I've just started learning the clarinet... and by just I mean I've had two lessons! I wanted to know, what sort of oppotunities are there for joining groups when I've improved a bit? Are there many amatuer orchestras/wind bands around (in England) and do they take on people who may not be able to play everything but who want to join in practises and absorb the general 'ambience'? I understand that the clarinet is quite a popular instrument - are places qute scarce?

Also, it is advisable to learn a second instrument later on (much, much later!) to make myself more versatile, and which one would complement the clarinet?

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Hello Sianie -welcome to the forums!

Which part of the UK are you in? I'll probably be able to help with ideas in London and the southern Home Counties.

Enjoy your clarinetting - it's such a fun instrument to play!

Barry (clari)

I live in Brighton -well, Hove but I don't drive so would have to be very local! Thanks for your reply!

Hi Sianie,

Unfortunately you're a bit too far south for me to be of any real use for local ideas. As you improve though there are plenty of options as a clarinettist. While it's true that your average amateur orchestra will only have a need for two (maybe four) clarinets, wind bands and concert bands will often have anything up to 15 clarinets. The downside is that you'll have to wait until you're about grade 5 standard to play in most bands. Some will be doing music that will require a higher standard than that. However, certainly in my corner of London, there are a couple of bands which have 'training bands' attached to them, which will take in players of less than grade 5 standard, so it's worth doing a bit of research.

Here's a website to get you started :- www.windbanddirectory.co.uk . Probably the definitive wind band list!

The best of luck to you!

Barry (clari)

Thanks - that's good to know! Being completely new to this I didn't even know what sort of options there were, so thanks for the link!