 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-05-17 16:12
Hello
Just curious to see if there are any Brass Doublers out there, and if so what do you play??? Have you been able to use your brass double at all (i.e. pit orchestra, music education, et al.), or is it strictly for your own personal enjoyment??? Thanks!!!
Clayton
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-05-17 16:18
Guess I could start it off. I am a (well...was a) high school senior. I play clarinet, trombone, and euphonium. I play in a local semi-pro pit orchestra (both clarinet and trombone), and held principal positions on all three instruments in the high school performing ensembles. I'll be entering college in the fall (full-ride BABY!!!) where I will probably double major in either Psychology or Computer-Informaion Systems and Music.
Clayton
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2006-06-14 23:57
I used to play trombone and clarinet and bass clarinet in high school. Different ensembles. That was more than 25 years ago now (Yikes! Does that mean I'm old?! ;-) ) I managed to do pretty well.
Nowadays, I play in a church orchestra - clarinet and alto sax and a flute choir - regular c flute.
Congrats on your college scholarships! There is a field now called Music Therapy, which may be something for you to consider as well.
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2006-06-15 12:50
Even though I appreciate those who have successfully played both brass and woodwind instruments without destroying the more delicate of embouchres, namely those needed for any of the woodwinds, my thought has been that there are enough brass players around, but not a lot of folks (particularly at the community theater and other amatuer levels) that can play well on 2 or 3 or more woodwinds. I have so much fun playing my alto and tenor saxes, B-flat clarinet and C flute that I can't imagine adding a brass instrument. I would like a soprano sax and perhaps a piccolo abd maybe even a bass clarinet and alto flute, but that would be the limit. I barely have time to keep up to my standards on the 4 that I have. I work 40+ hours a week as a database developer.
Again, just my opinion.
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-06-18 16:54
rcnelson
You said "without destroying the more delicate of embouch(u)res namely those needed for any of the woodwinds"
I beg to differ. Isn't it brass players who must worry about embouchure fatigue and are generally not capable of playing for sustained periods without a break (when put up against their woodwind playing comrades). And isn't it brass players who must "warm-down" after a practice session or concert in order to preserve their lip and in effect "save" their embouchures (so that recovery time is cut to a bare minimum).
Now please correct me if I am wrong, but woodwind players generally do not require a "warm-down" period to save their embouchures, consistant daily or near-daily practice seems to take care of that (and might I add that consistant practice is required of all instruments both woodwind and brass).
So, in actuality, the most delicate embouchures would be those used to play brass, not woodwind instruments.
Just my opinion
Clayton
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2006-06-24 00:11
Good thoughts Clayton, and well-expressed. I tend to agree with you. It seems the trumpet players and sometimes french horn (tiny mouthpieces) experience more fatigue from what I've seen in our orchestra. The lower brass doesn't seem to have quite the same issues from what I have observed.
I am of the opinion that if you spend adequate time practicing any instrument you intend to play, you should be able to develop the embochure needed without destroying another. I know there are camps on both sides of this opinion and that is fine. There is room in the world for all of us.
I personally don't play the trombone now, because of time limitations (I work full time as well) and the other instruments keep me quite busy enough. I may go to larger clarinets or saxes over time.
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2006-06-25 23:24
I agree that brass players do have to worry more about fatigue than woodwind players. And each of us are individuals. What will affect one wil not affect another. It's just my opinion that you would have to work much harder on the woodwinds if you mix a brass instrument (or 2) in with it to keep the"chops" in shape.
Just my opinion. As always, a good debate is healthy with subjects like this.
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Author: nickles8189
Date: 2006-09-02 16:39
i'm a doubler many times over. all the woodwinds, plus trumpet, a teeny bit of trombone (i can play star wars almost-up-to-tempo, but that's about it), and i'm teaching myself french horn. yes, i chose the hardest brass instrument to teach myself. well, it was moreso because my band director was lazy and wouldn't teach me himself, so i just took one home for the summer and grabbed the beginner rubank book and just started. but then at work the other day (i work at a music store), i was playing the euphonium while reading a trumpet book (cuz if you play it in treble clef then it's in the same key as trumpet, but then when you play it in bass clef it's a different key and different fingerings).
i only really play trumpet in a brass ensemble after school. my band director (our other one, not the one that wouldn't teach me french horn, but the one rather who let me take out a french horn to teach myself because the first one wouldn't even let me do that much), wants me to continue improving on trumpet instead of switching over to french horn entirely for that ensemble. makes sense too, now that i have like, four trumpets (i'm a little ebay obsessed...)
so anyway, i guess i'd say that the whole doubling aspect is more for my personal enjoyment. but then again, i'm still in high school, so there aren't really those kind of "job opportunities" available to me yet where doubling on brass might be good. though i might end up doubling in pit orchestra this year, i just dunno on what instrument (probably woodwinds).
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-09-03 03:38
Nickles
That is quite impressive!!!
I am not aware of any brass doubling in pit orchestras other than Trumpet-Fluglehorn, and Trombone-Euphonium-possible Tuba. Mostly, in my experience, doubling only occurs in the woodwind books. One VERY useful resource is Bret's Doubling Website. There is a link somewhere on this forum. It is an amazing resource for doublers. Try doing a search!!!
Clayton
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2006-09-13 15:34
I would like to adjust my comments from 6/25...playing a brass instrument for me personally would be woodwind embouchure suicide. I applaud those are can play both without any issues.
I agree with ClariTone/Clayton that Bret's Doubling web pages are terrific. One resource I would consult that can be found under Bret's pages would be the Larry Krantz comments on doubling. For Larry, he eventually gave up every thing but flute. And from that point of view, even the other woodwinds can affect the flute embouchure. You can maintain a good sound on the flute, BUT it takes an enormous effort. Personally, I can leave the saxes and clarinet go for days, but just a few days away from the flute and I notice the difference in the sound.
Again, congrats to those who play both brass and woodwinds and can play both with an acceptable tone.
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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Author: BassClarinet21
Date: 2006-11-01 11:51
Yeah I play Eb clarinet, Bb clarinet, Bb bass clarinet, and Bb trumpet.
I acctually feel trumpet to be very easy. If you want to be a little familiar with brass trumpet is probably a good easy instrument to take-up.
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2006-11-30 02:13
I play all the woodwinds and brass, but have specialized in woodwind doubling all my life with almost no brass gigs. But a few years ago I was doing Annie and they needed someone to play the trombone part, so I volunteered. It took a lot of practice, but I pulled it off--even bought a mute for a few of the songs! So I ended up playing alto, soprano, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, and trombone in that pit.
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Author: JasonOlney
Date: 2006-12-24 18:57
I play Clarinet and eb clarinet and sax (I ended up rotating through all of them during my gigging sax quartet years) and also Bass Clarinet in a local rock band. (Very cool band, see us on myspace: Toast) In my senior year of High School I started playing trumpet. We didn't have enough trumpet players that semester for jazz band and whatnot so I picked it up. I ended up being the only one with the high chops to cover the lead part.
Now, in college, I play in more ensembles one trumpet than I do on Clarinet. I still study clarinet and am working my way through the ranks, but I pay for rent and clarinet lessons with trumpet gigs. I play in the Marching Band for a very nice scholarship and I hold the solo seat in our Jazz Band. I gig with a local Mariachi group and front my own jazz combo.
There is no concern with damaging your embouchre when doubling, if you play everything correctly. I actually find that because of my well-developed clarinet muscles my trumpet muscles last longer than the other guys. Look at James Morrison (The australian prodigy), he plays trumpet, sax, horn, flute, trombone, etc.
Post Edited (2006-12-24 18:59)
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2025-12-15 23:08
JUST found this bulletin board....have been on the clarinet board for years. i'm a double in that I can play all of the woodwinds...and have most of them at home. I've been collecting a LONG time....so no, I'm not in high school or college any longer. I'm MUST closer to retirement. I started on Piano....Sax was first woodwind....I started bassoon in High school with a private instructor. Taught myself clarinet. Added Flute and Oboe in College in a woodwinds course....played percussion in marching band and percussion ensemble....then took a Brass 1 course and took Horn. I STILL play woodwinds....I'm very useful on Reed 3, 4, or 5. Also very useful in a clarinet choir as I have an Eb Contra Alto and Bb Contra Bass Clarinet. Some inheritance money added a Contrabassoon to my aresenal. I played Horn exclusively in Bands for several years in the early 2000's. A car wreck in 2005 and the resultant damage to my eye socket, nose, and jaw, eventually made me stop playing Horn in 2011. 2024, dental surgery to remove all remaining teeth....and get full dentures top and bottom....and I was able to pick up a Horn again. I'd sold my Conn 8D, thinking I'd never be able to play again and it was too good to just sit in a case and get tarnished. How I MISS that Horn now. But in 2024, I was able to get a fantastic used Conn 6D that I truly love to play. That little Horn can hang in there with any section I'm in so far....and I LOVE me some 4th Horn parts!!! (Eternal Father, Strong to Save is back on my bucket list!!!!) I DO still play woodwinds....and am actually going to play a concert tonight covering bassoon for a bandmate that is sick while handling some of my 4th Horn parts as well. I must admit, I'm rather a site....sitting there holding/playing a Horn...with my bassoon on it's seat strap, sticking up in the air... Honestly, if you CAN double....DO IT!!! The more versatile you are, the more gigs you can get. I just wish I'd never had to give up Horn when I did due to that car wreck....but am VERY grateful for being able to play it again. Horn isn't my first instrument....but man, did I MISS playing that thing....I don't care if it's the most difficult brass instrument....the sound is worth it. Good brass choir and a good Horn section.....I'm all set.
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