Big Mick -

As a whistle player, you may actually have something of an advantage in trying to play your clarinet.

The whistle has six finger holes, and the "tonic" note sounds when all six holes are covered.

You will find a similar six places to put those fingers, but on the clarinet you get the second note of the major scale with all six fingers down. What would be D E F# G a b c# on the D whistle will be a relative D E F G a b c on the clarinet, so you need to modify the fingerings to get the F# and c#, but the "mental mode" to play in "clarinet D," which for a Bb clarinet happens to be "concert C" is very much like playing the whistle.

Many typical high-school band clarinetists have a lot of trouble getting to this key, but it should feel pretty "natural" to you.

I'd suggest getting a fresh reed, preferably rather soft (a number 1.5?), and it would be helpful if you could find someone to show you the nuances of aligning the reed. Be sure to moisten the reed well before attempting to play. (The reed will probably "curl" when you first moisten it. Soak it until its flat.)

I didn't go very far into this site, but you might find something helpful at Clarinet Players Home Page. I think I saw reference to a fingering chart?

As to the lamp - there is certainly no need to damage the clarinet to incorporate it into a stunning piece of furniture. It's just one way of putting something of sentimental value out where you can see it frequently.

But if mom thought you'd want to play it - you don't dare not try????

John