Klarinet Archive - Posting 001297.txt from 1997/08

From: asano@-----.jp
Subj: How old is too old?
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 04:18:53 -0400

Hi. I am a 44 years old male who would like to start playing clarinet. I
learned to play violin as a beginner when I was 9 to 11 years old, and then
I played trumpet and trombone in a band when I was 12 to 15 years old,
although I did not try clarinet. Now at an age of 44, I started playing
violin again and really enjoy playing with my kids who are also beginners.
After nearly 30 years of the blank (as I devoted myself in science), I
would like to try them again, utilize and test my beginner's experiences
now. Now, sounds of clarinet enchant me more than those of trumpet and
trombone. Would anyone tell me how difficult it is to start learning
clarinet at the age of 44? How difficult is it to play clarinet to a
certain level at which one can enjoy himself in a home or play in a band,
as compared with violin, piano, etc? Is it possible to learn clarinet by
myself? To begin with, would you recommend to buy a cheapest wood clarinet
made by Yamaha, etc?

Yasu