r/Clarinet

So I can play all the way up to A6 comfortably, and can get a nice tone and pitch throughout. But my A5 and G#5 are totally unstable and I can’t figure out why!!

It’s not the clarinet, since it happens when I play my old clarinet too. I try to tighten up, loosen up, change my voicing, all kinds but it just seems that I can’t maintain these notes for very long.

Has anybody had experience with this? Is it a common problem at all? My teacher couldn’t see anything wrong with my embouchure last time I brought it up so I’m kind of at a loss 🤷🏼‍♂️

My son is just going to seventh grade with the second year of clarinet. I’m wondering what the best way to organize all of his various clarinet accessories and music. He has a Yamaha YCA20 which holds his instrument and a few reed’s and cork grease and other than that a flimsy bag holds his band books and folders and whatever else they gave him. He has ADHD and is accustomed to toss everything in the bag resulting in crumpled up notes and beat up books along with just losing stuff. Anyone have any suggestions for useful bag solutions that may better protect his music and books and offer some storage for pencils and the rest of his things he won’t want rattling around in his case?

If worth mentioning, backpacks are not allowed outside their lockers (because if “safety”) so need something else…

Hi! I've been stalking this reddit for advice about Eb clarinets. I recently joined a band that occasionally has Eb parts, which sounds like a great excuse to buy one. 😁

I've played clarinet for about 20 years and currently own a Buffet 1183, R13, E11 (in A), and a B12 that I use for outdoor gigs. I did play an old R13 eb briefly back in college, which was definitely a struggle. 😅

I don't know that I can justify spending a ton on an Eb that I'll only play a couple times a year. Unfortunately, there aren't any local options where I can try a variety of Eb clarinets before purchasing. Knowing they're notoriously difficult to play, I want to make sure I'm getting an instrument that will put my best foot forward.

I'm leaning toward something around or below $2,000. I don't want one of the China-manufactured options, which seems to leave me with a Buffet E11 (although I've heard somewhat questionable things about their Eb intonation), a used Noblet, or a used Bundy. I could maybe stretch for a Yamaha 681 if the difference is worth it and I get lucky finding one at a good price online.

What are everyone's thoughts on the options in that general price range? I expect to pay for an overhaul, mouthpiece, and cutback barrel afterward regardless.

Hey! I’m a first chair piccolo player for the advanced group, lead Jazz Alto 1 in the second group, and this year I’m playing clarinet for the first time in Symphonic Band.

I’m currently playing on a Selmer CL-300 with a Rovner Dark ligature, Vandoren Traditional 3.0 reeds, and a Vandoren CM0378 B40 Profile 88 mouthpiece.

I’m looking for some good books or methods to learn clarinet from. The only ones I really know about are Foundation for Superior Art and Performance and JBC. Are there any other books you’d recommend for someone who already has a lot of experience with other woodwinds but is new to clarinet?

I already have a pretty good foundation with reading music, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, and ensemble playing from piccolo and alto sax, but I know clarinet is pretty different and I don’t want to accidentally develop bad habits by treating it like a smaller saxophone.

I’d also appreciate any tips for starting clarinet, especially with embouchure, air support, tone, articulation, throat tones, the break, and getting comfortable with the different registers.

Any book recommendations, exercises, or just general advice would be awesome. Thanks!

I've posted on here kinda a lot but Ive been practicing around 1 hr - 2 hr everyday this summer (normally 30 minutes) but I haven't seen any change, especially in my playing speed.

I start with some scales, then some long tones, then I'll do 3-5 technical exercises my teacher assigned me, then I'll work on an etude with a metronome (tbf, I just started using a metronome like 2 weeks ago), then I'll work on a piece and I'll sight read if I have some time. The issue is is that I haven't played any faster, and I don't really feel an improvement. The fastest I can tongue a scale is like 105 bpm and even that takes a couple of tries. I know speed isn't everything but it just sucks when every etude is like 120 bpm and you can only play 85

Any tips on how to play faster???

If you can get either new at the same price, which one would you choose?

I can bend/scoop the high C pretty easily by shifting my tongue position. Those high register notes are pretty easy.

How would you go about learning to bend/scoop the throat tones? Moving my tongue half almost no effect, and im not sure what else i can do beside relaxing my embouchure to detune the note. Any wisdom? Does reed strength effect this? I want to play jazz, and was told by someone playing with a softer reed would be more appropriate, can anyone confirm?

Thanks

Other than Rose etudes. Is there a good book for intervallic practice?

So, for reference, I write/arrange music, just got my first clarinet yesterday, and I do play flute as well. So, why is crossing the break more difficult on Clarinet than on other woodwind instruments? (E.g. on flute, from C# to D). Why is this so much more of an issue for this particular instrument?

Please please please give me tips on sightreading or like specifically how to effectively practice it in 3 months before all state auditions like Im doing it but I still suck after like a month I need to improve

Like I'll do so much to improve my sight reading I'll actually let a snake come out the toilet and bite my ass

so to give context I’ve been playing since 7th grade and even tho it’s been 4 years I struggle with my chromatic scale (and even knowing all 12 major scales). I have all state auditions in about 4 months and I’m scared I’m not going to have enough time to worry about it since I tend to forget about it. I want to be able to play my chromatic with the recommended fingerings and a faster tempo.

honestly I want to buy one but the budget I have is 250. Yes I know I have to pay more than that for a good instrument but for now it’s what I’m working with, so where can I find something that’s good for now? even though I’ve seen horrible reviews on Amazon it’s literally what I’m considering, so please if you have any recommendations help me out!