I've just had my first clarinet lesson for over 20 years and it was great! I've been teaching myself for the last few weeks but, although I've been doing several things wrongly, my teacher said that I'd already made good progress and thought I showed promise. I'm well chuffed!

He told me my embouchure was too tight and showed me how to loosen it and has given me advice on breathing. I now know what I need to do during practice - long notes, scales (five whole minutes of them!), arpeggios and short pieces to learn.

I now feel like a real musician - or, at least, like a real beginner!! I can't wait for my second lesson next week!

yey! *claps*

What pieces are you going to/are playing/are working on?

I'm glad it went well. Sounds like a nice teacher.

Good stuff! The more clarinettists the better, well not if you're trying to get into a band or orchestra, but any other time, c'mon the clarinettists!

Sounds great - always encouraging to know you're working along the right lines (it's what I'm always paranoid about between lessons) - keep us posted, yesyes?

Sure will. Struggling a bit with my embouchure at the moment (it was much easier doing it the wrong way!) but determined to get it right.

It can be hard to revert back from doing something wrong. Like I always lick my lips before I play the flute, it is automatic, and my teacher tells me to stop it but I just can't!

LOL! Yes - then again, probably partly due to the fact that you're *used* to doing it the wrong way... you may get to the stage where you wonder how you ever managed to! But you have my sympathy, I'm glad I'm having lessons again, (flute not clary, but same principle) but weeding out all the bad habits that were so entrenched and, well, comfortable... I can see (well, hear!) the benefits but it's hard work in the meantime...