Doubling in Concert Setting

[saxyclarinet]

One of the drummers (Ryan) came up to me a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I'd play in the orchestra for the fall musical. I said yes; I wanted to play in a musical at some point before I graduated, and this is my first and last opportunity. He called me last Saturday and confirmed I'd be reading the 2nd reed book, for 2nd clarinet, tenor sax, and 2nd flute. Ryan is having a problem finding a tenor sax player for this. I'm supposed to do clarinet, and only clarinet, but there is a large possibility I will have to play tenor on top of it. Our alto player doesn't own a tenor and can't do the doubling, so basically it's me if we can't find a tenor player.

I don't even know if this will work. I would absolutely love to do it if it's necessary and humanly possible. Given we don't have a real pit, I don't know if I'll have the room! I'm mostly worried about knocking the other two clarinet players out when I switch, and how I can keep two horns warm if I don't have the time to blow warm air through the new horn after I make the physical switch. Anyone who has any experience, give me a hand or point out a reference for me, if possible! Thank you!

[bariman]

During a community concert last year, I played bari, and doubled on alto (weird, huh?). There was a part where an alto sax soli occured with only percussion acc., and we needed more volume for the soli, so the director asked me to bring my alto, and to use it just for that. I had my own stand, and had the alto ready to go in front of me, to the right. The bari stand was directly to my right, so I stopped rolling out that awesome bass line for a few measures, and picked up the alto for a successful soli that sounded great...or so i'm told. The best way to make a smooth transaction is to have a different sax strap for each instrument, so there's no un-clipping. Anyway, have good organization, and make sure you reserve extra room.

Bariman

[bpimentel]

Hi saxyclarinet,

Don't panic. :)

Yes, it's humanly possible, and musicans do it all the time. A few tips:

1. Get a stand or stands for the instruments you will be using. They are worth the money because you will use them over and over again, and because they will save you stress in the concert and money in the repair shop.

2. To avoid knocking out the other clarinet players, choreograph the switch carefully, and practice it. Set up your stands the same way every time, and always make the switch in the same way: put the clarinet on the stand with the left hand, then grab the saxophone by the bell brace with the right hand, then clip on the neckstrap with the left hand... or whatever works for you--just be consistent.

3. Keep mouthpiece caps on the mouthpieces to help keep the reeds wet. Some of my mouthpiece caps have "ventilation" holes in them, which I have covered with tape to make the cap a little more airtight. Some people even attach a little piece of sponge inside the cap.

4. If you have some rests in your part, use them to blow some warm air in the other instrument(s). Mark these spots in your part so you remember during the concert. Also, know the tendencies of the instruments--for example, the tenor will probably get cold (and flat) while it's on the stand. When it's time to play, have the mouthpiece pushed in a little to compensate. As the instrument warms up, use a rest to pull the mouthpiece back out a little.

Good luck--
Bret

[Jeff]

Hey Saxyclarinet,

This is some of what doubling is all about!
The various reed books are actually written for just one player each. There may only be a couple of beats rest to make the changes sometimes, but with a bit of practice, you do get the hang of it. I agree with Brett about the stands, there really is too much danger of damage without them, and it makes the changes easier and faster. Plus, if you keep playing, you will get a lot of use out of them. As for the question of room in the "pit", think about how little space you will take up with three instruments on stands compared to two or three players with one or two instruments each.

If you get the chance to play the book by yourself, "Go for it!!"

Good luck, and have fun with it,

Jeff

[saxyclarinet]

Hi, guys -- thank you for all the advice! Looks like I'll be using it.

The first rehearsal was yesterday, and after comparing the books for Reed 1 and Reed 2, we found out that it isn't quite...uhm...intelligently done. Reed 2 isn't bad, it's for flute, tenor sax, and clarinet. Reed 1 is for flute, oboe, alto sax, and bass clarinet, with one or two things for clarinet in it. So my stand partner, who had Reed 1, is annoyed because now we have to make changes. I'm still playing Reed 2, and I think I will end up having to double because alto and tenor parts overlap so much that the alto player can't do both, period. Next Monday we should have this sorted out, and I'll know for sure if I am doubling.

I had to leave early, as my ride home was finishing this show he's in, so I missed the end of rehearsal, but as far as I know, it went swimmingly besides our little parts mishap. Oh, and we lost two musicians. The third clarinetist had to be let go because we don't even have the parts for two clarinets, and one of the trumpets quit, he's too "busy" (his girlfriend is a full-time job in herself). :roll:

[BrassaxMan5]

Just do it.
No, seriously, you should try it.

[SaxPlayer1004]

think doubling two is bad. in one concert setting here is wat i did
bassoon
alto sax
tenor sax
bari sax
clarinet
bass clarinet
tuba

try doing that w.o stands for anything except alto tenor and Bb. but it completely possible. the intsruments will stay warm for about half an hour as long as you are playing, when they say getting the instrument warm, about 90 percent of it is you. you need to get your chops loose and fingers warm, and the other 10 percent is the reed, which will stay wet. when ur done playing and as you pick it up, take the spit in ur mouth, blow it into the mouthpiece (careful not to get it in the neck) and suck it back out, this will get the reed wet quickly, but make sure you get it all out because itll sound raspy if you don't. in musicals i usually play tenor bari sax flute bass clarinet and Bb clarinet. so it is humanly possible. invest in a good sax stand. you can either get a double (which i have and recommend) you can put a watch on the second sax peg. konig and meyer makes the best stand under 100 bucks (saxrax is first but theyre wicked expensive) and it comes with a clarinet peg, and the sax things are convertible for alto and tenor. this keeps the instruments upright (drains spit, and saves floor space) and stable as opposed to being in their cases.
http://www.wwbw.com/Konig-and-Meyer-Double-Saxophone-Stand-i79723.music for the stand
http://www.wwbw.com/Konig-and-Meyer-Peg-Holder-for-Saxophone-Stands-i126555.music peg adapter

and i cant find the link for a peg. or you can go to your music shop and have em order a belmonte double stand which comes with two pegs for flute/clarinet.
thats always an option.

[saxyclarinet]

Hey, all, looks like I'm gonna be doubling! Just for one song, though. It's called "Midnight Riding", and it has rather dirty lyrics for a high-school play, if you ask me. The clarinet, flute, oboe, and bass clarinet are all on a major tacet for this tune, so it's just brass and alto/tenor saxes. The sax player is doing almost all tenor for the rest of the songs, but this song has a major alto part that he has to play. I took over tenor for him. Other than this, I am on clarinet.

I gotta go shopping for a sax/clarinet stand. :roll: