I taught woodwind in schools and privately for 20 years and became very frustrated seeing countless children struggling with an instrument which was too big and heavy for them. It was obvious that they would learn faster with a lighter, smaller clarinet, and enjoy playing it more.

What made you decide to take your idea further?

The encouragement I received from well-known musicians and people in music education such as Sir Charles Groves, Richard Addison, Humphrey Lyttelton, Peter Howes, John Dankworth, and many professional musicians and music teachers. Many of them had been thinking along the same lines for years - that a clarinet for children retaining the fingering and sound of a standard clarinet was an obvious development.