this happened to me.

i wasn't last chair, I was "always second" but I was stuck with a hand me down clarinet with shit pads.

my mom was too poor to even look into having it repadded for years.

i silenced the class and got moved to first chair after playing with proper pads.

it was frustrating and glorious. you're just not allowed to blame your instrument. but I think we can all agree.

fuck em.