Don Baird

Wandering Clarinet Don Baird

Don, at a very successful point in his music life, broke his right hand so severely he could no longer play clarinet. Playing for Warner Bros., Disney and other studios was over in a moment. Seven years later, Don inherited his brother's piano. He began to tinker with it and write songs (without words). In less than 3 months he had written 17 and by the end of the year, over 50. In a miraculous way, his hand was healing. It dawned on him when he was playing an octave on the piano, that he might finally be able to reach the keys of his clarinet....and he could! During the first week of reunion with his old clarinet friend, he took an evening and ad-libbed this musical meditation journey to celebrate. Once referred to by a Julliard jury as the 'Heifetz' of clarinet, he was finally playing again....out of practice and emotional, music flowed from his mind and hands......... We hope you enjoy this 'Wandering' moment.