r/Clarinet

I recently started playing my clarinet after 11 years of not playing it. It was basically in use for a good 16 years straight, and really hasnt had any problems. Never had to get it recorked, even though me and my sister never really used cork grease until its last few years of use.

Really the only damage or obvious wear on it, is a couple of the keys, have faded spots on the metal, a bit of the branding has faded away, and the mouth piece has a divet in it probably from resting against our teeth.

I know it is a student clarinet (yamaha ycl-27) and as i said it has served us for many years. However im curious, do you guys think i should stick with it or buy a better clarinet. The only other clarinet ive played was a cheap red one that our high school band had, it was so much easier to play but it didnt sound good.

Tldr: im getting back into playing after 10 years and I have a yamaha ycl-27 student clarinet that has never really had any problems in its 18 years of constant usage. Should I get a better clarinet, or just stick with this one till something happens?

Hello all!

I’ve been doing a lot of auxiliary playing recently and have been borrowing an e-flat, but I’m considering purchasing my own instrument. I’ve enjoyed my experience with Buffet’s RC Prestige, but would be open to other (and maybe more affordable 😅) options.

Thanks!

Hi everyone, happy to join the community. I loved to play the clarinet in middle and into high school. I haven't touched out since, around 14 years. Any and all recommendaitons are welcome!

My band teacher is letting me borrow his clarinet thst he doesnt use anymore but it doesnt have a mouthpiece do I'll have to get one tomorrow. (P.S. ignore the valve oil.) ((Double P.S I play through Tuba and Baritone))

Hello, folks.

What would you advise to be a route for learning clarinet? My impression is that everyone's journey is different but just in case - there a standard or recomended learning path for clarinet? I imagine that the path will be different depending on what one's end goal is. So for the sake of being speciifc, I'm looking to imrpovise, compose and record myself. Should I be learning scales, modes? Just pick out a book of clarinet sheet music and start learning the pieces? I've just picked up an entry level clarinet and been figuring out fingerings using some known tunes like Pink Panther and The Sailors Hornpipe.

And another more pressing question. The whole thing with Clarinet being a transposing instrument. How vital is it that I learn fingering in using clarinet charts as opposed to concert pitch? I understand that If my goal was to play in an orchestra, I need to learn the fingerings that accouny for the 2 semitone transposition and that offset will be accounted for in sheet music. But since my main goal is improvisation and recording over my own compositions, is there any point whatsoever in learning transposed fingering? Should I not just learn fingering in Concept pitch where the note I hear matches the note a tuner reports in concert pitch?

The reason being is because before getting into clarient I've been learning Piano, Guitar and Music Theory Rudiments and the idea of having to re-learn a transposed notation system after having gotten used to expecting a certain written note to sound a certain way frankly irratates and intimidates me.

I need peoples opinion on this but what is the likelihood of messing up a pad replacement on your own?

Hello yall, I'm someone who used to play clarinet in highschool and now I'm in college. I kind of started moving away from the clarinet during this time because I realized it gave me a lot more stress than happiness. I mean I love the instrument, the sound, the music written for it, making music, I think its all wonderful and I also have a lot of happy memories playing in band with my friends.

But I realized recently that practicing the clarinet is associated with negative feelings for me. I think it became very clear once I entered college & joined the school ensemble. It was really really boring there compared to highschool 😭but suddenly I had 0 motivation to even pick up the instrument. It was like, once the community and people and stuff surrounding the clarinet disappeared, so did my will to play. The last time I practiced, I only felt stress, anxiety, and frustration (which I used to feel a lot when I was young but it wasn't this intense). My tone is bad, my intonation is bad, my fingers are fumbling, this and that, every small thing about my playing affects me badly. I hate it because I feel like I'm awful at the clarinet (at least in my head). Even the word practice gives me the heebie jeebies. I dont get how the people around me genuinely love to practice. I cannot fathom that they genuinely love doing this because for me, practicing is a torturous reminder session that I'm falling short of my expectations.

I love the clarinet, but to play music you gotta practice it and its hard to practice when everything surrounding practicing, from opening the case, warming up (especially warming up), the smell and sight of a practice room, automatically leads to feelings of distress lol. I realized this, so I went cold turkey and took a break from it. I've been working on my mind/health in general in this time, but so far I haven't even touched my case at all in almost 6 months. I'm not sure how to start untangling bad feelings from the music. I want to let go of everything and be able to play again freely and with joy. Like I did back in elementary school.

I'm kind of looking for a way to approach my practicing sessions or for music suggestions. What should I even play?? Definitely not scales and etudes lol. Or if anyone has had a similar experience.

Ive had the habit where I roll all of my lip over my teeth so my bottom lip is completely covered which I now know is not really how ur supposed to do it. My issue is if I un tuck my lip any amount my clarinet plays really high notes, not the note im intending to play at all. Ive played around with different angles, different jaw tension, different amounts of bottom lip but nothing has worked at all. Many thanks in advance.

I'm interested in stories of people who started playing relatively late in life. I am 19 years old and will be starting in couple of days. I am absolutely thrilled that I finally got that opportunity but some of the people I know keep discouraging me from it saying it is too late and it will be extremely challenging now. I just want to hear your stories.

Hi there, I'm looking to find out if anyone has any experience with hyper mobility and thumb wrests. My daughter is 11 and learning clarinet but her thumb always locks in the hitchhiker position and gets hand fatigue really fast.

Edit: thank you everyone for all the great ideas. I feel so much more equipped to help now (I have never played an instrument). Learning that there isn't just one solution.

I recently started learning the clarinet (B flat) and my cat is having a strange reaction to it. I practice in my bedroom, and whenever I do she comes in the room, but hides under the bed, all the way against the wall (by the headboard). She never hides under the bed for anything so it’s very odd.

I do have some previous sax experience from years ago, but I still squeak a bit as a new player. I am a little worried she is scared or put off by the sound of my playing.

The thing is, she is PRICELESS to me and her happiness is extremely important, but I am not that attached to the B flat clarinet. Should I think about making a change? Have been considering moving to bass clarinet or cello, to avoid some of the higher notes. I like the sound of them too.

Anyone else here have a cat? How do they react when you practice at home? Any advice would be appreciated!

Got them pulled last monday including another baby tooth. How many days should I wait until I csn really play again?

Recently I got an opportunity to learn the clarinet in my local orchestra. I've wanted to start a new instrument apart from the piano I've been playing for couple of months now, so after I got the info that free clarinet lessons are available I signed up. They start in two weeks. I really like the sound of the clarinet, however I've been ​dreaming about the flute for a long time. Due to financial reasons I wasn't able to have private lessons but now I believe I can afford two lessons a month. So my question is, is it better to start learning clarinet and the flute at the same time or should I focus on the clarinet and then after some time try the flute?