 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ron Draddy
Date: 2001-05-02 20:49
Why did the adult beginners out there choose to play the clarinet?
I'm not so curious why youngsters chose the clarinet because often that decision was made for them by parents, band leaders, peer pressure or teachers and, as result, their decision to play the clarinet is often less thought out.
Did you make a decision to study the clarinet because of a favorite musician or piece of music? Did you choose it because in comparison to musical instruments the clarinet is one of the least expensive. Did you want an instrument that you could easily carry with you? Or did you choose the clarinet because of its supreme beauty and lusciousness of sound?
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-05-02 21:10
While I do not qualify as the adult beginner (starting at 12 in school), the reason I chose the clarinet was due to my familiarity with it through Macedonian dance bands. School or my parents had nothing to do with my choice of instrument.
Meri
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-05-02 21:47
As an adult beginner to musical intruments, about 12 years ago, I tried many, many different instruments. I may have chosen clarinet at that time, if I had the right setup. I chose the flute instead, and took lessons until I recently started clarinet.
Several months ago, I watched Woody Allen's Wild Man Blues. It inspired me to give the clarinet another try. Well, not quite. I did study the Sneezy board (searches), and learned about proper setups for beginners, and was also inspired by the helpfullness of Mark and others. Then when I rented a clarinet, with a good mouthpiece and proper strength reed, it was a piece of cake, and I was hooked.
I like playing a wooden instrument, vertical orientation is a plus, I like the feel of the embouchure, e.g., reed vibration and control of timber, experimenting with reeds and mouthpieces, etc. I now have four clarinets, several mouthpieces, a Reed Wizard and the PerfectaReed measuring device. The only thing I don't like is the fingering awkwardness of crossing-the-break/doesn't overblow an octave.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-05-02 22:21
'Cause when my son got rid of his plastic clarinet I kept it around. My wife told me to sell it or play it. I decided to try & play it.
1 clarinet later (the plastic one is sold - I got the Selmer 10G my son got rid of)
Still trying ...
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Author: Graham Golden
Date: 2001-05-02 22:38
Hey
i was 8 when i started, but i made a good decision!!!
i had played the piano for 3 years and was tired of it. The only other instruments i knew the names of were guitar, sax and clarinet. Guitar i didnt like, sax was to big, and clarinet i chose. im glad i did, took up saax later, but its not the same
Graham
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-05-02 22:38
I have an oral fixation and my violin strings kept getting stuck between my teeth.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-02 23:14
I've enjoyed listening to jazz most of my adult life and became particularly intrigued by the clarinet by listening to such notables as Benny G. & Pete F. Did you ever watch "Diagnoses Murder" with Dick Van Dyke (on TV)? There is a episode where he (Van Dyke) is playing (or simulating) a clarint, and the theme song for the show includes music from a clarinet. After seeing/hearing a few episodes of that I go old age crazy and said, "I gotta do that."
So at age 62, with no music education what so ever, I picked up a clarinet (last Sept.) and here I am. I found out too late that I could have selected something easier -- maybe the symbols or the triangle, or even a blade of grass between the thumbs (anyone ever do that?).
~ jerry
Still in Clarinet Boot Camp
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-05-02 23:39
for a student..
wanted to play the drums -- too loud
trumpet -- boy's instrument
i thought flute was for "girly" girls
so i ended up with a clarinet and have stuck it out ever since..
(but i have picked up some trumpet and flute in the meantime, wonderful instruments, but not clarinets =))
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-03 00:24
<<Deposit two cents>>
If I could sing as well as my wife, I would give up the horn.
The best players get the sort of sound only the best singers can emulate; from searing joy to a low mournful murmur, from blistering clear trumpet calls to the faintest whisper they can do it all. Dieter Klocker, anyone?
I don't know of any other instrument that is so agile and muscular. Certainly not any neighbors in the wind section.
This thing is the middleweight boxer, the defenseman that is a scoring threat, the pitcher that can hit; all the facility of so many instruments in one.
It is also portable.
Too bad so little classical music brings it out front (what is it with all the strings?) where it can really be heard!
Being able to buy a world-class instrument without a second mortgage helps.
I played the flute for years as a kid, and it lacks b***s. So many of the top players sound nearly alike. With the clarinet, everyone can have a unique voice.
That and it is an effective pest deterrent.
anji
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Author: Danielle
Date: 2001-05-03 00:42
I'm a younger player, but no one decided what i'd play for me. In 4th grade, my band teacher played selections from different songs for each instrument. He brought in a tape of "Peter and the Wolf" for us to experience what a clarinet sounded like. My 9 year old self decided then and there that no matter what, I'd play like that someday. Almost 6 years later...and I'm campaigning for my summer camp's orchestra to play "Peter and the Wolf." And I'm pretty proud of my tone, which was the first thing that I liked about the clarinet. It sounded like silver...I'm almost there. I hope.
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Author: LIZZIE
Date: 2001-05-03 00:45
My parents wanted me to play percussion! And I wanted to play clarinet......its alot more fun.......i picked it cause i liked all the keys...lol..i know stupid but now i am sooo glad i picked clarinet cause i LOVE it alot!,
lizzie.
p.s- i wasnt sure about the clarinet and only for one reason-i hated playing the stupid little recorder in elementry and on the recorder you have to move your fingers but clarinet's are sooooooo nothing like a rescorder lol!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-03 01:26
I chose the clarinet when I was 12 for obvious reasons--it was all my parents could afford. They did a rent-purchase deal on a Selmer Bundy that was new at the time. But, I wanted to play the French Horn and it was too expensive. After 40 years I've learned to really appreciate the wonderful tone of great clarinetists and have begun to notice what a difference a clarinet makes in expression of musical lines.
It's also a difficult instrument to play really well. You have to focus on it and work really hard. A challenge.
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Author: Mike Irish
Date: 2001-05-03 02:24
that is pretty good Mandy.... just pictured a young lady going to the dentist...
" But Doc. I didnt try to use this as dental floss .....really "
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-05-03 02:34
As one; you at the age of 64 and didn't play anything, but had tried differant things, ie. recorder, flute, etc. etc. and really didn't like them or had not interest. I went back to what I had tried as a child and wasn't any good at, however i always like the clarinet. I'm a lot better this year then i was last year, and I'm going to be a lot better next year. Playing everyday has become part of my life.
Also it gives me a place to spend money. Ask Brenda.
Someone told me that we must find our own Voice. I guess the Clarinet is how i want to sound.
peace.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-05-03 02:57
I started playing in beginning band during the summer before going into fouth grade and picked the clarinet because it had to many interesting things (keys) on it. And I was right--they have turned out to provide some VERY INTERESTING moments, indeed!!!!!!! (somebody should have told me about reeds........grrrrr!!)
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Author: Leanne (Kontragirl)
Date: 2001-05-03 04:23
My parents had nothing to do with my decision either. I went to a Christian school where the brass section was two cornets. I wanted to play french horn. My dad wanted me to play trombone (that was his high school instrument) and my mom wanted me to play flute like all of the other girls.
To compromise with my parents I did what every one should do and I asked my band director if I could try out some different instruments. My favorite was bass clarinet. Can you imagine what playing a bass clarinet is like in 5th grade? Oh my gosh! That's my story, even though no one asked for it.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2001-05-03 04:28
I really wanted to play violin, string instruction was available in my public school, my elementary school actually had an orchestra, no band til Jr. HS! But... My Mom talked me out of it on the grounds that I would be teased even more than I was (she was right) and that I wouldn't be able to be in marching band. I also think she was a bit "sweet" on Pete Fountain (this was around 1960) and I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't price violins. She was of course quite right! I did enjoy marching, and I have never regretted being talked out of the violin.
I really didn't want to influence my son when it was his time to select an instrument, and indeed tried to present a wide variety of choices. He however never considered anything but the clarinet! Of course I was pleased.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-05-03 05:09
I'm with LIZZIE on this one! I chose the clarinet because it looked like a long recoreder, so I thought the transition would be much easier in the 4th grade! Well, 12 years later, and I'm still playing. (Forget about the recorder. They just don't have enough resistence!) I'm using a 4 1/2 Rico Grand Concert thick blank reeds!
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2001-05-03 07:04
I currently have three adult students on clarinet.
#1 - Was an excellent player in high school, and wanted to be more competent in his church orchestra. (Has quickly gotten back into shape, and now sits by me in the community band. Getting better and more enthusiastic all the time)
#2 - Experienced player of guitar, banjo and pennywhistle. Someone gave him a clarinet. Wanted to learn it.
#3 - Former percussionist from Columbia who wants to play saxophone in a Cumbia band with his old cohorts. Alsready had a clarinet, and I encouraged him to start with it because it's such a good beginner's instrument. BTW, clarinets are big in Cumbia music.
#4(prospective) - Played clarinet for about a year as a child, and regrets quitting.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-05-03 10:11
Because I can't sing and the clarinet comes closest to how I would like to sing.
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Author: AlanT
Date: 2001-05-03 10:59
I have played piano for the past 5 years (I'm almost 40). At the beginning I had an idea of where I wanted to get on the piano. Earlier this year I realized that I would not get there on piano. So, I decided to try clarinet. I've had exactly 1 lesson so far. I like the versatile repertoire, the portability and, of course, the sound. I hope to eventually do some ensemble playing. I will still play the piano, I love it as well.
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Author: Shelly
Date: 2001-05-03 11:27
I started playing that clarinet at age 12. My parents have no musical talent whatsoever (neither with instruments or singing) so they left it completely up to me. I didn't want to play flute because I thought it was too sissy. (I was a bit of a tom boy and spent most of my time out doors). I didn't like the percussion instruments because I thought it didn't take any talent to beat on a drum I wasn't interested in the brass instruments (although now I wouldn't mind learning the french horn). We had no strings in the school band (I have no clue as to why not) so that wasn't an option but I probably wouldn't have chosen strings anyway. Violin and the like looked too hard So, the clarinet it was!
Shelly <--------------- very happy to be one of the younger Sneezyites at age 38!
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Author: Cass
Date: 2001-05-03 12:22
I started in grade school and it's funny, I don't really know for sure why I wanted clarinet instead of something else. I just liked the sound of it and it attracted me with the interesting keys. I wanted to find out what they all did. The trombone was just a big tube and sounded like a cow. The trumpet, too loud. The flute had to do with the girl who demonstrated it in my class (sort of an instrument petting zoo where older kids showed younger kids the band instruments), because she bothered me and my friends on the playground over something stupid, a bully of younger children. I didn;t like her and didn;t want to play what she played because I was afraid I might have to sit next to her! Nobody, not one kid in my class, wanted to play flute and all because of that girl! The band teacher had to talk two kids into playing flute so he wouldn't run out of flutes when the older ones went to junior high. He had a tough selling job on his hands. That girl was trouble. She was especially trouble later on because she played lousey but was stuck up and thought she should be entitled to play first chair just because she was older. She sneaked in and took a pad out of somebodys flute but got caught because the custodian saw her climb in the band room window. The younger kids passed her up and that finally got rid of her, when she got mad and quit. Good riddance. They got a lot more kids signing up for band when word got around that the Queen Bee left! Some of her stuck up friends quit with her and their stuck up mamas tried to get the band teacher fired because he didn't kiss their feet enough. What a gang. But anyway, the boy who showed off the clarinet to my class a year earlier was a good looking sharp dressed boy with lots of confidence. He played well and I was just old enough to think oh yeah, I would like to sit next to him! Uh huh baby! I did sit next to him a year later but he wasn't interested! Boo hoo! But by then I was hooked on clarinet for good.
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Author: Kevin McKechnie
Date: 2001-05-03 14:24
One night I was listening to the latest rock music on the radio and it occured to me that I wasn't hearing anything new. Every new group was imitating either the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, or Led Zeppelin. The really awful ones took their inspiration from old disco records. Disgusted with this I rummaged through my record collection and pulled out a copy of "Benny Goodman's Greatest Hits", which my mother had owned. The first track was "One O' Clock Jump" from the 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert. When Goodman's clarinet solo came up I got interested immediately. The sound of the clarinet and the way his solo was structured caught my attention. I was 38 years old then and had been hearing a musical variation on two electric guitars, a bass, and a drum for most of my life. Now I was hearing something new and interesting. By the time "Sing, Sing, Sing" was finished I had two ideas. The first was that I would like to learn to play the clarinet. The second, completely ignoring reality, was that I'd like to play like Benny Goodman. I bought a used clarinet and signed up for music lessons within month. Five years later I'm still at it, and enjoying it immensely. Long term goals are to perform in a group like the Benny Goodman Quartet, or Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five. Short term goals are to get through my next lesson. Best of luck to all the other clarinetists out there!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-05-03 15:16
I"m an older "re-start". Why clarinet? As a kid we were not too well off. My brother's Bassoon took most of our money, I got "stuck" with a clarinet. (Odly enough, my youngest daughter still has it) It's ancient now but she would never sell it on eBay. (And she won't give it back to me either).
Bob A
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-05-03 16:28
Because it is the closest thing to singing (my way) I could find. Recently, I compared the sound to a soprano sax - sounded to me like a tootoot in comparison.
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Author: Lisa
Date: 2001-05-03 17:20
I, too, started in elementary school. I had planned to play alto saxophone (like my best friend). When we got to the music store, they were out of rental alto saxes. The guy behind the counter suggested I try the clarinet. I fell in love with it immediately.
I'm so glad they were out of saxes that day. (Incidentally, I played the school tenor sax in jr. high jazz band and now own my own alto!)
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Author: Christoffer
Date: 2001-05-03 19:10
I learned to play the recorder as a kid and was actually quite happy with that. However, I wanted to play the greek bouzouki, found one and struggled with it for years; it just never got really good - I felt somehow awkward on strings, my fingers just weren't really at home on a fretboard, while on the other side my skills on the recorder were quite satisfactory for me. Then one evening I heard a klezmer band on the street with a soprano sax, and I fell completely in love with that sound. I found out, though, that it was a quite expensive instrument and, so the rumours said, not really suitable for a complete beginner on reeds. No other sax than the soprano really attracted me, so I did nothing about my reed dreams for some years - but occasionally I heard clarinets played in ways that were equally seducing as the soprano sax. I think that the decisive point was reached last year when I lived in Greece and one day heard an old serb on the street play his clarinet from the depths of his soul. From that moment I knew that the clarinet was my instrument. I bought an old, second-hand clarinet for what equals about 50 USD, it was in a poor state and barely playable due to some nasty cracks, but I was hooked, decided to get into the business in a proper way, sold the old horn and got a nice plastic Yamaha ... which I certainly haven't regretted.
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Author: Mike Hancock
Date: 2001-05-03 19:25
At almost 65 I can identify with many of the comments above....I started on Clarinet in 5th grade....probably inspired as much as anything by "Peter and the Wolf"......but 6th grade Music Appreciation presented Ferde Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite"......and that's where I fell in love with Bass Clarinet. I played Bass in Junior High and High School and Contrabass for a year in college (both Eb and Bb). I "fell away" from music for a number of years, but continued to drag instruments around with me.......bought a no-name wood clarinet in San Francisco over 25 years ago and played occasionally......my wife is a flutist and we enjoy simple duets. I have been taking lessons again for the last year and a half and am amazed at the progress I have made and, at the same time, am frustrated about "fingers that won't do what I want them to....." Ah well.....
Mike Hancock
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Author: beth
Date: 2001-05-03 21:21
hehe, well...clarinet wasn't my first instrument...flute was. i like it b/c it sounded 'pretty' and my mom wanted me to play it. by about 6th grade, i noticed the clarinets had cool parts and a cool sound, hehe. by 7th grade i really wanted to try clarinet. in 8th grade, my teacher needed another alto sax for jazz band, and he thought i was his best flautist and would easily be able to pick up the sax...so i learned the sax, and learned it well. that sumemr i convinced my mom to let me play clarinet, seeing as i already have experience on a reed. i fell in love with it as soon as i figured out how to play it. though it was neglected a little bit to focus on my flute playing in 9th grade...i soon worked on it a bit more that summer...doubled on it in jazz band (we played moolight serenade, hehe) and worked to improve my abilities. this past summer, i diligently worked on my oboe and clarinet (i had reached a high level on both flute and alto sax, and want the other two just as high) and now, ive become a much better clarinetist. i'm number one in my school district...i recieved a 92 on an all-state audition...and in addition to playing mainly oboe in wind ensemble, im also doubling on alto clarinet and Bb clarinet, yay. and now, i would have to say, clarinet is my favorite instrument :] oboe close behind though...but the clarinet doesnt sound like a goose!
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Author: Steve
Date: 2001-05-04 03:44
I recently started clarinet at age 41. I have been playing tenor recorder for awhile, and play mostly for myself. I also have played solos, duets, and in a sextet in the church I attend. But as much as I enjoy my recorder, there a many times I wanted more volume, more flexibility, more range. I like the sound of the sax, but the size and expense caused me to put it off. Then one day I had PBS on the radio as I drove home from work and heard some clarinet chamber music. I was captivated; I loved the sound, the range, the expressiveness. I wanted to shout "THAT"S IT!" I wondered how I could have missed such an instrument all my life. I stopped at a music store the next day and bought several CD's.... found out from most of them that I missed the clarinet because they were buried by the strings... sheesh! And then I put in a Pete Fountain CD, and realized I had just not been paying attention in my youth. Then came Benny, Mozart,...
Two weeks later I had my first rental to see if I could get sounds out of a clarinet. An important step since I was hit with Bell's palsey (look it up, or ask if ya wanna) a few years ago. I could!!! I could!! Been taking lessons for a month now. Worth every cent. Bought my first horn today. Worth twice the price ( full retail...)!
Now if I can only find the guy responsible for the stupidity of transposing instruments....LOL
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-05-04 16:51
Wow - what a great bunch of individual stories, sure covers the waterfront!! Being very senior, memory back 72 years is not too secure any more, BUT, I believe that, at the instigation by Jr and Senior HS band directors in Lansing, MI, beginners lessons were offered at a nearby grade school, so even tho it was about the worst time of the Great Depression [1929-30] , my only-slightly-musical parents could afford $ 25 for a very mediocre cl from an old Polish repairman [located above a "beer garden"] downtown, so I started riding my bike with cl for the classes. Oh, yes in 5th and 6th grades our "culture" class had a wind up "Victrola" and a few records {78's], my favorite was Schubert's Marche Militaire [still love it]. I earned a few dollars to pay $2 ? for lessons [later worked many hours in grocery stores] from a nice French cl'ist [he played in pit orchs for our then "silent" movies] and he sold me his Penzel-Mueller Full Boehm for $100, my first decent cl!! This is too long already!, SO, Jr and Sen HS's bands and orchs followed [found out about trans. of A parts in G & S musicals, and of C parts via pianist next door. Could only have two years in Mich State Band [late Chem Labs], but bought an alto sax and joined dance bands. I didn't realize I could relate my first 21 years this well, hope its quite accurate. Fun, YES, Don
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Author: Jun
Date: 2001-05-05 02:56
I started out when i was 12...so long time ago...becuase i couldn't pitch on brass instruments, the seats for flutists were fully filled..i dunno wat is a sax at that time...so my instructor pass me that black long wood thing with sliver keys on it......got frustrated at times with my tone...but i still in love with it for 9 years with 2 years of quiting. I even called it my 'hushand'...hehehe..
AND THAT THING IS A CLARINET....and am still playing it together with a bass clarinet ......
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-05-05 17:23
I picked up clarinet so I could play Balkan music with my husband. I used to go out and play music with friends when we were first married, classical and bluegrass. (I have an MM in classical guitar, used to make money in the BG band, in fact it helped pay for the MM)
My husband was not able/willing to learn either of those styles, and for a variety of reasons I needed to keep my music life closer to home. I was playing about twice per month, but just easy folky stuff...I did not aspire to play like some gypsy firebrand. However, I always need to be improving...so eventually I worked through Rubank Adv. and am now torturing Rose. I recently joint the local JC wind ensemble. My experience in the JC wind ensemble leaves a lot to be desired...I just don't play fast, I like to savor the notes and make them accurate.
I really love the sound of the clarinet. It is more soulful than the sine wave of the flute, and not as whiney as the violin, nor as rude and aggressive as sax so often is.
I forced my son to take band and play the clarinet. He now thinks it was his idea, and loves it.
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Author: beth
Date: 2001-05-05 21:12
about 30 odd years ago when I was in third grade, I tried violin; but i made the cats hide, dogs howl and the family run for cover in the attic or the basement. So my mom dug out and dusted off her clarinet, wrestled the violin away from me and started me on clarinet. And the rest is history.
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Author: Rosie
Date: 2001-05-05 22:12
I just started last June. I'm in my mid 40s. My 14 year old plays trombone, my husband started sax about almost 3 years ago (plays tenor and baritone now), and my 10 year old plays trumpet. I guess it was just my turn, and since I've been singing for years (even had lessons for over 10), I had a head-start with reading music.
I was told that clarinet fingering was more complicated than sax, so I figured I would try that. So, in passing I mentioned to my husband that maybe I would try clarinet. Last June he brought me a rental and had me signed up with his teacher. Jack (our teacher) doubles on sax and clarinet, has played with the Army, and has played in Buddy Morrow's band.
I'm having a great time and bought my own instrument in September. My first band experience was with my son's middle school honor's band where they invited parents to join too! I'm now in a local community band where auditions are not required, but where interest is. Most of the music I can play (just not as fast as the director conducts!), but I can see that I'm improving all the time. Maybe someday, I'll try a bass!
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The Clarinet Pages
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