From the second to last row of the theatre.
Bob: Look at that piano! That's one hell of a big piano for such a small stage.
Me: I know, and they've got a trumpet, and a clarinet, and an oboe. Ooh, and a piccolo! How cute!
*orchestra starts to warm up*
Bob: I was in the band in school, did I ever tell you that?
Me: Really? Me too! What did you play?
Bob: The click-clack.
Me: The ... huh?
Bob: You know, the click-clack! That hollow bit of wood on a stick that you hit and it went click, clack, click, clack.
Me: I see ... it wouldn't have happened to be the percussion band, would it?
Bob: Yeah, how'd you know? I was pretty good too, I even worked out how to do the click, clack, clickclick, clack.
Me: So were you first click-clack or second click-clack?
Bob: Shut up! I was brilliant!
Me: I'm sure you were. Best click-clack player around.
Bob: Damned straight! So, what did you play?
Me: (blandly) Second clarinet.
Bob: Oh, well don't feel too bad. Not everyone can play the click-clack.
Me: I'll try not to let it make me bitter...
NB. The name Bob was randomly selected as a generic substitute for all my cohorts. I'd say to protect the innocent, but then I'd spend the next twenty minutes laughing uproariously over the idea of anyone I associate with being innocent.
The click-clack is one of my favourite instruments. Seriously! I have one for use at my drumming circle.
ReplyDeleteAnd the clarinet's fine too, if you like that sort of thing.
Well, if one isn't click-clack gifted, one must fall back on something like the clarinet ;D
DeleteI didn't even know that was an instrument soooooo I'm just going to leave it there lol
ReplyDeleteConsider it your new piece of information for the day! You're welcome :D
DeleteI'm sure the click-clack is a necessary instrument, but it has an image problem - it needs a new name, something that sounds more Italian and less Mother Goose.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually called the Two Toned Wood Block, but I think Click-Clack gives it a sort of jaunty air.
DeleteYou mean to tell me I could of been in the school band. I seriously think I could of managed the click clack. I toyed with the idea of the triangle or the tambourine but clarinet players intimidated me.
ReplyDeleteWe are rather scary ... or at least as scary as one can be when the only song you know all the way through is "Sweet Caroline". Still, I rocked that song!
DeleteYeah, but can he nick knack patty whack and give himself a bone?
ReplyDeleteIf you'd ever met Bob, you'd know that he definitely can do all of those things ... in pretty much any way you choose to interpret it.
DeleteI should have given this instrument a try. Especially since I failed at becoming competent at any of the other instruments.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you can't master the Click-Clack, there's always the triangle!
Deleteclick-clack??
ReplyDeleteWho's there!
DeleteOh, sorry, that's knock knock, isn't it. My bad.
I can't believe I've never heard one of these?
ReplyDeleteEvery well established percussion band had tambourines, triangles, castanets and click-clacks. If you were a fancy band you also had cow bells!
DeleteI played air click-clack. Does that count? ;)
ReplyDeleteS
And I'm sure you rock!
DeleteBack in my day (like I'm so ancient) we didn't have click-clackers at school. We just had to use stick.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, back in the olden days when one would ride a horse drawn carriage to school and chalk slates were used (and often smashed over other student's heads, if Anne Of Green Gables is to be believed).
DeleteThat's still a step up from when I played the two sticks. Yup, they gave the rhythm-less two sticks to occasionally bang together.
ReplyDeleteIn our school those kids got the bottle cap stick. It was a stick with bottle caps loosely nailed to it so when the shook it the caps would jangle.
DeleteLet's not forget the infamous boobam, the egg shaker, the bock-a-da-bock, or the vibraslap -- which sounds a lot naughtier than it really is! Of course, finally, we must give an honorable mention to the cabasa -- not to be confused with kielbasa, which any good Polack knows is good eats.
ReplyDeleteI was in the band. I was a really, really big band geek.
I -- ahem -- still might be a teensy bit of one.
I still play my clarinet.
LOL! My favourite was always the egg shaker. And that bugger was harder than it looked! It wasn't easy to get the right rhythm.
DeleteThe clickclack! I love it!
ReplyDeleteSarah xxx
It's an essential part of any orchestra :D
DeleteI want to start a band of nothing but useless instruments. One of us will be on click-clack, the other will play the tambourine. Who wants to play the triangle or the kazoo?
ReplyDeleteOoh! Can I be the kazoo? I always thought that the kazoo looked like a fun version of the mouth organ.
DeleteI played the clarinet... I didn't even know the click clack was an option!! I should sew.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Valerie
Sew a pair of pants... And if those pants are sassy pants, I could actually sue. :0)
DeleteThere seems to be a lot of ex-clarinet players out there. I'm guessing that the schools got a deal on them or something and that's why there were so many.
DeleteI had to teach a recorder class to a group of Year 3's once....their response? Miss, do you know how to play the recorder? Sprung!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Oh dear, busted by a bunch of eight year olds!
DeleteSecond clarinet sounds a lot classier than the click-clack. Hahaha :) I didn't know that was an instrument, I thought it was just a toy or something... like those silly plastic recorders they teach us to play in school.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha. I'm was a total band nerd in high school and I would have had no idea what a click-clack was if someone tried to explain it! I played flute, sax, and sometimes even drum line so you'd think I'd have come across it at one point or another, but nope.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! You know another click-clacker!!! That image you supplied with the story brought back a flood of memories playing in the Queen Street Mall. You must tell me more about this person!!! Details tomorrow night, please.
ReplyDeleteMoi
Oh hush you! Yes, that was the conversation we had ;P
Delete