 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Debbie
Date: 1999-09-29 18:16
Years ago I played the clarinet for 7 years while in school. I enjoyed it but never continued. I often find myself regretting this and have been thinking starting up again even though I am 48. Any suggestions where to start, what instrument to invest in, etc. Any encouragement?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-09-29 19:07
As with Nike, Just Do It! As many others will tell you, a community band is a great place to regain lost skills. As to cl's, I'd suggest investing in a good used pro-intermediate horn, LeBlancs and Selmers go for a bit less than Buffets, look on EBAY - clarinet to get a feel of prices, in an auction setting, however! In music stores there are trade-ins going for very reasonable prices, an excellent 50's Selmer for $3-400 in Tulsa, if I didnt already have one, I'd dicker! Best wisher, Don
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Author: ron
Date: 1999-09-29 21:21
Hi, Debbie!
You'll find lots of company here, a great supportive bunch of real nice folks. Many who visit this BB are, like me, 'beginning again'. I dropped out for thirty years and took up the horn again when I retired. I'm 65 now. So, it's never too late to have some fun! If you enjoyed it before it's a pretty sure bet you'll like it even more now. Sounds like you have a very good background with seven years to your credit. You probably'll do fine just getting a good horn that plays well... nothing worse than an instrument out of adjustment -- then go after it.
Another well wisher,
Ron
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Author: Drew
Date: 1999-09-29 23:43
Debbie:
I'd have to second Don's response. At 45 years young I "restarted" after a 25 year layoff about 6 months ago. Fortunately I had my old high school Selmer horn to get me started. A few months later if tried out a Leblanc L70 (a pro-grade horn), fell in love and purchased it. After a few weeks of practice and doing pushups with my lip, joined a local community band and got drafted into a clarinet choir later.
I played regularly for 9 years while growing up, so I had some good training to draw on. Surprisingly, it comes back pretty fast.
Just DO it!
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Author: Steve
Date: 1999-09-30 02:41
I played clarinet for 8 years, then quit after high school. 20 years later, my kids started playing piano, so I decided to begin playing my horn, again. (I believe my playing also has the benefit of showing them that we think music is important. After all, Daddy's doing it, too!)
I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I purchased a used Yamaha 34 for about $300. I also picked up a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece from WW&BW.
What really made the difference, though, was going to a tutor. Having a knowledgeable person who helped me to correct my jaw and lip positioning on the mouthpiece has made a world of difference in my playing. What a boost in confidence! I'm looking into a local community band that is just forming. It should be a blast.
So, yes, starting over is worth it. If you can afford a top-quality instrument and feel you're going to stick with it, then get one. It isn't a must, though.
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Author: Mark Weinstein
Date: 1999-10-01 03:50
I am 47. Started over after 27 or 28 years. Didn't know it could be this much fun. Didn't even know there was THAT much to learn. In grade schhol I had a nice teacher, friendly and helpful ... spoon fed me. NOW, I have a Pro in every sense of the word (she is nice, too) she ;s leading me on a "classic" approach. Baermann 3, Scales, Etudes, & always working on a piece. Figure this might help keep me out of Hades. Good luck.
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 1999-10-01 12:07
Debbie, go for it. I am 62 and have started from scratch, with a good teacher, basic plastic instrument, Greg Smith mouthpiece, and a bit of determination to succeed. I am having an absolute ball learning and improving. At 48 you are still a spring chicken with lots of time ahead. Karel.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-10-01 13:59
Karel Vahala wrote:
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Debbie, go for it. I am 62 and have started from scratch, with a good teacher, basic plastic instrument, Greg Smith mouthpiece, and a bit of determination to succeed. I am having an absolute ball learning and improving. At 48 you are still a spring chicken with lots of time ahead.
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Karel - my sentiments exactly! I started "from scratch" almost 3 years ago with a Vito. I'm 45 now, and glad I started. I have a 10G now (my son's old one).
BTW - I started this Web site (actually took over a much smaller one) a year _before_ I started playing. It was the encouragement of people like you who got me interested in actually trying to learn to play clarinet.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-10-01 21:16
Welcome to the crowd! Great idea to start over. I started over, too, when I was over 40, with my intermediate-quality 1958 Conn. I bought a better clarinet after I was sure I'd stick with the instrument. Am I glad I did! IMHO, kids learn faster, but adults have more patience and tend to approach practice more systematically, so I think the advantages and disadvantages balance out.
Watch out, though. One thing can lead to another. Or a whole lot of others. Playing the Bb clarinet makes such a convenient starting place for bigger clarinets, smaller clarinets, saxophones....
Best of luck!
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Author: Debbie
Date: 1999-10-04 23:03
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement - I looking for a new clarinet and hope to get started soon.!
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