Clarinet Lessons

Learn to play the Clarinet. Clarinet tutors throughout the UK; more welcome.

A clarinet is a member of the woodwind family and is a popular musical instrument for students moving on from the recorder since it has many similarities with that simpler instrument. Music is produced by blowing into the mouthpiece causing a reed to vibrate and this sound passes down the cylindrical body of the clarinet before emerging from the trumpet-like end (the origin of the name, clarinet, is Italian and means 'little trumpet'). The pitch of the note produced is varied by opening and closing keys on the body of the clarinet.

The clarinet plays music over four octaves although the upper register notes are difficult to reach and require a more skilled player to access to their full effect. Like other woodwind instruments using reeds these come in varying degrees of hardness - scored from 1.0 to 5.0 in 0.5 increments.

The harder the reed, the more 'puff' is required and the fuller the sound produced. A 1.0 reed is soft and therefore suitable for a young child while an adult beginner should probably start with a 1.5 or even 2.0 reed. A 3.5 and above hardness reed is really only for an experienced player and, at that level, reed selection really comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The clarinet was first invented in Germany around the beginning of the 18th century by Johann Denner who adapted a chalumeau. Since then more keys have been added and the musical instrument has become more complex.

The clarinet family comprises the widest range of instruments of any musical instrument in the woodwind family (see list below) with the most common being the B-flat soprano clarinet.

Alto clarinet (E-flat)
Bass clarinet (B-flat)
Basset clarinet (A)
Contra-alto clarinet (E-flat)
Contra-bass clarinet (B-flat)
Piccolo clarinet (A)
Sopranino clarinet (D)
Sopranino clarinet (E-flat)
Soprano clarinet (A)
Soprano clarinet (B-flat)
Soprano clarinet (C)

This wide variety of musical instruments (although some it should be said are virtually obsolete), gives the clarinet the widest pitch range of all woodwind instruments.

Clarinet build-quality varies considerably, as does the price. A new, reasonable quality beginner's clarinet can be purchased for under £200 but a professional quality instrument will easily cost upwards of £1000. The cheaper instruments are made from wood, plastic or resin but a more expensive clarinet will be made of hardwood such as the African Grenadilla.

Now all that stands between you and making music is to just book up some clarinet lessons.

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