Why did you choose the clarinet?
Did you choose to play the clarinet? Or does it sometimes feel like the clarinet chose you? We all have a story of how we came to be clarinet players. How did you discover the clarinet and what about it made you want to play our wonderful instrument? Was it the sound of a particular player that inspired you? A chance to join in with your school or community band? A parent or relative who passed on their instrument to you? We’d love to hear your stories, so tell us: why did you choose the clarinet? 💕🎶✨
16 replies
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Honestly, I started on brass. Trumpet and Horn, neither of which I had the chops to play. My band teacher wanted me to try Baritone, but it was too big and bulky for me as a tiny kid. My dad wanted me to play piccolo because it was small but for some reason I chose the clarinet. I fell in love with it right away. It was amazing to be able to make music after not being able to make sounds for a few terms.
I played clarinet throughout my school years and really enjoyed it. However I stopped my second year of college when I ironically picked up the baritone horn for marching band. Apparently that has always been my brass instrument.
I took a break from band after college and life got in the way. But now play clarinet in my concert band, alto sax in jazz band and baritone in a women’s rogue street marching band.
I love playing all my instruments, but I reserve my clarinet for “pretty” music. And my current band directors keep on picking music with wonderful clarinet parts, and that just makes me want to play all the time.
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When I was 11 I moved to a new school to start in a school that offered French immersion (because, well, Canada). I was having a little trouble making friends and so at some point I decided to join the band but I had no idea what I wanted to play.
There was another girl in the band who I really wanted to make friends with - she seemed really nice, and maybe was also a bit shy like me. And so when she said, "Play the clarinet, like me!" I went for it.
The terrible thing is that I don't remember her name now, we didn't stay in touch after grade 7, so I can't tell her that she completely changed my life! But I still feel like the amazing thing about playing an instrument is the friends that you make through music, right? -
I started clarinet later in life (I think I was 31) because I was really attracted to the sound of a particular player. I'll put some links below - her name is Aurora Nealand and she's a an amazing musician.
I had gotten into listening to old jazz via swing dancing, and had an itch to play, but didn't want to try and pick up guitar again. So I chose a challenging wind instrument instead. :D It's been a journey.
My mom also plays clarinet - she played in band during school, and still plays in a small orchestra that's part of her church. So there's a family connection too, which is nice.
Aurora Nealand:
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Ohhhhhh she's awesome. I love that sound!
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My Grandpa played the clarinet in the army band and toured Europe during WW1. His old metal King clarinet (what was left of it), was on display on our bookshelves. I was attracted to it as an object—it was unlike anything I’d seen before and so was destined to find out about it as I got older.
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In 1976 I had just started high school and I had the chance to learn flute or clarinet. I chose clarinet, partly due to Acker Bilk who reached No 5 in the UK charts that year with ‘Aria’.
https://youtu.be/JGX1j5aapIE?si=jKaEgbIJ7ek4K-Nq
I loved that sound.
I made steady progress and was playing in the school orchestra, which I really enjoyed. By the end of 1977 I had relocated, was at a different school with no opportunity to continue clarinet. In 2009, I finally decided to restart and I’m so glad I did. -
Because my parents did not allow me to play the drums (to loud) :)
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When I was a kid, I always thought the clarinet was the coolest instrument. I don’t remember the details too well, but I do remember someone, maybe a visiting musician(?) coming to my school and playing it. Unfortunately, my family couldn’t afford lessons or an instrument back then, so it stayed a someday dream.
Fast forward to my mid 20s, when I finally had enough income to buy a clarinet and take a weekly group class. A couple of years go by, and I was walking in Tokyo with my wife and our baby when I suddenly hear that sound again, the one from my childhood! I rushed over excitedly… only to find a street player with a shiny gold instrument that definitely didn’t sound like a clarinet lol This was pre‑smartphone days, so I couldn’t just search it on the spot. Later that day... I learned that there's such a thing as a soprano sax lol
So in a way, I picked up the clarinet because I mistook a saxophone for it. But to be honest, I’m glad I did. Best “wrong instrument” decision I’ve ever made :)
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I moved to a new school for 7th grade (actually, grade 7 - this was in Canada) and music classes were mandatory. Everyone else had started playing a year earlier and the clarinet was the only instrument still available. I was struggling at first because I was a year behind everyone else, so I practiced diligently until I could play Hot Cross Buns for our first test. The teacher looked genuinely surprised that I had mastered it so quickly!!