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.
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.stringseason.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
Orchestra and professor of clarinet at Indiana
University. Reprinted with permission of
School Band and Orchestra magazinePlease visit them at www.sbomagazine.
