Clarinet

The clarinet is a very distinctive sounding instrument that lots of people love. It is very versatile with a wide range of pitch and volume. The most commonly played clarinet is the clarinet in Bb but there are a few other members of the clarinet family including the small Eb Clarinet and the bigger Bass Clarinet which are used frequently in orchestras and wind bands.

The clarinet is played by groups and soloists in Classical and Jazz music as well as in Folk music such as Klezmer and sometimes in Pop music.

The clarinet can be learned from a relatively young age or taken up as a teenager or adult – the lower register of the instrument can be learned fairly easily at any age and with this it is possible to play lots of material. For younger children there are smaller clarinets that can be used to start off. Playing the clarinet is very enjoyable to do on your own and there are also lots of groups available to join for those who enjoy the social aspect of playing.

Learning the clarinet has many benefits other than the musical ones of learning pitch, rhythm and music reading. It improves physical co-ordination between hands and mouth, improves focus, concentration and the breathing helps the lungs, having been shown to even help asthma sufferers. It is very good for developing emotional expression, being a very lyrical instrument, and using it in jazz and other genres can really develop creativity.

Here are some beginners books I recommend for Clarinet:

Abracadabra Clarinet by Jonathon Rutland (very suitable for children but can also be used by adults)

Clarinet Basics by Paul Harris

A Tune A Day by Paul Herfurth

It is possible to sit Grade exams on Clarinet and Jazz Clarinet. Here are links to information from the main Exam Boards:

https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/woodwind-exams/clarinet-exams/

http://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/woodwind/

https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/jazz-exams/jazz-clarinet-exams/