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 Re: Have not played in 40 years!
Author: kevinbarry 
Date:   2014-12-15 13:46

My story is similar - teenage player, worked up to 1st clarinet in the King's Dragoon Guards, then gigged around for a few years - and stopped! I am now 77 and took up the clarinet once more a couple of years ago.

My first purchase was a second hand Buffet B12 on that well known auction site - it was in good nick and I still have it. This was inexpensive and my thinking was "What if I am past it and waste my money? I'll go for a good beginner's cheapo". I decided I was not past it and I should move upmarket a bit.

I then bought a Yamaha 625, all wooden, and a very nice instrument indeed. I got this secondhand on a site in the UK called "Preloved". it was heavier than the B12 and my thumb got too sore so it became time for a rethink. Without the thumb issue I would have stayed with this instrument - it is very good.

Finally I bought a brand new Ridenour Lyric Libertas - the latest model. It was lighter than the Yamaha but marginally heavier than the B12. I fitted a Kooiman thumb rest which took care of the sore thumb problem. I am playing in a local concert band and insisted on starting on third. Frankly, I could play first (well more or less, I think!) but the existing first clarinet really is better than I am.

My major problem was not fingering or breath control but the discipline of keeping up, as the bars flashed past. Playing on my own I just stopped and did it again if a few bars were not all that good. In the band the darn piece just goes on at the same pace. Most challenging! I also found that coping with complicated rests and also counting long rest accurately were both more challenging than playing the melody line! Laboring on third is doing me good, I'm sure. Hope that story helps.

So in the end, I too am a Ridenour fan and highly recommend the Libertas.
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 Topics Author  Date
 Have not played in 40 years!  new
SusanSolo 2014-12-15 03:02 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
fskelley 2014-12-15 03:12 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
TomS 2014-12-15 03:32 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
kevinbarry 2014-12-15 13:46 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
Dibbs 2014-12-15 15:04 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
Buster Brown 2014-12-15 18:47 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
BartHx 2014-12-16 01:51 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
CarlT 2014-12-16 02:44 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
TomS 2014-12-16 02:57 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
Philip Caron 2014-12-16 03:21 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
Roxann 2014-12-16 03:37 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
BflatNH 2014-12-16 07:29 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
nellsonic 2014-12-16 08:52 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
GeorgeL 2014-12-16 18:57 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
Mcrill 2014-12-16 20:28 
 Re: Have not played in 40 years!  new
BartHx 2014-12-16 22:01 


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