Glee Cast - Little Drummer Boy (Glee Cast Version)

Learning to Play

This is my new acquisition, a 25 year old clarinet as described on a popular auction site as "This clarinet belonged to my sister, she had it about 25 years ago and it was second hand then. All I can tell you about it was that it sounded lovely.

There is no brand that I can see and the condition is fair, just needs some TLC.  Also it has no hardcase, but just a padded case, made by my mum!

All parts seem to be working, but as I can't play the clarinet and I do struggle to get a sound out of it, you may find a fault that I don't."

 

It arrived about 10 days ago, and no I have never played the clarinet before, but before I got my motorbike licence I had never ridden one before and I didn't let that stop me from getting my A rated licence on a big bike.

I paid £25 incl P&P and a further £11 for a case for it. It hasn't been used in a long while and after a nice session cleaning it and putting a new reed in place as well as rethreading the sections I have managed to get a nice tone out of it. Now the hard work begins! Lessons cost about £25 an hour, but luckily I know someone who plays and I might get some starter lessons free (or at least cheap). I have also picked up a book on the clarinet, providing guidance on maintaining it and a fingering chart as well as scales so the start is the very beginning.

Gary Moore

This is one of my favourite pieces of music, played by the now late Gary Moore. I created a CD of my much loved music which included this along with fanfare for the common man by Emerson Lake and Palmer.

I didn't realise that Gary was part of Thin Lizzy, so much that I only found out who the other members had been after Gary's untimely death had been announced. I suppose it is a group identity thing compared to individuals being identified as part of a group.

I love the lyrics of Pariesienne Walkways, and the guitar playing is just pure magic.. somehow I am not sure modern muscians will be remembered in quite the same way in the future.

I remember paris in '49
The champs elyses
Saint michel and old beaujolais wine

And I recall
That you were mine
In those parisienne days

Looking back at the photographs
Those summer days
Spent outside corner cafes

Oh I could write you paragraphs
About my own parisienne days