can you major in bass clarinet performance?

Question

i used to be a flute player, and i just switched directly to bass clarinet, and i love it, and i'm good at it (if i do say so myself :] )

i've been looking at music schools and they offer just clarinet degrees, but i find it difficult to play the normal clarinet now that i'm used to the big instrument.

is it possible to just major in bass clarinet, and not just normal?

=(

Answer 1

When I was in conservatory as a clarinet major there was one guy in my year who had never played a soprano clarinet until he got there. His bass playing was PHENOMENAL. He was forced to learn soprano clarinet however as part of the clarinet performance degree.

Since then he's sold his bass clarinet and probably his sopranos as well and is working in an office somewhere because of the lack of music jobs and difficulty in getting the few there are.

If you are looking at a BA in music you might find a different scheme than I found at a conservatory (Bach. of Music) so be sure to research what you'll do after college adequately as well! Different schools may have a Bass major.

All the best to you!

Answer 2

There are very, very few pieces for symphony orchestra which include an alto clarinet part. For that reason, an orchestra won't have alto clarinet players on the rosters; their clarinet section players will double it if need be. All the professional clarinet players I know double soprano Eb, Bb and bass clarinets, and often saxophone as well. As a purely Eb alto player, you're not going to have an easy time finding work.

Answer 3

Very few programs will allow bass clarinet as the major instrument. You can major in clarinet and still be primarily a bass player but you'll have to learn the usual soprano repertoire.

I was a flute major and played bass and contra in the wind ensembles.

If you just went from flute to bass clarinet, considering adding saxes to your list of instruments and major in "woodwinds". This is very high demand in jazz and in show (pit orchestra) worlds.

Answer 4

Sure, why not? I'd contact the university band director that you are thinking of attending and talk to him/her and get their opinion. We had music majors that played bass clarinet predominantly but they did have to double on other instruments.

Answer 5

the normal clarinet is pretty much the same as the bass clarinet it just sounds different.
i used to play clarinet but then i switched to bass clarinet..it was the same thing