[jdj52]

Hi
I have a wind ensemble audition in a week from monday and just picked up bass clarinet I know all the fingerings but how do i enhance my reading to play at a higher level. Also how should I position my embouchure for higher notes above the break? And a double how do I successfully keep my alto jazz chops up, maintain my soprano playing, and classical bari playing? Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Justin

 

[jicaino]

log in 90% of your sheddin hours on the bass clarinet and all your saxophones will sound as if you went ballistic on shedding on them. Loose that lower jaw and don't push the air in the clarion register on the bass clarinet. Hear the note and sing it before playing it. THen play it. Make sure the bass clarinet is sealing, if it ain't sealing the lower octave will work OK but the clarion will be almost impossible to play. Anyway it will be almost impossible to play if you bite and push...

Welcome to the bass clarinet, a fine instrument that will make you improve more than you'd ever think.

 

[jdj52]

What do you mean by shedding? Like improvising with aebersold tracks and just jamming to improve my feel of the instrument?
Thanks

 

[sandster]

I think the "shedding" would be technical clarinet exercises, scales, thirds etc. Then, maybe a little free time on the Aebersold. My $.02.

 

[jdj52]

Okay thanks just checking. How would long tones do in tone production for me?

 

[eugeneherman]

+100 jicaino... you can blow a sax 'and' you can play a sax... you need to 'play/sing' a clarinet... And 'shedding' is getting honest working on the things that are the hardest to do...

 

[jicaino]

yes, sheddin would be spending quality time with the instrument, not rushing to deadlines about finger excersises, rather spending the time in getting the bass clarinet to produce a full, live, nice tone. Long tones would be of more service than pattern studying in the long term. Aebersold is nice, Band in a Box too, but you need to focus on technical aspects like tone quality, coherence between registers, coeherence of the throat notes vs. upper and lower register, proper voicing... etc.

 

[jdj52]

How do you think I can improve reading as if I am playing clarinet?

 

[jicaino]

sorry don't understand that question... ?

 

[jdj52]

Because all the fingerings are different well most of them, how to I get used to reading with different fingerings?
Thanks Justin

 

[bandmommy]

How did you improve your reading as if playing saxophone?
You sit with the clarinet, put music in front of you, and you play it.
Same concept, different instrument.

 

[tictactux]

...and to make it a bit easier in the beginning, take some familiar sax repertoire piece (you already have it in your ear) and play it on clarinet. You still do sight-reading, but you get more immediate feedback if you finger something wrong.

"Teach yourself bass clarinet in 10 days" is a book that's still waiting to be written... ;-)

 

[Noshow]

I'd just like to confirm jicaino's messge from May 12th. Improving tone and intonation in bass clarinet's clarion register opens up everything, making any sax a better friend. (I have been working that way several years...)

 

[Gandalfe]

Consider practicing octave jumps too. So in addition to long tones, soft to loud to soft done over 8 beats with a tuner in front of you, attempt to play C to the octave up C and back. Then move to D. If you can't voice the clarion range, which is very common with new bass clarinet players, see your music instructor, especially if that person is a clarinet player. Good luck. Tell us how you are doing.