In June I had to have this clarinet repaired. The rear register key on the section above in the photo was stuck and that meant anything above A in the G clef wasn’t happening. When I went to pick up the clarinet I asked Clark if there was something I could be doing for maintenance. He explained that the little metal joints that bend when I press the valves do need a drop of two …
It all began with my wanting to play When I’m Sixty-Four for my birthday dinner last March. I found the sheet music online for a small fee. I also found FREE music. Wow. That pile grew to include favorites like Home on the Range, Simple Gifts, Amazing Grace and even a couple opera arias. Then my friend Dianne sent this Disney song book for the clarinet. Starting with When You Wish upon a Star, I …
A little over a week ago I had an unexplained fever at bedtime. The next morning I awoke with a temperature of 98.3. In the old days – four months ago – I would have happily proceeded with my day. Friends my age and older pushed me to get a covid – 19 test. I did the screening and results also suggested a test. A call to the clinic led to an online site for …
Had a magic moment a couple days ago. I picked up the clarinet, warmed up, turned to a page in a song book, and just played the song. I never expected this. A year ago I didn’t know how to read music. Each note was a struggle – ” Oh, that’s a C and how do I play a C?” sort of thing. This was very similar to studying a language. After studying French or …
OK, go ahead. Laugh. But all day long I have been very excited about picking up my repaired clarinet. I keep humming that old Supremes song Back in my Arms Again. I had brought the clarinet to a shop an hour away for repair; the rear register key was stuck. My teacher had tried to oil it and help me, but it was rusted shut – in less than a year since I had it …
This week I had a major light bulb moment. It’s funny. As a teacher (of other things like swimming) I had seen students pause or stall for a time before moving forward, and then at some point they became ready and wow! Weeks, if not months ago, my clarinet teacher had started to explaining the circle of fifths (sometimes the notations are reversed and called circle of fourths – especially in jazz groups). I had …
I started taking music lessons about six months ago. I had never learned any music before that. I did not read music. But after practicing at least once, often twice a day (except the two days I was flying to and from visiting my parents), I had been making slow and steady progress through the book of exercises Recently I thumbed back to a couple carols in my exercises book. Then I remembered some music …
