You never know what you’ll find under your parents’ bed.

Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman

"I would say that my choice of the clarinet came from a very simple fact that it was the instrument that was underneath my mom and dad's bed when my 5th grade teacher said, 'If you have an instrument at home kids, bring it to school next week, and I'll teach you a scale.'"

Choosing your first instrument — sometimes it picks you, and on occasion, it gets picked for you.

When “Trombone Shorty” was big enough to pick up and hold an instrument, his parents told him. “You’re going to play the trombone in our family band, and your name will be “Trombone Shorty.”

And there are other times where you might have been encouraged or politely coerced into making you choice. Sound familiar?

*Student: I’d like to play the trumpet.

Band Director: Are you sure…you know the double bass is a fine instrument, and a lot of fun. And, so is playing bass trombone. Now the bassoon…that’s an instrument.

*Student: Mom…Dad, I want to play the drums.

Mom and Dad: Absolutely not.

Here’s a question harpists get all the time. “Don’t you wish you chose a smaller instrument that’s easier to carry?

Parents, teachers, and relatives often tell young people to “make smart choices.”

You made smart choices, whether you chose your instrument on your own, or you got a little outside help.

Richard Stoltzman