Random clarinet talk

[Fotogravinnetje]

I'm missing a topic where you can post things you want to share, but don't really need their own topic. So I figured I might as well start such a topic myself.

I'm so excited! Last Tuesday we got the chance to tell if we were happy with our place in the orchestra or if we had wishes to change. I said I was happy to keep playing third clarinet, but would like to play second clarinet. Both completely fine with me. One of the other third clarinetists had that same feeling. Next Tuesday we will be starting with an all new set list. Today I got the message I can change to second! That's a confidence boost :D I'm really looking forward to this new challenge. Not quite sure I'm at the same level yet as the others on second, but confident I'll be catching up rather soon. My progression since I picked up my clarinet about 16 months ago doesn't seem to slow down yet and might even get another boost now

[Fotogravinnetje]

Well, my adventure as 2nd clarinetist was cut short. One of our 3rd clarinetists suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. We, the other clarinetists of the group, played Air on the G string of Bach at her funeral.
To balance things out I'm back to 3 for now

[DaveLeBlanc]

So my method to get first chair for the past 20 years has been to play the one thing nobody else played. In middle and high school it was bass clarinet. In college it was alto or contra alto, and in grad school it was contra alto as well. Apparently nobody in the greater Los Angeles area owned a contra alto clarinet so I found myself on tap for a variety of recitals, composition theses, and other random performances.

For a year or two it was great to be the "go to" big clarinet guy!

[Cschimandle]

I played bass clarinet for The Nutcracker one year, and now every time I hear the music I annoy everyone around me by saying "ooh! The bass clarinet solo is coming up!"  Then I sing along with it. All four bars.