Klarinet Archive - Posting 000102.txt from 1997/01

From: "Fogle, Bill" <bill.fogle@-----.com>
Subj: Re: New guy on the block!
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 13:50:53 -0500

It was written:

-->If there is anyone else in the same boat, I'd
-->like to swap stories and experiences. If there is anyone else who can
-->remember back as far as their first lesson, and has words of
-->encouragement and advice, I'd more than welcome it.

I started clarinet at age 33 when I found a (quite worthless) wooden
instrument for $65 at a flea market. The top joint was cracked and I pumped $
150 into the thing in repairs. I made a sly trade-in deal about 6 months
down the road and ended up with an old French clarinet by Leon Trotte (which
nobody has ever heard of). Well anyway, that clarinet put me on the road. It
made a beautiful, and I found addictive, noise. I was able to read music (
sorta) because of years of piano.

Then began for me a long period of loving the sound and playing 2 hours
after dinner EVERY night and wondering if I would ever play altissimo notes.
Then of course came the inevitable (get ready for it!): "Maybe it's my
mouthpiece/reed/barrel socket/clarinet?" Thousands of bucks down the road
here I can say (confidently!) that those do help, but it's that love of the *
sound* that makes you learn and causes you to grow and strengthen. Good luck
and best wishes! ------Bill Fogle.