A controversial question I know, and certainly no offence meant to our clarinet-playing chums, but after playing the piano and now thinking of taking up the clarinet I wonder if I would be disappointed and find it, well, boring? I do not wish to invest time and money into something which may not work for me. Any advice?

All instruments have their own strong and weak points but you may find that because the clarinet only plays a single line it is less satisfying to play on your own. The piano is very self sufficient (though I'm biased!)

Carol

Hi Randall,

I must admit that your question puzzles me. My own experience has been that as an adult, you usually know that you want to learn a certain instrument. You love the sound. It cries out to you "Learn how to play me!!" Well, sort of.
Certainly the possibility that it might be boring was never an issue for me. The closest it got to 'boring' was with lots of long exercises, but that must be true for all instruments.

If you really want to learn another instrument, and you don't have a very strong urge to learn the clarinet, perhaps you should take more time to consider all the other instruments.

In my own case, I'd love to try the french horn or oboe. Apart from the problem of time and cost, perhaps I'd find I didn't like them as much as I thought. But never boring!

Steve

PS Your suggestion of renting a clarinet for a while, on the other board, is probably the best thing to do. Try it and see. Good luck.

I suppose that is a pretty common experience, which I had myself when I transferred from cornet to horn, but I wonder if anyone ever chooses an instrument because of its repertoire, or for any other reason. I took up bass by accident, but find that it has great advantages as an instrument of which many amateur orchestras need more than they have, so that one gets invited to play with ensembles of higher technical standard, on average, than ones own.

My immediate response to the idea of learning clarinet is: "Brahms and Mozart quintets; Mozart concerto and three great serenades; sonatas with piano by Brahms (two), Poulenc and Hindemith; Ravel "Introduction and Allegro"; wind sextets by Janacek and Martinu; Shostakovich waltzes with flute and piano; and lots of wind quintets.

As steve said you should chose your next instrument by emotional reaction to the sound it makes.

If you're unsure perhaps you should listen to lots of different solo recordings or visit your local instrument shop to try them for yourself?

It takes a fair bit of drive as a mature adult to learn a new instrument so you really need that 'hook' to keep your interest when practice is struggling.

When you have decided.... then go for it and have fun

Mozart Concerto

clarinet is FUN

I play both the piano and the clarinet. They are completely different instruments to play. The clarinet could be considered slightly easier as there is only one line of music instead of two but I have never found it boring, it's not as simple as it seems when you 1st look at it. I have found that learning both has added a new dimension to my playing, and wouldn't call either boring. Do make sure that it's definitely the instrument you want to play, hire one for a few months and get the feel of it before you make up your mind.

Slightly? I find the clarinet much, much easier than the piano.

I started learning the piano as an adult but, despite being enthusiastic, I found it very difficult to get much beyond grade 3 level. I'm sure that if I'd learned as a child, I would have done better.

I've only had my clarinet a few years, but I'm already around grade 5-6. It's a fascinating instrument. So much so that I probably spend more time tinkering with reeds, ligatures, barrel, mouthpieces and pads, than I do actually playing!

Also, it's a lot easier to put in the boot of your car.

Steve

Boring? You get to play with LOTS of other people!!!! Pure fun!!!

The clarinet can NEVER be boring! It has a lovely tone and different registers and textures of sound. You can play glissandos on it. You can play in bands and orchestras. You can busk. You can use it to defend yourself if attacked.

Don't forget - Mozart loved the clarinet!!!

24 years I've spent clarinetting, and I've loved every moment. If you love an instrument enough, then it will never be boring.......
The social side shouldn't be underestimated either. As a proficient clarinettist, you'll be welcome in many a wind or concert band!

hmm...I went to my music shop to try out the instruments and decide what I want to play, and er, well...I kinda wanted to play them all after! It was harder to choose! hehe

I don't think so, when you play some clarinet pieces by Brahms, then you will be very interested in studying.

The clarinet is very portable. The piano, for all its merits.... isn't. I play flute and its portability is one of the things I love about it. And the sound of course

This is why I started the one or two topic! I play piano, and was thinking of taking up violin, but I tried to be really realistic with myself, and I honestly can say that even if I bought a violin and learned some, I'd want to play the instrument that I have poored my heart and soul into to get to level I'm at now. I mean, a new instrument would hold some intrigue, but the piano does what someone mentioned earlier to me. When I hear it, I get so excited! I just love the feeling of crashing chords or running scales up and down, or the sound of a melody and accompaniment both created by you. I love the fact that their is an endless amount of repertoire for it of classical and even contemporary pieces/songs. I love that I can throw my whole body at it when I'm angry about something and it responds to that extra force. Okay, I think I might be biased! Also, I have done almost nothing for the past 2 and a half years (literally! my parents are supporting me on this one, too, which is an amazing gift from God) but play piano day in and day out. And I have to do the same for almost 2 and a half years more to get my teacher's and performer's diploma. I have sweated and cried, and gotten frusterated, and perservered, and injured myself again and again , and kept on keeping on, making up for lost time (didn't start till 18), and I can't see myself doing that again for another 5 years after this for another instrument to bring it to the same level as piano. (If it was lower, I'd be tempted to ignore it and play what I am already good at). Wow, that was a long rant!

The clarinet will only be boring if you make it boring.

Completely agree with Julia.

There is some fantastic rep out there for the clarinet. You will get out of it in proportion to what you put in.