Klarinet Archive - Posting 000258.txt from 1997/02

From: Steve Cole <vr08@-----.com>
Subj: Progress - I think!
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 04:27:12 -0500

Remember me? I'm the guy who had a clarinet for Christmas. Well, I
think I'm making progress because last night it sounded even more
dreadful than the night before. So somewhere along the line there must
have been a slight improvement since Christmas day.

For any other complete novices here is a brief update on experiences so
far, and two pieces of advice - 1) take lessons from a clarinet teacher,
and 2)leave your pride at home. I know that may sound obvious but there
is so much to learn that just can't be gained by reading books, and any
embarassment about knowing nothing is very rapidly forgotten - there is
just too much to concentrate on for any other thoughts to come into your
head. On my first lesson, after fifteen minutes, my teacher had me
"playing" very simple tunes, sight reading from the music. And I
couldn't even read music, let alone play the clarinet!

I've now had four lessons, and I'm up to "playing" tune no. 17,
Buttercup, in the kids book Abracadabra Clarinet. I picked this book up
in a music shop during the Christmas hols and put it down again straight
away because it didn't have a complete picture of the clarinet on the
first page with a sign saying blow in this end.

On one momentous occassion during my last -sorry, most recent,- lesson
the first four bars of When the Saints ... almost sounded like music!

So there we are - very early days and a long, long way to go, but all the
more fun because I *have* gone to a teacher. Mind you, I haven't heard
her play yet and there is a mysterious absence of anything clarinet
shaped in her house - only a well worn violin case. I wonder....:-)

Best regards to all.

Steve