Learning To Play the Clarinet

If one is looking to begin to play a classic music instrument, either because of a compelling interest in music or to learn more about the instrument itself, then the clarinet is a good choice to start with. However, there are many types and variations of clarinets that are used in contemporary music groups, including but not limited to soprano B flat clarinets, bass clarinets, alto clarinets, and E flat clarinets. If you’re a student who is only looking for an instrument to play so that you can participate in a band or orchestra, your best bet is probably to start with the B flat clarinet, which is the most common and the easiest to find teachers for.

Once you’ve chosen the type of clarinet you will be learning, the next step will be where to buy or rent the instrument, and where to buy the supplies needed for upkeep of the clarinet, including mouthpiece swabs, reeds, and cleaning supplies. Some music stores will offer special deals for those students who are just beginning to play the clarinet but plan to buy a more advanced model later on. These deals will offer a renting plan on a clarinet for a certain amount of time, after which time the customer may purchase that clarinet or another one for a lowered price. This is beneficial, because if the player decides to switch instruments later on, or to quit playing clarinet, then there are no long term commitments that come from buying a clarinet rather than renting it. Be sure to choose a reputable music store in your community that has good standing with the professional musicians in that community, because they will often provide the best services and the best deals in town, which is why they would be preferred by the professionals. Also make sure that the additional accessories (reeds, mouthpieces, etc.) needed for playing the instrument are easily accessible and are sold for cheap prices at the store. It is surprising how often things such as reeds will need to be replaced in the course of learning the instrument.

Once you have chosen the store and the type of clarinet, the next step is to consider what brand of clarinet to rent or buy. The music store, if you have chosen a reputable and helpful dealer, will provide advice as to which brand of clarinet would be a good choice for a beginner. Most often this will be a Yamaha/Buffet model, since these are two of the largest and most well-known clarinet manufacturers. It is a very good choice for the beginning player to start with a plastic clarinet, although rubber and wood types are also available. This is because the wood clarinet models offered by many manufacturers require MUCH more care and have special needs that plastic clarinets do not (regular cleaning, protection from moisture, extreme climate conditions, regular oiling…). A student can get by with minimal cleaning and extra care with a plastic clarinet at first, which is why it is the preferred choice. Wood clarinets do sound better, it’s true. But the huge amount of extra work put into caring for them is undesirable for the beginning player.

The best place to begin learning the clarinet from is probably a school band, since this setting provides the player with experience playing in an ensemble, while the teacher most likely knows a lot of the fingerings and can teach the technique required to play the instrument. This is how many beginning players will get into learning the instrument, and this is fine for those who are not serious about playing the clarinet long-term. For those who are interested in this however, a private teacher is preferable to learning in a school setting. Professional private clarinet teachers provide much more in depth knowledge and regarding the instrument, and will teach/coach the student to the point where they are able to play in more advanced groups and even solo ensembles. Many communities have city symphony orchestras, whose musicians will give private lessons in their free time. These are the perfect individuals to go to if you want to learn to play the clarinet and if you are serious about playing the instrument long-term.

In summation, learning the clarinet will be a rewarding experience for any individual interested in the topic if they go about it in the correct way. First, the student will want to know which type of clarinet that they want to play. Then they will want to find a reputable dealer to turn to for supplies and the instrument itself. Next, they will need to seek advice as to what brand and type of clarinet that is suitable for their skill level. Finally, they will need to find a setting where they can learn the instrument, whether it be a school ensemble or a professional private teacher. Learning to play the clarinet in this manner will ensure a rewarding, fulfilling experience.