Klarinet Archive - Posting 000350.txt from 1996/02

From: Stan Elias <StanElias@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Mr. Holland
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 07:05:52 -0500

My first clarinet was a battered plastic instrument that was loaned to me by
the school. At the time, the Philadelphia school district also offered free
lessons on orchestral instruments. When I was seven years old my parents made
me the happiest kid on the planet by spending $175 that they didn't have to
buy me a new Paul Dupre clarinet. I knew it was a step up from what I was
playing because it was wood and the joint tenons were reinforced with metal
rings. I didn't care about the tone (adequate) or the intonation (terrible)
or the ease of playing (not bad). All I cared about was playing well enough
for the school orchestra.

To make a long story short, I played that clarinet from grade school through
grad school and beyond. My point is that if a kid has the passion, the
quality of the instrument is secondary to the experience of playing.

A trumpet player I once worked with said it best: making music is the most
fun you can have with your clothes on.