The Fingering Forum
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Author: weirdo
Date: 2003-03-05 01:11
Okay, i don't know how many of u are in or have been in marching band, but i need advice. I have played the clarinet for almost five years, and began playing the tenor sax last fall. I have to decide which instrument to play in marching band, but i don't know what to do.
I really like the idea of being in the tenor section because it's smaller, and with clarinets i'd just be one out of about 28. i really need some advice. i've gone back and forth on what i want to do. Several of my older brother's friends play tenor, and really want me to do that, but a few of my friends play clarinet. Not to mention the fact that the clarinet is much smaller and easier to handle.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Author: Steven King
Date: 2003-03-05 01:54
If you are one of 28 clarinets and tenor section is smaller deffinetly play tenor.
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2003-03-05 06:42
deciding what to play must first suite your intention.
i am a clarinet player so i would definitely take clarinet no matter how many players there are in the section.
how about thinking of the band as first priority? do they need so many players in the section? are you good enough yet to play tenor in the section? does the tenor section need support?
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2003-03-05 07:26
DO you own your own clarinet? If you play tenor in the band, will you be able to continue practicing the clarinet? It is very important that you don't stop playing the clarinet, because you will lose the ability without practice. If you've given five years of your life to learning it, you should not throw this away. If you can continue practicing the clarinet while playing tenor in the band, then by all means do it.
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2003-03-05 12:43
Im in a marching band, with a clarinet! ours is small(only 50 members) but i can still relate. i'd choose whichever one you can play the best and sound better. but if your playing first parts i'd deffinetly stay as clarinet. but if you're getting bored with it might as well switch. also, take in the situation with your band. is there a lot of low parts(tenor, bass clarinet) in your band, if there isn't, go for it and help out. does your band have this rule? you have to have played your instrument or a year before you can go into the band. its always great to learn a sax because you can get into all kinds of jazz bands! and sense being one of 28, they can easily hold there own if you leave, it's not like it's a complete lose. well have fun marching on whatever instrument you pick.
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Author: Saxplaya
Date: 2003-03-06 00:03
Well of course if u look at my screen name...its screaming go for the sax. But im not going to say that. If there are balance issues u should do it for the good of the band like i did last fall...i played alto and there were many of us and balance was way off so me and my friend switched to tenor. This decision is up to you though.
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Author: Nick
Date: 2003-03-07 19:25
Well, i have faced a similar problem, but not with marching band, i had to choose between being 1 of about 40 flute players or the only bassoonist, of course i had the advantage of being different with both, it was be the only guy to play the flute, or be the only bassoonist, so what i did was decide to play flute for the first half of the year while taking private bassoon lessons, once i got confident with the bassoon, i told my band teacher to throw me into the ring with 2 tubas and 3 baritones, and he said if you want to switch back tell me, but i would rather you stay with the bass section because 1. they suck and 2. there is only 5 of them
so finally this year i got tired of bassoon and there is someone to take my place, although shes in 6th grade and isnt the best player in the world, i decided to try soprano sax. but i am still the star bassoonist in my band!
so to answer your question... BE DIFFERENT!
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