Friday, February 26, 2016

Making Music

Learning the clarinet is life giving. And frustrating. When I'm practicing, my kids occasionally have to say, "Back away from the clarinet and take a deep breath, mom." I think they're enjoying throwing my words back at me. :)

I love feeling my brain working to remember the notes and fingerings. I love hearing beautiful sounds coming out of the instrument every once in awhile. And occasionally I'm frustrated to no end because I cannot figure out how to keep that stupid woodwind in tune. I'm perpetually flat. My embouchure keeps trying to adjust to a trumpet and move as if I'm playing a brass instrument. But I'm NOT playing my trumpet. I get frustrated with slow progress as I'm retraining my embouchure for a clarinet. I will learn this.

Most of my life feels like I've switched instruments and I'm learning an entirely different way to make music. It's going to be beautiful once I figure this out. But it won't sound anything like the trumpet I spent over a decade playing. When I can't keep my clarinet in tune, I could sit on the floor and cry, wishing I was holding a familiar trumpet in my hand. But I don't. I'm fully embracing the new beauty and challenge of my clarinet. And though I might feel like throwing the thing across the room, I won't. I do what my kids suggest, put the the woodwind down, and take a few deep breaths. The next note usually comes out beautifully.

This is the Mozart concerto I fell in love with several years ago that inspired me to learn the clarinet. I love the entire thing, but my favorite section starts at 12:35. Even though I've loved and appreciated this song for years, I have to say, my attempt to make a clarinet sound lovely has increased my awe of anyone like this young man who can make the thing come alive. Spectacular. I hope you have a few minutes to enjoy.

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