Is Writing an E Major Piece for a Bb Clarinet in 6 Sharps/Flats a Bad Practice?

The choice to score an E major piece for a Bb clarinet can indeed present significant challenges for the player, but not always as insurmountable as one might think.

Benefits of Using an A Clarinet

It's much easier on the player if the piece is given to an A clarinet instead. When a work is written in 'E' Concert E, it requires the Bb clarinet to transpose into the key of F. Conversely, if it's scored for an A clarinet, the piece is transposed to the key of G. This is a far more comfortable key for the player, especially when dealing with long runs and scales.

My Personal Experience and Perspective

I began my journey on the clarinet and later expanded my instrument repertoire to include saxophones and flutes. As many have noted, any serious or professional musician must be able to play confidently in all keys. While this can be challenging, it's a crucial skill that forms part of our toolkit.

My professional experience has involved playing with various groups, including rock, blues, folk, funk, RB, and pop. Much of this music originates from guitar players, so being proficient in keys like E, A, D, G, B, and more is imperative. Transposing while sight-reading and improvising is an essential ability that I consider a basic requirement.

One particularly formative experience came during lessons with Joe Daley, a renowned tenor sax jazz master. He tasked me with playing and improvising on the standard piece 'Misty' in the key of Eb. His final assignment, however, was to learn and improvise the piece in all twelve keys. It took me a month of rigorous practice to feel confident enough to handle his impromptu requests.

Key Considerations

The suitability of writing an E major piece for a Bb clarinet depends on the intended audience. For high school bands, it would generally be a bad practice as the majority of players have not yet mastered the necessary transposition skills. However, for professional musicians, this is a standard expectation and challenge.

Professional musicians are routinely expected to play fluently and accurately across all keys, and this capability is a fundamental aspect of their toolkit. Developing this skill ensures seamless collaboration and adaptation to diverse musical styles and genres.

In conclusion, while writing an E major piece for a Bb clarinet in a key that requires significant transposition can pose challenges, it is a skill that professional musicians are expected to have. Whether it is a bad practice depends on the intended use and the level of the intended performers.