New York Times reporter Daniel J. Wakin started playing the clarinet at age 11. He recently became the third nonprofessional musician to play with the New York Philharmonic, in a nice little PR coup that fulfilled a personal dream. Wakin’s detailed write-up of his experience preparing and playing for a Philharmonic performance is a wonderful read for anyone who wants an inkling of what it’s like to play with the greats. With careful coaching from a veteran principal clarinetist, who advises him not to faint, Wakin admirably survives a professional symphony performance at Avery Fisher Hall under the baton of Lorin Maazel.