i played alto on an ensamble, and our school owns about 6 basses and 1 contra-which was used for one marching band show but is now in pretty bad shape... but anywho the alto was similar to sax which i also play, but ALOT harder. it took so much air and adjusting and an amazing embouchure.. goodness. but it was ok once i could get it. lets see in wind symphony theres 2 basses, symphonic theres 2, and in freshmen theres like 4. thats all i have i believe

I saw JoJo`s post, WOW!

30-40 soprano players? That`s about the number of players from my concert & marching bands combined. I feel kind of envious. I was in a high school with a music program that pretty much had one foot in the grave

My school starts people on a few bass clarinets and Bb clarinets, then when they get to the second semester of eighth grade, 1 person gets to play the contrabass clarinet.

My school owns about 4 bass clars., there are two of us basses, and I usually play contralto clar. in clar. choir, there`s 1 alto clar. player, and no contrabasses.

I think the ideal clarinet section in a band is:
2 Eb Sopranino Clars.
14 Bb Soprano Clars.
1 A Soprano Clar.
3 Eb Alto Clars.
2 Bb Bass Clars.
1 Contralto Clar.
1 Contrabass Clar.

That`s a 17:7 ratio, upper vs. lower woodwinds.

Yes, I know, that`s 24 clarinetists, but I have over that many playing Bb soprano at my school... It`s quite sad actually

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i am playing the alto clarinet for a song in band. i am having trouble play the higher register. does anyone know how the play anything above an F on the alto clainet?
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Embrochure. Also yes, check the screws, I`ve had issues with screws coming loose that made it difficult to play at times.

But you really need to play with your embrochure, it is difficult, but when you get used to it, it just clicks. When I first started playing, my alto would drop registers which was annoying to say the least, but having a steady air stream will help.

Also try different reeds. Older, dead or worn out reeds make it really difficult to maintain or even have a pretty tone.

In older, more traditional music like Mozart, there are often Alto Clarinet parts as the alto clarinet is being used to replace the bassett horn which was pretty popular in arrangements.

There`s a `dead` alto clarinet range from about the 60s-80s in which there`s usually no alto clarinet part. In current pop music and contemporary arrangements, there are alto clarinet parts, some varying in important and not just doubling up on another instrument

at my school(Prestwick Academy) there are roughly 4-6 people who play a Bb clarinet. i had never seen anyone play any other clarinets until i went to the ayrshire music festival for the second year, even at that there was only one bass clarinet out of the whole woodwind ensemble section

I`m thinking of taking up alto/bass clarinet - any tips. It looks like I`ll have to buy my own, & as altos are ALOT cheaper, I`ll probably have to go for that. How mcuh are both used, as I don`t want to stop playing soprano clarinet in the wind band I play in. Which is more fun to play, & what are the price ranges - is alto that much different from sop or bass. Any other info would be great!!

Had every type of clarinet in my band. I played contra bass all the way through college. Had a scholarship in college just to play the contrabass, loved it. Have been looking for one to buy but they sure do cost a lot.

I played an alto in Junior High. Hated it! Very difficult to get a sound out of it. Sorry ass part as far as the music went too. I was lower 3rd part on sop. so the director switched me and another not so good player. I talked my way into first band in HS (still don`t know how I did that), started private lessons, and went from almost last chair out of ~10-12 to 2nd chair by the time spring concert season was in full bloom. Director gave me the school`s Buffet to play at that point - what a diff from my Noblet!

In Junior and Senior High we had 2 bass clarinets also. Not sure what others though.

I don`t know why the schools in Gatineau(Québec) are on such a shortage of clarinets. Maybe it`s cause I`m thinking of the english schools!

Well... This is how it is around here: My junior high school had nothing more special than the Bb soprano clarinets, until a parent donated their bass clarinet to the school. How kind! No alto`s or anything lower than the bass clar. I was playing trombone till I came across alto clarinets on the internet. I started playing it in grade 9, but I had to rent my own monthly... because my high school only has about 17 Bb sopranos and a broken bass clar.. So now I have my own alto clari and I am annoyed by the lack of parts for it! I don`t like playing the alto sax parts, because once in a while, it goes uncomfortably high, like the song Gagliarda. that`s all.