Klarinet Archive - Posting 000007.txt from 1997/09

From: deerich@-----.net
Subj: Re: How old is too old?
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 1997 09:58:52 -0400

As others have said, you are never too old. My husband took up the
saxophone at the age of 46. Even though he had played drums
professionally in a country western band, he had never been able to read
music. Now he can read music and sight read many of the tunes that he
is interested in.

Since you already have a background in music, it is more learning the
mechanics of producing notes on the clarinet and practicing until you
have the automatic connection between seeing and playing the note. I
knew of one man who was able to join the Decatur, IL municipal band
after 6 months (not sure how old he was but definitely over 40). I am
guessing that you could do the same in anywhere from 6 months to 2
years.

My husband and I have come to the conclusions that if it makes you
happy, it is always worth it even if all you can ever play is "Mary Had
A Little Lamb". You can never be too old if you enjoy it.

Let me plug my personal preference it clarinets. Leblanc makes some
fine beginner and intermediate wood clarinets in their Normandy and
Noblet lines. The Woodwind catalog has excellent prices on them and on
the Yamahas.

Dee & Richard Hays
Canton, SD
deerich@-----.net