Hey !

Started two month ago working the clarinet.

Took two private lessons, focused on breathwork, posture, embouchure. Helped a lot with clarion register.

Posture is a b*tch to focus on as I tend to bend my neck and tense shoulders, but I'm working on it.

Any feedback is welcome !

After a long cycle of writing more personal works, I decided to compose something that would be just as enjoyable for the performers as it is for the audience. I had been sitting on the idea for this piece for several years, inspired by the Wingdings font after a prompt from my high school band director.
Written for two B♭ clarinets, I wanted to treat the piece much like the font itself. Rather than developing a single large idea, the music is built from a collection of smaller, quirky musical fragments. Individually, these gestures may seem playful or unrelated, but together they form a cohesive and spirited whole, much like the seemingly random symbols that make up the Wingdings typeface.

Amazing solo at the end of Mark Dover’s own arrangement of Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder.

In your opinion, what are some great clarinet audition pieces, and which ones should be avoided?
I’m talking high level, advance study or professional auditions. If we assume competence on the instrument, which pieces are great/terrible for auditions? And why?

I personally dislike the Mozart Concerto as an audition piece, but it is often the set piece for some reason…
Any problem with doing overplayed pieces like the Brahms sonata’s, or would you prefer something lesser known?

Very interested in your opinions! TIA

Hello!

I am blind and have been learning the clarinet for a year and a half.

I recently bought a used YCL-452S; it’s a Japanese clarinet made in the 80s. It plays in tune and has a very smooth key action, but one of the keys is giving me a headache.

Note:

I get confused by transposing instruments; I only play alone as a hobby, so I use the name of the sounding notes.

My clarinet is a standard Bb.

The problem:

The key that isn't working well is the low D key (or A in the second register). When I press it, no sound comes out, or the sound is too muffled.

If I press it hard, the sound comes out normally, but it requires a level of force that isn't physically comfortable, and I’m afraid of breaking or bending the key.

Another point is that if I press the low Eb key (or Bb in the second register), it really helps the sound come out—probably because that key works in conjunction with the one mentioned above.

Yet another thing that might be useful to know: I feel like the issue is worst when I'm playing A in the second register than when I'm playing the low D, but I'm not sure about that. It might be just because I'm new to the clarinet and spend more time practicing in the lower register.

My question:

Is there any adjustment I can make myself?

If so, where should I tinker? I'm pretty sure there are some screws to turn somewhere (;

I can't see, but I understand where the physical parts of the instrument are located.

I’m capable of doing all the adjustments on my guitars and basses, so I believe I can manage using just my sense of touch. There is an adjustment tool in the clarinet case that I believe is meant for this situation; it has a very fine tip.

——

Thanks!!!

Free will is an incredible thing

I got a 7JB mouthpiece for folk playing and I get a pretty audible hiss no matter how much I tighten my lips around the mouthpiece. It quiets down but doesnt disappear when I press up on the reed with my bottom lip. Using a Rigotti 1.5 reed.

I started playing on a D'addario Reserve X5 and had no such issue.

I made a post a while ago about how my clarinet wouldn’t stop squeaking, and it did stop after a bridge key repair, but now it’s even worse, I can’t even practice, and band camp is in 6 days. I have a video attached. I’ve tried new reeds, old, undamaged reeds, safely cleaning it, using more/less cork grease, and everything posture/embouchure related. What else can I do???

We have fun here(:

As per the title. A couple of years ago I asked for some recommendations on this sub and started searching for a while, but life came storming in the last 2 years, so I didn't have the time to actually look for a clarinet.

That is until recently, when by dumb luck I managed to spot a second-hand Leblanc Vito Reso-Tone 3 in good condition.

As basic hygienie I'm looking to replace the mouthpiece altogether, but I would appreciate additional suggestions as well, regarding a second-hand clarinet.

Can you suggest what kind of mouthpiece and reed I should get to start playing again?

Hi! When my daughter tries to play the B note on the clarinet, as soon as she presses the register key it starts to make a buzzing noise. Is this a mechanical issue or could it be her technique?

Hi there. There are no Vandoren distributors in my country, so I have to import mouthpieces. I play in a large band performing Latin music (boleros, folk, cumbia).

I currently use a Beechler Tonalex 7s mouthpiece with a Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reed.

I’ve tried various reed brands and strengths, but the bottom line is that if I use a 3.0 reed, I get exhausted very quickly, yet if I switch to a 2.5, it’s hard to maintain my intonation.

The mouthpiece has a great sound, but the problem is that I end up extremely tired, and it doesn't give me the projection I need. So, I’ve decided to switch mouthpieces.

I’m considering the Vandoren Black Diamond 6 (or its HD version) and the Jody Jazz HR #3.

I want to play my clarinet comfortably without worrying about fatigue, and I’m looking for a sound that is broad and well-projected. Which model do you recommend? Let me know what you think! :) _____________________________________________________ ●■Hola, en mi pais no hay distribuidores Vandoren asi que debo importar boquillas

Toco en un grupo musical grande y tocamos musica de genero latino (boleros, folklor, cumbia)

Tengo actualmente una boquilla Beechler Tonalex 7s con caña Vandoren 56 rue lepic, ya he probado diferentes marcas y numeraciones de caña, pero en resumen si toco con caña 3.0 termino muy cansado de tocar con muy poco, y si paso a 2.5 es dificil mantener la afinacio. Tiene un excelente sonido esa boquilla, pero el problema que tengo es que termino extremadamente cansado y no me da la proyeccion que necesito

Asi que he optado por cambiar de boquilla. Tengo como opcion la Vandoren Black Daimond 6, su version HD y la Jody Jazz HR #3.

Busco tocar tranquilamente mi clarinete sin preocuparme por cansarme y un sonido proyectado y amplio.

¿Que modelo me recomiendan? Los leo :)

Hello! New Clarinet player here (day 2) and I'm finding my lips get tired since I don't have the strength built up. I'm wanting to just keep my Clarinet nearby, and pick it up and play it at my leisure, but I know the reed has to be wet.

Is there a reason I can't just leave my reed in a cup of water beside me for hours on end? Will it damage the reed?

Thanks so much!

I wrote this today. What do you think? What grade level would you assign it? I'm a trombonist, but teach band.

Hi!

Long story short, I am a "former" musician who stopped playing 8 years ago after I lost my dad; and am looking for any tips and advice on how to motivate myself to continue trying to practice again.

I played from when I was 13 to when I was 18, only stopping after graduating high school. Never went to college or pursued things (due to personal matters). I had qualified for our state's all county and all district multiple times, and was first chair from my sophomore year up until I graduated. I LOVED it, loved marching band competitions, loved playing solos and harmonies, loved it more than anything. I've tried picking it back up a few times since, but I wind up getting upset that I don't sound like I used to at all.

I'm a believer in "signs", or gentle nudges/suggestions from the universe. I've been getting a lot of signs that I need to pick it up again, and restart doing something I loved.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, sorry if this is scatterbrained. (also need reed recommendations because last I played was on a vandoren 4 but there's no way in HELL i can play one now) Thanks for reading!

Thank you in advance for any replies!!

I found this Amati german system Bb clarinet whilst looking for a G clarinet. It's a 500 dollars which is a very decent price even including the cost of having it serviced. But I'm not very knowledgeable on what to look out for or any red flags?

Sorry for the blurring being kind of weird

I was having some trouble with my embouchure and a lot of air coming out of the sides of my mouth. I know you have to put your lip over your bottom teeth and not your top, but other than that what should I do?

I'm also running out of breath pretty quickly, I'm not sure if it's because of my embouchure or if I just have a small lung capacity.

Any tips appreciated! (I really cannot get a teacher, please don't say anything about that :D)

(I also already have a basis in music but no wind or brass instruments so I know basic music theory things)

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some constructive feedback on my C clarinet playing. I haven’t really played my C clarinet since April, so I’m definitely feeling a bit rusty. I recently recorded a few short videos from my Gia Mass book that I used in college, and I’d love to hear what you think.
For some background, I mainly play B♭ clarinet, and I use my C clarinet to play for college church services when it’s needed. Since I don’t play it as often, I’m trying to get it back into shape and improve my comfort on the instrument. These were recorded on my phone, so not the best audio, and I forgot to flip the camera over sorry! :-/

Setup: Ridenour C Clarinet, Vandoren M15 mouthpiece, Ronver Dark Ligature, Vandoren traditional blue box/V12 reeds (strength 3)

I can’t figure out how to post multiple vids, so here’s 1 I guess :-)

Im considering upgrading from it to something like a festival or RC, is it worth it?

Has anyone here gotten into a performance degree without being an obvious prodigy? What level were you at when you auditioned, and what do conservatorium audition panels actually expect from applicants

I'm 18 and have spent this year preparing an audition for a conservatorium in October. I think I am average, or a bit behind for my age. I started playing pretty late and have just completed my grade8. There are around 10, give or take, clarinettists in one cohort so I would say my chances are tight.

edit: Thank you for all so much for all of the practical advice, but I'm not asking IF I should go into a performance degree, I'm asking the people who got in what levels they were at when auditioning. Also there is only like one or two conservatories in my whole state where I live, I am not auditioning for Julliard or anything lol.

I have not played my clarinet in about 9 years. So I’ve forgotten everything. I am trying to play sound however I can just hear air. I have checked for air leaks and saw nothing. Here are some photos. Yes I know the read is a bit dirty but surely that isn’t the problem?