[Dixielandjazz] Another one gone...Brian Shanley.

[Charlie Hooks]

on 5/31/02 10:02 AM, JimDBB@aol.com at JimDBB@aol.com wrote:

He was convinced that, though the Albert system was harder to play, the
Albert clarinets had a bigger sound.


   He was right about both--if you go from the Boehm TO the Albert as an
adult.  But if you start on the Albert (as I did), it's no harder
than--well--than learning to play clarinet!   And some of the Albert
fingering series (the above staff B, C, Db, D, Eb) are much simpler than on
the Boehm.  Once you get used to the right hand F-F# sequence, you're in
good shape; but there's no question these take some practice.

   I switched to Boehm at age 14 and now wish I had not.  I own a very fine
playing Eb Albert--and can't play the damned thing without a week's
practice, if then!  Must be like learning, say, Hungarian: simplicity for a
2 year old; murder for an adult!

Charlie