How to Choose a Clarinet

Series Summary

This “little trumpet,” hailing from the woodwind family, has drawn many supporters over the years, such as Sidney Bechet, Artie Shaw, Pete Fountain, Benny Goodman, and yes, even the famous writer/moviemaker Woody Allen. We're talking about the clarinet, a single reed instrument with a large selection of varying pitches and a multi-faceted history of tones and forms. Clarinets have found a prominent place in several forms of music, most notably in big band productions, in classical and orchestral works, and in Dixieland jazz. Some people, in recent years, have formed quartets, or even choirs, devoted solely to clarinet playing. In these free video lessons, our expert will show you how to get started playing the clarinet. From choosing and installing a clarinet reed to basic fingering and playing techniques, here's everything you need to get started on the clarinet. Get tips on whether buying or renting a clarinet is the best thing for a new student, and what items you need to maintain your clarinet. Learn how to play clarinet: it’s an easy lesson for absolute beginners.

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Loren Green I'm an elementary music teacher near Austin, Texas. And I've been playing the clarinet for fifteen years, and I teach private clarinet lessons. Today I'm going to tell you about how to choose a clarinet. The first thing you want to do is make sure that you buy a wooden clarinet. Most clarinets are made out of Grenadier wood, which a good wood that has a good tone and it will last. If you have a student going into middle school, make sure you talk to the band directors about recommendations they have for clarinets. They may also know people who are selling clarinets who they trust, who have used their clarinets wisely. If you do not feel like dropping a lot of money on a clarinet, you can always rent. Many music stores have good renting options to where you're paying about twenty to thirty five dollars a month to rent a clarinet. Which is especially good if you have a sixth grade student who's not even sure if they want to continue to play the clarinet. If you buy a good beginner clarinet it can start around $400, intermediate start around seven hundred, and professional models can start at about $1,000 and up. Of course buying a used clarinet is always an option. Brands that I would recommend are LeBlanc or Buffet and they have many models from beginner all the way up to professional. When you go to buy a clarinet whether it's new or used there are several things that you should check for. You should always inspect the wood for cracks, and you should check for leaks throughout the pads. And one way you can do that is to take the segments apart, to cover all the holes, to put your hand on the bottom and to blow. If any air escapes, you have a leak and that would need to be repaired. Then you do it with the bottom segment, so you make sure everything is pushed down, you cover the bottom, and you blow, you should not hear or feel anything coming out. I would recommend if you know somebody who can play the clarinet, that you take them with you. If they can play the clarinet they can test to see how it feels and if there are any leaks that maybe you didn't detect by testing it that way. So that is how to buy a clarinet."