Is this model considered a professional clarinet? I had purchased one a long time ago for college, thinking I would be able to pick it up quickly. Boy, was I wrong. As it turns out, training myself to keep the tone holes covered was a LOT more difficult than I expected. I couldn't even play a simple melody because I could not keep the tone holes covered. I remember my clarinet instructor in college had told me that my clarinet was not a professional model; it's probably because I sounded so terrible on it. I had auditioned on a Selmer Bundy EEb Contralto Clarinet and was accepted on the spot. I was very good on this instrument, but when it came to playing the Bb Soprano, it was VERY different - which is not what I was prepared for. And I was expected to take lessons on the Bb Clarinet and perform a jury at the end of each semester. I had also played Alto Saxophone since the 4th grade and was much more proficient with that instrument than I was on the Bb Soprano Clarinet. But I was not nearly as adept as I was on the EEb Contralto Clarinet. Live and learn, I guess. Lately, I have been trying to get better on my Alto Sax.