Day 1: January 2

I opened the clarinet case today with such excitement knowing I am taking my very first steps in a new journey! I looked inside with such glee to suddenly realize I don’t even know how to put this damn thing together! There it was, laying in 5 detached pieces. Two of the pieces were fairly simple to figure out where they were meant to go:

I’m not going to lie to you though, I felt so anxious just to hold the instrument in full form. So I shoved all the pieces together then Googled to see if it was right. In retrospect, I should have reversed that process -- but as it turns out, I’m a pretty good guesser! There she was complete in my hands, the dark beauty. Nervously I raised the instrument to my lips for the first time. I thought about all the clarinetists I have seen in my life, whether performing in an orchestra, or on PBS and realized this is the same lip sensation they feel every time they play. Proposing a strategy in my head I decided I didn’t want to blow too hard, but just hard enough to have some oomph. I gently clamped my lips around the mouth piece and blew to hear the sound of … nothing. It’s inarguable that I need help.

I Googled “How to play clarinet for beginners” and clicked on the first video that was posted. I was directed to a video series on monkeysee.com.

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/1842-how-to-play-clarinet-for-beginners-clarinet-parts

It was so helpful! Firstly I learned I had to moisten the reed with my spit. It tastes a lot like a popsicle stick (at this point I suddenly became very thankful I brushed my teeth well before starting. I’m such a germaphobe and I’m terrified that my nasty spit will grow bacteria all over the reed!). I rapidly became completely dependant on these videos as I became more aware of how much I didn’t know! I found myself hitting pause to be sure my reed was positioned clearly on the mouthpiece; I learned the left hand goes on top, and that goofy piece sticking out of the back is NOT an instrument prop  but rather to rest your right thumb under.  Yet, thanks to help from Ariana Lamon-Anderson (from the video series) I finally made a break though: NOISE!

Now, I do recognize it sounds more like a vuvuzela than a clarinet but I am very proud of myself.