Have any of you out there in the marching band world had to teach a freshman bass clarinet marching basics and the like? I`m just curious to hear about experiences and difficulties if you have any.

I didn`t realize they had bass clarinets in marching band...

Really? Maybe it`s just a southern Indiana thing, then, because nearly every marching band with more than sixty or so students has one or two bass clarinets here. It`s really quite fun-except for the whole body building thing... It takes a lot of back muscle to march a bass clarinet. And movement`s sort of limited, but it`s a whole lot of laughs anyway.

my marching band of 350 has about 6 or 7 bass clarinetists. its different to teach bass clarinet marching than Bb just because of the size. Having to manuever differently makes it harder. Making it so the player feels comfortable with an instrument that size, it not hard. After they get used to that, its basically like teaching anyone how to march.

i just went to an orientation for marching band and i brought my bass. i think its really cool. kinda hard but i think anyone could do it. really fun. the band directors LOVE you if you play bass! Anyway, my marching band does have 1, (ME!) and i love it, so give it a try.

Oh, this will be my second season on it after having to have switched to b-flat last year. I was wondering about teaching because there was a chance that I would be instructing a younger player all by myself. However, I believe he has decided not to march. Thanks for your help anyway!