Hi everyone, im not sure what the correct protocol is for joining your forum but im going to start by getting the beers in (_)c (_)c (_)c

My name is Em, nearly 35 and im trying desperately hard to teach myself the B flat clarinet (BTW where do you find the correct symbol on your keyboard ?? ) All my life l have loved the sax and wanted to play, but never found one in my budget. Then about 3 months ago my mum bought me this lovely Lindo clarinet with Rico 1.1/2 reeds and the Abracadabra book which l am developing a passion for now. What a beautiful instrument !!

Blimey isn't it hard though !! I am fortunate that as a child l learnt classical guitar and the ability for reading music has stayed with me, albeit slightly rusty. The teacher l have spoken to locally charges £14 for 30 mins and only block bookings, whilst l realise this is, im sure good value, at this moment in time l have to stick with teaching myself !! As you have probably worked out, l am "stuck".

Lower notes are fine l think l have cracked them in a kinda beginners fashion but l realise practise and more practise is all l probably need. Of which l enjoy immensely, not too sure my neighbours would agree though !!
Its the higher notes from upper B and above, As soon as my thumb covers the 2 holes on the back of my clarinet, well it just isn't happening for me.... Sometimes l get no sound at all and others its ok, but then l try to incorporate it into music and ooooh my word it sounds dreadful. Is it an incorrect embouchure not having a teacher l am resigned to trial and error.

Lastly..... can l apologise if this question has been asked before, l have had a good nosey around your forum and found lots of other answers to my questions and now l just wanted to say hi to everybody.

Thanks

Mintylips

PS do you think l have bitten off more then l can probably chew !!

Hi,
I took up the flute recently. Took me quite a while to get the low "C".(Not to mention all the high note I haven't played yet !) But practice will perfect it. Yeah, practice is the thing. Am getting a Lindo clarinet next week. Looking forward to that. And then all the problems to solve and no teachers in my town. But I found some free lessons on ExpertVillage.com. Not great, but nice to see and hear players talk about the instrument and get tips.

Well, I got my Lindo. (Posted the details elsewhere on the forum) Nobody else, except yourself, seems to have heard of them!
Got a better reed (Vanloren, number one and a half;it's softer) and ligature (Rico), a chromium one, smaller, neater. Better sound already. I reckon I'm gonna have the same problems as you as I've only started!!! Am working my way through the book. Just about got "C"(with the two reg keys covered) but I had to play around with the angle of the clarinet in my mouth.

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But next day not a peep! Have decided to register in the local music school for lessons. Nothing like a live teacher.