I`m thinking of taking up clarinet again. Just one hitch - I`m 26 and haven`t played the instrument since i was
13. I had played for 4 years, had reached practical grd 8, always placed top in the comps in the country I was living at the time etc. Anyway, i stopped playing for a multitude of reasons, mostly due to the expectations of parents and my stress inducing teacher/ defiance / teen rebellion / etc. take your pick.

Thing is I still remember the notes, fingerings, the articulations etc. I have always been able to `visualise` them in my head. I`ve kept very close to music - I`ve been playing guitar for many many years, etc, and compose (try to) too.

Anyway should I invest in a more expensive wooden
clarinet like I used to have, or a plastic yamaha?
Do you think I`ll ever be able to play at the same level I used to? I mean, back then i didnt have the desire to play, but technically I was very proficient. Now it`s the other way round. Anyway, what do you think?

26 is definitely not too old. I started up again at the end of 2003 at the age of 37. The last time I played was in my freshman year of college. I played B-flat soprano and some bass clarinet.

I would suggest getting a plastic clarinet for now. If you need fingering charts, you can use this link: http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/ I used this to re-familiarize myself with the alternate fingerings (one of my weaknesses). The range goes way beyond that of beginner books.

If you need to work on theory:
Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians by Hal Leonard Corp.
I used this to re-familiarize myself with key signatures, chords and scales (besides the major scale)

If you are looking for something other than a beginner`s book:

Tone, Technique and Staccato by Mel Bay Publications http://www.melbay.com/

It has studies in which alternate fingerings is used in many exercises. It starts with exercises in the lower register to help develop tone then it goes on to crossing the break. This has been helping me with my weakness in alternate fingerings. Further on in the book, it has some Klosé technical studies.

Clarinet Warm-Ups by Kelly Burke (released by Dorn Publications)
http://www.dornpub.com/dornbook.html

This has several long tone and articulation studies. There are 196 (that`s a lot) finger exercises. Some are made specifically for the left or right hand. There and various technical exercises and patterns involving scales and chords. It even has a chapter about physical and mental preparation.

I can even e-mail you some sample pages from these books to see if they are right for you before
you buy them. Please let me know of you are interested.

Hope this helps

Oops, one small mistake:

It should read "There are various technical exercises and patterns involving scales and chords"

Sometimes I type too fast for my own good

I know dozens of restarts much older than yourself. If you have the desire- no one is stopping you!

(This is not the same Andy as the beginning of this thread by the way). You may find it interesting to know that your brain develops in special ways when you play music. Most noticably, the Corpus Callossum grows much larger in children with musical training than without. What is the Corpus Callossum you ask? Well, it is the main structure that connects the two halves of your brain together, allowing them to work stronger together. But! This extra devlopment only happens when musical training begins as a young student (between 7 and 10 is when it stops). So, from a strictly psychophysiological standpoint, you`re more than ready to take up clarinet again.

I`m 39, and only started playing the clarinet a few months ago for the first time (I`ve played other instruments for most of my life, though).

In my opinion, you`re only too old to play when they put you in a box and bury you.

Well said, Tim

I have a Great Uncle who is 73 and just started to pick up the Clarinet again. He hasn`t touched one in since he was in his mid 40`s. He`s doing just great at it too!

So being 26 still very young to pick up an instrument again. Don`t let your age discourage you!