Encouragement to Keep Liking the Clarinet at the High School College

Our local high school had this spectacular event, where they invited the town's young'uns, such as young Ian and Daniel, to attend a special concert where the high school band - or perhaps one of several - not ony performed for the younger set, but invited them to come and sit near musicians playing their favorite instruments, and talk, after the concert, with said performers about the instruments and the experience of playing them. Needless to say, Amy Beth was frothing at the bit to take the boys to this concert. Amy reported that the entire crowd - performers, other students, band director, etc. - were tremendously cordial and endearing, and everyone had a marvelous time.

As Amy had expected, Ian sat next to a clarinetist, since he has a particular enthusiams for that reed instrument, in spite of (hopefuly not because of) his experience with Suzuku piano and violin.

This happened about a week ago, but Ian spontaneously started telling me about it tonight, as follows:

"That girl [that plays the clarinet] - we saw her at college [sic]. She told me that I should keep liking the clarinet, but I don't really know if I'll keep liking the clarinet, because the clarinet isn't the loudest instrument."

(November 1, 2009)