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WHY PLAY THE CLARINET?
A clarinet for a child is
a terrific starting point into making music. The size and weight
of the instrument make the clarinet well-suited for children
with small hands and, compared to many instruments, the clarinet
has the advantage of being very portable. There are many opportunities
for young players of the clarinet, primarily in school music
programs, including concert and marching bands, orchestras,
jazz bands, clarinet choirs, and solo clarinet with piano.
The clarinet is often the instrument
to play the melody in band, so children get a lot of pleasure
by playing recognizable tunes.
BACKGROUND
The clarinet has an exciting and
diverse background in the history of music. As one of the most
versatile instruments in the woodwind family (which also includes
flutes, oboes, bassoons, and saxophones), the clarinet has been
the instrument of choice for many brilliant performers in many
styles of music, including jazz, classical and pop. Some of the
most famous clarinetists to make history with the instrument include
Benny Goodman, Richard Stoltzman, Eddie Daniels, Pete Fountain,
and Jack Brymer.
These artists have each developed
unique styles of playing that illustrate the vast capabilities
of the clarinet. The tremendous musical range of tone and dynamics
that a clarinet can produce range from the subtle, fluid lines
of Debussy, to the gritty New Orleans style of Dixieland, to the
fire-breathing, high-ranging passages in "Sing, Sing, Sing" by
Benny Goodman. The clarinet has been featured on "Top 10" songs
recorded by Billy Joel, Supertramp, Chicago, and many others.
From a historical point of view,
the clarinet is a relative newcomer compared to other woodwind
and string instruments. First developed in the late 1600s by J.C.
Denner, the earliest clarinets had only two keys and a body of
boxwood. Mozart was the first major composer who saw the true
potential of the instrument, and penned a clarinet concerto, which
even today is considered one of the greatest concertos ever written
for any instrument. After Mozart, many of the great composers
wrote works for the clarinet, including Brahms, Beethoven, Von
Weber, Copland, and many others.
It wasn't until the 1850s that the
design of the clarinet began to take on its modern configuration
of 17 keys, which helped facilitate difficult passages and make
the instrument play more easily in tune. Clarinets are better
today than they have been any time in history, as computerized
design and production methods are being used to manufacture the
instruments. They are made with greater consistency and higher
precision, with tolerances to the thousandth of an inch.
In the early 20th century, the clarinet
found its way into early jazz, swing, and Dixieland music. Most
people are very familiar with the sound of the clarinet, and can
instantly recognize the famous beginning of Gershwin's "Rhapsody
in Blue", or the soulful "Stranger on the Shore" recorded
in the early 1960's. Today, the clarinet is heard in all types
of music, and has been especially prevalent in movie music, as
well as through the music of jazz great Eddie Daniels, and the
very popular classical artist Richard Stoltzman. Pete Fountain,
the most famous Dixieland clarinetist, was even featured on the
half-time show of the Super Bowl.
THE CLARINET FAMILY
There are several clarinets in the
clarinet family. They range from the tiny E-flat clarinet, which
is about 14 inches long, to the giant contrabass clarinet, which
is taller than a seated adult. But the clarinet most often used
in school band programs is the B-flat clarinet. This is the most
popular model, and is the same clarinet that is seen most often
in solo performances and on television. Playing the larger clarinets
is better left for older students who can handle the larger keys
and weight of the instrument.
CROSSING OVER TO OTHER INSTRUMENTS
The technique used to play the clarinet
is also very similar to the saxophone and the flute, which is
why many players are able to switch (or, as musicians say, "double" or "triple")
between these instruments. Often young players will learn on the
clarinet first, and then add or switch to the saxophone or flute
to broaden their musical experience and opportunities.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO LEARN THE
CLARINET?
Producing a good sound on the clarinet
is the first step in learning the instrument. This is not a difficult
proposition if the student starts with good, basic equipment,
and of course a competent teacher to explain the embouchure (how
to shape the mouth to hold the mouthpiece) and the workings of
the instrument.
When looking at the clarinet, it
may appear a daunting task to learn because of the number of keys
on the instrument. However, learning one key at a time, at a reasonable
pace, helps to make the process of learning understandable.
A young player may be able to learn
at a fast pace with 20 to 30 minutes of practice per day. If the
student has some recognizable songs to learn and recordings to
listen to, his or her interest and ability should increase very
quickly.
HOW TO BUY A CLARINET HOW TO BUY
A CLARINET
Before you go to your local music
store and purchase an instrument off the shelf, talk to as many
people as possible who have played, or have some understanding
of the instrument. This may include band directors, students in
the local high school band, private teachers, or professional
musicians (help can often be gotten from the local musicians'
union, usually listed in the phone directory). Their advice may
be helpful, and it would even be better if you could bring them
along when you go to the music store to help try out the instrument
to make sure that it functions properly.
Take
Our Clarinet Survey to Find the Right Instrument for You
PLAN YOUR BUDGET
The first issue to consider when
purchasing a clarinet is what your budget will allow. A good-quality,
brand-new student clarinet may be purchased for about $400. An
intermediate instrument may cost about $700 and professional clarinets
are generally $1,000 and up. If this is more than what you are
willing to spend, there are two options. One is to buy a used
instrument, which may cost very little, depending upon the quality
or state of disrepair of the instrument. The second option is
to rent the instrument, which allows you to send back the instrument
when the contract is up, or upgrade to a better instrument if
you continue to play.
If you are going to purchase a used
clarinet, you should seriously consider buying one from a reputable
dealer. There are many potential problems that may occur with
a used instrument, and it is important to have a company that
will stand behind the purchase and make necessary repairs. A good
dealer will often refurbish used instruments, and make them available
for a reasonable price.
The second part of the purchase,
is to make certain that you have all of the necessary accessories
to get started. These include:
1. Clarinet reeds
2. Method books
3. Music stand
4. Cleaning swab
5. Cork grease
You should plan to spend $20 to $30 for these accessories, as they are essential
to getting started with the instrument.
WHERE TO BUY YOUR CLARINET
There are basically three types of
places to buy your instrument: the local music shop, a mail-order
house, or a private party selling a secondhand instrument. Each
has its benefits, but a very important consideration is service.
You can take advantage of Children's
Music Workshop discount prices through www.bandseason.com.
Visit their website and order online!
A clarinet consists of many moving
parts, and occasionally needs minor repairs and adjustments, especially
with young players carrying the instrument to and from school
and other activities. If you can find a dealer near you who has
a repair person on site, they can often correct minor problems
while you wait. If you buy from a mail-order company, it is essential
to make sure you know a local repair shop who can fix the instrument,
or you may have to mail it back to the place you made the purchase
in order to have repairs done.
TYPES OF CLARINETS
There are two types of clarinets
available for students, wood and plastic. Usually the plastic
clarinets are less expensive, often by $200 or more. When you
look at a wood clarinet, you can see the grain in the wood. The
plastic clarinet is usually shiny, although there are some matte
finish plastic clarinets available.
There are distinct advantages for
each of these types of clarinets. Wood clarinets are generally
made of African Grenadilla wood, and provide a warmer, more professional
sound than plastic. Professionals exclusively use wood clarinets,
but plastic is more durable and can take more abuse especially
from young students. Since wood expands and contracts with temperature
changes, it must not be left in cold or hot temperatures for too
long, as the wood will try to contract or expand, but the metal
key-work will not. This could cause the instrument to crack, and
could render the instrument unplayable, or in need of serious
repair.
BRAND NAMES VS. OFF-BRANDS
Like purchasing any product, buying
a well-known brand generally assures you of a good quality product,
with a company that stands behind it. These instruments may cost
more, but there often include better warranties and, if needed,
parts will be more easily obtained. This does not mean that you
cannot find an off-brand that is of equal quality, but you need
to have someone who has a thorough understanding of the instrument
to tell you if they are of the comparable quality to the better-known
brand.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
When you first open the clarinet
case, you will notice five parts: the bell, the lower joint, the
upper joint, the barrel, and the mouthpiece. Only the upper and
lower joints have keys, whereas the bell, barrel and mouthpiece
do not. If the instrument is brand-new, ask the dealer to put
it together, and allow you to inspect it. Unless you have a person
who can play the clarinet with you to play-test the instrument,
look at the parts carefully and see if anything is bent or loose.
Inspect the pads to make sure there is one in each key-cup. Then
check to see that the end rings between the top and bottom joints,
and on the bell and barrel joints are not loose.
If you are bringing another student
clarinet player with you, be sure they bring their own reed and
mouthpiece setup, and have them try to play the instrument. Have
them play from the lowest notes to the highest, and ask them if
there is any undue resistance. If the instrument has air-leaks
from poorly seated or loose pads, the instrument will squeak when
they reach a certain note (often younger students may squeak for
other reasons, which is why it is better to have an older student
come with you.)
WARRANTY, SERVICE, LOANERS
A reasonable warranty is important
as in purchasing any product, and it is especially crucial with
the clarinet since the instrument has many moving parts. Make
sure that the dealer has service available for the instrument
they sell, as a clarinet will need occasional adjustment and minor
repairs (like replacing pads, and straightening bent keys.)
THE REED AND MOUTHPIECE
Among the most important parts of
the clarinet are the reed, mouthpiece and ligature setup. These
are what actually produce the sound of the instrument, so they
must be of good quality in order to make the instrument easily
playable for the young student.
The reed is a small piece of shaved
cane that is the actual tone-generator for the instrument. Reeds
are graded in strengths, usually from 1 to 5, and generally the
higher the number, the stronger the reed. Most students begin
on softer reeds, until the muscles in their cheeks are used to
playing the instrument, at which time they can advance to harder
reeds (harder reeds produce better tone quality, and greater access
to the high registers of the instrument.)
The mouthpiece is what the reed is
attached to by the ligature. It is placed in the player's mouth
between the top teeth, and with the bottom lip folded over the
bottom teeth. The reed is held in position by a ligature, which
is usually a metal or plastic band with one or two screws to hold
the reed tight against the mouthpiece.
Often, the mouthpiece that is supplied
with a student instrument is of very basic quality. An upgraded
mouthpiece is an excellent investment, as it will help the student
play more easily. It is important to choose a mouthpiece that
is suitable for young players, which your music dealer can recommend.
The clarinet case is also very important.
The clarinet is a delicate instrument, and can easily be damaged,
so look for a sturdy case with latches that will not come open.
Most cases come with the purchase of a new instrument, but when
buying a used clarinet, it may be necessary to replace an older
case to protect your investment.
HAVE FUN
The clarinet can be a fun instrument
to play, and gives a student an opportunity to perform with many
types of musical ensembles. To keep music making fun, make sure
that the instrument is in proper adjustment, and that you have
all of the proper equipment as indicated earlier in this article.
Listen to music that features the clarinet, and try to learn songs
that you would like to play. There is a lot of satisfaction gained
from performing with a school band, and this is a great place
to start. Enjoy your learning experience.
Rick Kessel, author of "How
to Buy a Clarinet," is a clarinetist and a graduate of
the Indiana University School of Music. Contributing to the
preparation of this article were Larry Linkin, clarinetist and
president/ CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants
(NAMM), and Bernard Portnoy, former clarinetist of the Philadelphia
Symphony Orchestra and professor of clarinet at Indiana University.
Reprinted with permission of School
Band and Orchestra magazine
Please visit them at www.sbomagazine.com
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