Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-04 04:16
My name is Rebecca and I'm a high school clarinet player from Minnesota (it's great to see a few U of M amlumus out there- Go Gophers!).
The only instrument I own is a Yamaha 20, who, despite a few scratches, is in excellent condition. I play on a Clark Fobes Debut (formerly, as in just a few days ago, a Rico Royal B5- which is now a nice looking paper weight) mouthpiece, and gonzalaz 3 1/2 (sometimes 3 1/4) reeds. I play co-first clarinet in marching band and pep band, and will sadly have to give my marching spot up next year- but its on to bigger and better things- Majorette, here I come (at least, I told my band director that I didn't want it this year when the band was trying to peer pressure me into the spot, and I said I would do it as a senior). This clarinet is fondly refered to as Clarence (all of my clarinets, and many other peoples instruments were named in a small bout of extreme boredom during this years MN FFA State Band).
My primary instrument is an older, school owned Selmer Bass Clarinet, "Clarissa". I play on a Hite professional bass cl mouthpeice that my band director got me when my other one BROKE- (aka- someone else cracked the cork end, glued it back together, and many years later the horrible mouthpiece finally snapped) and Gonzalaz #3 reeds. This is really my favorite clarinet ever, it has great tone and with the help of my mouthpiece, reaches the upper register and far into the altissimo without much trouble. I got a Superior rating at contest last year with bass, playing Alfred Reed's "Guaracha"- an excellent Grade 3 piece that was a lot of fun to play- and I haven't picked a solo piece yet, open to suggestions!
I also play a Vito Alto clarinet- "Alexi the Alto" this one was dubbed. A great instrument in excellent condition. I'll be playing this one at Solo and Ensemble to "Serenata" by Alfred Reed. I play a Vito mouthpiece and LaVoz 2.5 reeds.
I play the tenor saxophone in Jazz Band- second chair of 3, but to a very good first chair player and soloist, who's main instrument is tenor. "Teddy" the tenor is a quirky old guy, but really has a good sound for being as dinged up as he is. We recently had our winter concert- playing Still, Still, Still (slow...) and Jingle Bell Boogie (a fun, upbeat piece). NO SLEIGH RIDE this year! Who-hoo! (we got it last year though, playing with the Chior... 2 clarinets, 2 trombones, 3 trumpets and a drumbset totally drowned out the chior, and we were actually trying to play at about ppp...). To tell the truth, I don't know the brand of my mouthpiece and I use a bass clarinet reed at the moment...
There's also a little Eb I pull out from time to time, as I feel bad that is sits in the band room with no one to play it, I might try to get "Two Dances" from the nutcracker polished up for contest with my Eb.
Besides for band, other things about me- I'm a diehard Minnesota Gophers and Vikings fan, I'm in 4-H, FFA, Knowledge Bowl, on the Golf team, manager of Football, book keeper of boys basketball, writer's guild memeber, National Honor Society... um, I can probably come up with more.
I am a very active horse rider and show competitor, I have 3 horses, a pony, and two donkeys. I ride the SCSCA and WSCA circuits in minnesota and am getting into the AQHA.
Well, Cheers! and Happy New Year to everyone!
Becca
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