
I also used to be fairly good at xylophone and having been ebay browsing those. maybe someday i'll get back into that too.
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: martinbaxter
Date: 2006-05-01 16:24
Hi Merlin
I hadn't seen your intro on the doubling BB, only on the Bassoon one. Sorry for the daft question on that.
Martin
Phone 01229583504
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rcnelson
Date: 2006-05-01 17:48
Greetings. My day job is as a database developer, but I keep busy with community theater pits, our church orchestra and a fun contempoary worship band called ALL2U (check out all2uband.org).
I am primarily a sax player, but have played a lot of clarinet recently, and almost as much flute in various settings. I got my music education degree in 1980, a computer progamming degree in 1984 when I knew that I didn't want to teach public schools, and a MBA just 3 short years ago, which by the way kept me from being too much of a musician while I worked full time during the 4 years it took to get my MBA in the evening.
My alto and tenor are Selmers (Mark VII and Mark VI respectively), an old Bundy clarinet which plays pretty well (but a Buffet E11 is being save for) and a student-model Gemeinhardt flute that is not a bad horn.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: leonardA
Date: 2006-05-14 03:45
I'm Leonard Alterman, Jacksonville, FL. Played alto sax in high school and then didn't play for about 40 years and just took it up about four years ago. Have taken lessons continuously since then and have added clarinet and flute. I work on all three about evenly, which probably slows my progress on all of them, but I feel that the versatility is worth it. I have played a couple of pit gigs on sax and clarinet for community theater, and that was thrilling and frightening at the same time.
I am also an actor and have done community theater and some professional work over the last 30 years.
Conn 20M alto sax
Vito (Yanagisawa) Tenor Sax
Leblanc Noblet clarinet
Armstrong 104 flute
All purchased on ebay successfully
I'm a lawyer by trade, but a musician and actor at heart.
Leonard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2006-05-23 05:31
Hello all. I play clarinet in dixieland bands in the bay area and recently bought a B flat soprano sax. I thought this sax would really come in handy for me. However! I'm having a rough time playing it, even though it is a very good horn. I don't have any trouble playing my alto sax at all. So I just can't figure out my problem with this horn. Even with my practicing dioigently, it sounds pretty bad. (All the cats in the neighborhood have turned feral.) It plays remarkably well in tune. Does anybody else have problems playing the soprano sax? The clarinet has such a lovely soft sound, but this baby could strip wallpaper.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-05-23 12:37
Carol,
The soprano saxophone is a unique instrument and it needs to be approached somewhat differently than an alto saxophone or clarinet. It might be helpful to give us the details of the set up you're using on the soprano. Some sopranos can be more mouthpiece sensative than comparable altos or tenors. It's great that your soprano has good intonation. That's a big part of the battle.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2006-05-23 20:58
I'm using a Lakey (?) mouthpiece that came with the horn, along with three other mouthpieces, that didn't work well for me. A box of Vandoren 2-1/2 Sop Sax reeds came along too. I switched to a clarinet reed and that works much better for me. I know a clarinet reed shouldn't work, but it does. I think the mouthpiece I'm using is a very good one. I got an E-mail about the way I was holding the sax - and I have been holding it down, like a clarinet. It should be held further away from the body. I will try that tonight. If I was playing in a klezmer band, I think the wailing sound would be perfect for that. When I first got the sop sax I was playing along with a mandolin CD, and it was perfectly in tune with that. A big plus.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-05-24 11:34
If you're getting good intonation on your soprano sax, then you're doing something right! I play soprano sax best if I use the same embouchure I use for clarinet: too tight and too strongly supported for any other saxophone. My saxes are all oldies, however--YMMV.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kfrank1
Date: 2006-07-26 05:51
Hi. I play the saxes (SATB), clarinet (full-boehm) and flute (open hole, low B). I started in my mid-20's from scratch, but with the help of a good jazz musician/teacher, became proficient enough to do semi-pro jazz gigs within a few years.
I'm a software tester by day, which pays the bills etc, and then come home and try to fit in an hour's practice at night. Gigs I've played include a jazz quartet in a hotel lounge bar, solo gig in a cafe with Aebersolds, community and semi-pro big band gigs, salsa gigs (my best paying job), and a monthly jazz quartet gig in a small neighbourhood restaurant.
Currently I'm not playing any gigs, just a monthly jam session. Recently I have been playing in free music improv sessions where you register in a pool from which trios are picked. This is both challenging and frightening!
After 15 years, I'm thinking of taking lessons again. I'm also thinking of completing my collection and getting a base clarinet, alto flute, and piccolo.
Happy playing!
Post Edited (2006-08-05 00:41)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-03 20:28
Hello, folks. Not only is it nice to see young musicians on here, but dear to my heart to see oldsters who haven't played in years dust off the old horn from the attic and jump back into the music scene. I haven't played clarinet in 45 years and remember nothing about the fingering, reading the music, etc., so I'm taking lessons.
My clarinets are ordinary student types (Artley 8S, 17S, and Beuscher Aristocrat). Also, since I fiddled around with the oboe and bassoon some in HS, I have scrounged up an Armstrong oboe and Lafleur bassoon to play on once I start relearning what all that stuff is on the music pages.
What got me fired up is the formation of a community band here in town and a lot of us older folks have joined up - our B.C. Baritone player is 82! While I'm working on the clarinet lessons and practicing oboe & bassoon on the side, I'm playing bass drum in the band. I am also our chief scavenger of band music charts as we are all volunteer and have no budget for the band.
EuGene
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BTBob
Date: 2006-08-16 15:44
36, CT (born & bred nutmegger), semipro jazzer (saxes & clary), occasional classical hack. Real estate property manager by day (and sometimes at night when things break...)
There sure are a lot of Bobs on the board. Maybe I should become BTBill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ArundoDonax
Date: 2006-08-21 20:59
Hello all you doublers!
My name is John Valleau and I too am one of the stopped-playing-for-20-years-after-highschool crowd, having played clarinet, oboe and flute. Here in Niagara we have a decent wind ensemble at our local university where I've played bass clarinet for several years. Glad to see Merlin on here, since he's the one who sold me this fantastic Yamaha bass that I play, a pro model with a low C. It's also come in very handy in the Upper Canada Clarinet Choir and for a few pit orchestra gigs.
Our local amateur musical theatre company is typical of many, I think. Not much budget available for musicians, and until I started playing a couple of years ago they managed with NO reed players at all. So I found myself the sole reed player trying to cover the important stuff from 5 reed books for both Camelot and Crazy for you. It's fun listening to the cast albums and deciding what to play and what to leave out, but it gets tricky remembering to give yourself more than half a bar to switch instruments. Each show seems to have one piece where it feels like you're literally juggling.
So now I've started working on Chicago, opening in late fall. This time there will be two of us on reeds, and only one book to leave out. We'll have Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano, alto, tenor, bari sax and piccolo. Just bought myself a soprano and tenor and looking forward to breaking them in.
Enjoying catching up on all of your past postings!
Oh, I work as a horticulturist. My nickname Arundo donax (in case you wondered) is the botanical name for the grass used to make woodwind reeds. And despite what they always say, it is NOT a bamboo.
John
Next show SWEENEY TODD for Garden City Productions -- fall 2008.
Post Edited (2006-08-21 21:26)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Loralie
Date: 2006-12-30 03:14
Hello everyone!
I am still a college student who enjoys playing in the pit of undergrad theater productions. I've been playing flute and piccolo for half my life, and picked up the sax and clarinet not too long ago. I have just recently played my first doubling book for Seussical (reed I) and am working on developing my clarinet skills so that I can do a really good job on the part for Into the Woods. As of now, I am decent at all the flutes, Bb clarinet, and alto and tenor saxes. Anyways, it's nice to find a doublers forum!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike S.
Date: 2007-02-13 15:47
I'm Mike, and I'm a sophomre in high school. But, I've been playing piano for 11 years, and after struggling with strings(violin and cello in 5th and 6th grades) I got my alto in 7th grade. i then picked up clarinet and flute in 7th grade as well. Then in 8th grade I got rid of my clarinet, and persuaded my parents to get me a tenor for my b-day. I struggled to find a clarinet at the time and ended up w/ a crappy Bundy that actually played. I also received a metal clarinet that I am currently working on right now. Now I have 2 awesome clarinet I proudly call my own(my LeBlanc and my Selmer) that work in addition to my crappy ones. Then 2 years ago, I played bass clarinet in my school's orchestra, and thought it was ok, but switched to bassoon and played that last year in orchestra since I couldn't (obviously) play alto or tenor for orchestra. I also picked up a piccolo and oboe this year and they are a blast! I was able to put my oboe skills to the test last semester by playing the oboe I parts for my orchestra's yearly Nutcracker performance(not the whole thing, but a few songs) and playing the bass clarinet solos for Dance of the Sugar plum fairies as well as Bb clar. somewhere in there. Last year our school did Music Man and since we didn't have the best arrangement of reed book players, I ended up playing alto (for the Eb clar. parts), oboe, clarinet, flute, and almost had to do picc. but we didn't do the last song(picc. Reed 4?) Now we're doing the Pink Panther(not as a musical), and I'm in charge of putting together all the music and playing all of it by myself(Piano and maybe alto). I also play organ( Hammond M3 all the way)! It's nice to have a doubler's forum!
-Mike
Recorders(SSAT), piccolo/flute/alto flute, oboe, clarinets(Eb/Bb/bass), saxophones(SATB)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Elkwoman46
Date: 2007-02-15 18:01
Hello! I did not have the opportunity to play school band much (lack of an instrument), but my love for instruments has never stopped. I have played a number of instruments and still do. I guess my summation of my experience, is that I just love making different and beautiful sounds. To avoid quite of list of all that I have done, I'll just mention that recently I "re-started" playing the piccolo and the clarinet; and am enjoying it so very much.
I have learned a lot musically, so it takes me even further than I have ever been. I am so happy for you all that have had such great successes in your music. I am totally thrilled for you all. And to those above who dusted off or gotten replacement instruments, I certainly identify with you. Music is such a beautiful thing. I am having the time of my life. One of my dreams is to be in an orchestra.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Burt
Date: 2007-02-17 17:40
Hi -
I'm Burt Marks, a Richardson TX resident soon to retire and move to central VA. So I'll need to find new groups to join. I'm a physicist by education, but studied music part-time 2000-2005 at University of North Texas.
Bb clarinet
Eb clarinet (high school)
Bass clarinet (UNT)
Alto, tenor and bari sax
Piano (required for all UNT music students)
I also played trombone for a year (age 11-12) but didn't like it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
