How to Play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the Clarinet
If you're a beginning clarinet player, learning to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is a good way to familiarize yourself with the instrument. It is a simple tune with easy rhythms, a short range of pitch, and easy fingering.
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Instructions
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1
Look at the sheet music for "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Determine the note values to make sure you know how long and when to play each note.
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2
Look at the different notes used in the music. Notice there are only four notes that make up this tune, so you only have four notes to learn how to play.
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3
Figure out the fingering for the first three notes. Take one at a time, playing each to make sure you've got a good sound. You'll be playing these three notes the most during the tune, so memorize the fingerings and get to know the tone of each note.
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4
Find the 12th note into the music, the one that is obviously different from the other three notes you've learned how to play. Use your fingering chart to figure out how to play it.
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5
Start at the beginning of the music. Slowly go through it, note by note, using what you've learned about how to play each one. If you're familiar with the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," you should be able to recognize what you're playing as you get further into the music.
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Play the first two phrases. Depending on your arrangement, the two phrases could be four or eight bars. The two phrases end when you play "...her fleece was white as snow." If you can play these two phrases, you can play the entire song. The two phrases are repeated for every verse.
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Tips & Warnings
Take it slow, especially if you're a beginner. Try playing it an octave higher to get used to playing in the upper register. If you know how to play some basic major scales, such as C, G, and F, notice that the notes of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" are the first, second, third, and fifth notes of a major scale. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" begins on the third note of a major scale, no matter what key signature your sheet music is written in. This can help you get started.
