I have always admired musicians. The ability to make and play music, seems to me to be almost magical – like alchemy. Somehow I had a craving to be a part of the “club”. The only rational solution was to start. Still, I didn’t want to play an ordinary instrument, like the piano, or a guitar. After a while, the only instrument that was practical and diverse enough was the clarinet or the mandolin. I chose the clarinet. If you listen to Clarinet Concerto in A major, by Mozart – you will be amazed how diverse the clarinet can by played. It’s godlike – if you are not touched by this, then you are missing out of another element, that makes life sweeter to live. It hits “my soft spot”!!!
Here is a couple of links to the “godlike”…. It free and legal – enjoy!!
Clarinet Concerto in A major, 1st movement
Clarinet Concerto in A major, 2st movement
Clarinet Concerto in A major, 3st movement
Conductor: Simon Schindler, Ensemble: Fulda Symphonic Orchestra, Clarinetist: Bruce Edwards, and Location: Grosser Saal der Orangerie Fulda.
But still, the clarinet can be used in jazz, blues, rock, and so on. The subject at hand, is too vast, so I better be mooving on…
I began to play the clarinet a half a year ago and I’ve made a lot of progress. This project, is a solo-project – booklet with advice, sheet music and a CD (“Progressive Clarinet: by Peter Gelling”), was my only help. It a bit funny to hear the discrepancy between what you are playing and what you should be playing on the CD 
– but I can still play a decent “When the Saints go Marchin’ in”. I had reached a spot where I couldn’t move on. My legatos and staccatos really sucked and there where a lot of notes I wasn’t able to reach. Another hindrance is that I have been too busy, with too many things.
My dear dancebuddie Carina, helped me out – hence “my clarinet is back”. All I had to do was to change to a harder reed and improve my breathing technique. She has been playing the last 15 years – and she is still active. Her talent is light-years beyond where I am at the moment. But if I hang in there I might be able to play a decent score. My clarinet gives me a lot of pleasure, it’s always fun to create and progress.
I suppose my greatest challenge in life, is to have few, but completed projects. But to do this, you have to make priorities and hard choices. I have too many project floating around that are distracting me at the moment, but I’m getting closer to my “challenge”.
It’s hard work – but life isn’t easy…
