One of my dreams growing up has always to be able to play a musical instrument. I've never owned my own instrument. My dad wanted an electric organ in his studio band (he runs a music studio!) so he bought it for me, as an excuse to have it in the studio. But he wouldn't buy me a guitar of my own (he owns three) and laughed at me when I wanted to take up the clarinet in school. I started playing in twelvth grade, and my music teacher wasn't actually my teacher, as I wasn't in any band class. I couldn't take it in grade nine (first year in high school) because I didn't have room on my time table. Every year after that the same. But in twelvth grade the new band teacher (for the old one wouldn't help me) gave up one hour after school each day to teach me a bit of clarinet playing on one of the student clarinets, which I had to wait and see if the other students had one signed out or not, since I wasn't in a class. This was very generous of her.

When I went to university I had no money for clarinet, couldn't get into the music class because I had no OAC or grade twelve band, and I was paying for my other classes, which was English Literature. I failed university, and for health reasons have been unemployed for three years.

Now I'm 23, (soon to be 24, in May!) and finally the financial possibility of owning my very own clarinet has come along! I've been dreaming about this for 7 years! I want it that bad! But I'm not sure if I can really start at this age. For a hobby it would be all right, but I'm too poor to buy a $300 clarinet for just a hobby. I want to be able to master it. Do people my age who start playing an instrument get into an actual career? My dad didn't start his studio business until he was almost fifty, so maybe there's hope?

I'm so excited and stressed, because I keep dreaming of black polished wood and silver keys, I write poetry about it, I listen to clarinet music, I'm writing a short story about it. I can't stop getting it out of my head that I might finally have one! Gwah!

Love and Light

Lee

Hi, I really admire your love and determination for the clarinet. In my oppinion, you're never too old to play the clarinet (unless your mouth and jaw stop working, wait, then you could still play vibrato ) anyway, what you could do is rent a clarinet for a while and see how you like it. With most places there isn't a minimum rental period or what you could do is go on a 'rent to own' plan, where you pay it off over a set period of time and by the end it's yours!!! I know how you feel about wanting to learn an instrument, I started clarinet when I was 7 and have always wanted to learn another instrument aswell. Im 13 now and late last year i had the opportunity of learning the bassoon and oboe. It was infact a long time hope, but my folks had said i was too small and it was too expensive but now the school owns the instrument (i rent the oboe, its pretty cheap!!!), i dont pay a cent and i'm on a music scholarship so the lessons are free aswell. Learning an instrument is a wonderful experience and as Toni said, do what your heart tells you to do!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

-Alan

wow! Your ambition wows me. I say go for it.

~*kimmie*~

you know what? I also admire your ambition, and i say what my parents told me. Rent one first, learn a few things, and see if you REALLY like it, and if you do, buy one. You could be a natural, like i started this year at 12 yrs old, and I taught my self a lot, just from the music book. You should do the same, and eventually, learn a lot of different instruments.

I completely understand your passion for clarinet and wanna say how happy I am that you are in a position to now get one. I feel so bad for you having your ambition suppressed for so many years! I couldn't live without playing! I started when I was 10 and I just turned 16 and it is my greatest love! Good luck, and go for it!

23 and too old - you gotta be kiddin! I've recentlt started the clarinet at 41 after a break from music since i was about 16 and am making great progress. Would i be as good as if i started at 10? obviously not but the pleasure and enjoyment i'm getting far outweigh that.

On my first lesson, nervously sitting in the waiting room surrounded by kids younger than mine, very self conciously listening so a novice sax player making pretty horendous noises, expecting a student to emerge with a scrubbed pink face and short pants was gob smacked when a old gent looking like a Uncle from Fools and Horses (UK sitcom) emerged - must have been 65yo!

One thing: YOUR NEVER.. I REPEAT NEVER TOO OLD TO START AN INSTRUMENT...although you benefit best if your younger cause your still developing.. but yes of course.. since your soo ambitious i think you should go for it!! Get help, tips and advice from wherever!!

Cheers Musio4fun

i was in a music shop in uk..this man came in..still can't get a note out of the clainet someone had given him...well this bloke was 65+ and determined he wanted to make music..what he really needed to know was...would the clarint play at all...
i stumbles over as the shop ass' was no good...he been reading all the books..
hand it over i said i'll try for you....

well i took the instrument put it together...the mans first reaction was.......''well i been going wrong there''
i looked at him , he said..''i had the mouth piece the other way up!'''
ha ha ha ha......
and yes i did get a sqeek out of it but was very hard!...poor man..bless

You've got ambition, it's never too old to start something you're passionate about.

No one is too old to try new things. If you want to play clarinet for the past seven years, you should try now becasue it is not very hard to accomplish. By the way, if you are already good at clarinet, you can join into symphonny ocherstar (sorry for my spelling)or other bands. Trust, learing how to play a clarinet is not hard; it only took me two days to know some of the notes and how to blow. IT IS NOT TO LATE TO LEARN!!! Keep trying and mever give up. One day, you will be glad you try.

My motto is: Failure is not failing; it is quiting that makes you fail. If you get into a hard time, never gives up. You have to pull yourself up and ready to do it again. Good luck!

I think that nobody is too old to start on a musical instrument. I completely understand your financial situtation and I would suggest that you start renting a good instrument from a local music store. Don't buy until you really know you are serious.
If I were you, I would start on a Buffet B10 or B12, or a Leblanc 7214PC or even a Yamaha YCL250. Avoid Woodwind, Amati, Allora, Kinder Klari(what a sick name), BandNow, or Barrington.

Hello. No oen is too old to start learning to play the clarinet. As long as you can hold your breath for some serious time and move your fingers pretty fast, you can do it!

your never to old to start learning something new! i say go for it!! good luck!

love,
Amanda

Hi Lee: Remember the adagio "Never is too late". You are 24 yrs old and worried?. I came back to play clarinet after 55 years. I stopped when I was 24 and I never played again till six months ago. My embochure is not very strong now but I manage. I bought me a wooden Selmer Signet Special for 80 bucks on eBay, I recorked and padded myself. It turn out to be a pretty nice instrument with a very nice tone. I do not plan to play professionally. Just for my own enjoyment playing jazz and classical. If I can do it, you can do it. If you cannot afford the price, you can buy a plastic one for 50 bucks. Good luck. Carlos

You're never too old to learn. It's actually easier to pick up when you are older. And if you really have the ambition to learn and you want it that badly, I'm sure it's very possible to make a career out of it.
My whole life, I only played piano, but I'd always wanted to play clarinet. Last summer, I went out with my dad and rented a clarinet for 35 dollars from the local music store and taught myself to play. I've had a lesson teacher for the past few months and I've been playing in band for last year (8th grade) and this year as a freshman, and I'm moving into my sophmore year having auditioned for the wind ensemble and made first chair.

Anything is possible, and with your love for the instrument, I'm sure you'll do great! Good luck!