I`ve posted this over at woodwind.org, so some of you will have seen it.
Why do you you play the clarinet?
Why did you start?
Why do you continue?
I started because, when I wanted to start learning an instrument at school, the clarinet was the only one not away for repairs at the time.
I continue because it is a beautiful, versatile instrument.

I started because everyone in the third grade that year had to begin to play in the school orchestra. We had a big tryout where we were allowed to test different instruments. I should start to play the sax but I loved the clarinet so I started to play that instead and have continued ever since and everyday my love deepens.

i play the clarinet because i love it and it helps with alot of stress. same as why I continue. i started because band is a huge thing at my school and clarinet was the only thing that i could really play.

I started playing clarinet because my dad is a very musical person and I wanted to see if I had the same thing that he did. I picked the clarinet becasue I thought that it suited me. I continue to play because of the beauty of tone, the versatility, and most of all because of my love for the music that I play. Orchestral, solo, ensemble - I don`t care - classical music has my heart and thats all I hear.

I started to play at high school at age 12 after wanting to play it from the age of seven. Started on really dodgy student Yamaha and even dodgier Lisner (that all repairers refused to fix). My dad owned a music store (specialising in archival records, classical, jazz etc) and he played Mozart clarinet concerto to me and I loved it ever since.

I kept playing it because, let`s face it, its the best instrument in the world and its my favourite thing to do in the world.

Because a hot chick was playing the clarinet in the 5th grade and now im in 12th- how bout that.

When i started there was a lady that came to talk to us about band and when I heard the sound of the clarinet i loved it. in our school kighschool band is not very big but i find that when i play a lot of my stress is relieved. i continue to play because i have been very sucessful. i also play other instruments but clarinet will always be my favorite.