B Flat Clarinets

To produce the fullest and prettiest tones:

1.) When I was back in school, I was encouraged to practice at least 45 minutes a day. We even had to keep a rehearsal log, so our band director knew we were practicing. Nowadays, 45 minutes daily seems unrealistic to me, so I practice about 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes. I have to tell you, practice really does make all the difference. Back then, when I was practicing more, my tone sounded much prettier than it does now. The lungs even get stronger from all the practice!

2.) Don't play with chipped reeds and always use the best crafted brands. When I was a beginner clarinetist, I used Rico reeds sizes 2.5-3. These reeds are great for students who are learning the basics. They are quite easy to play on and will get you on the track to mastering your instrument. Now, I use Van Doren reeds or Rico Royals sizes 3 to 3.5. I've even been so bold as to try a size 4 every now and then. The higher size you play with, the thinner the reed and the better you become. These thin reeds require more concentrated breath and concentrated breath means a bigger, more beautiful tone.

Never play with chipped reeds. It really messes with the sound quality and induces squeaking.

3.) Always grease your corks and clean your instrument. If you love your instrument and take care of it, it will love you back and help you to produce gorgeous sounds from being so clean and in good shape.

4.) If you are working on competition pieces or have a problem with rushing or lagging, buy a metronome. My metronome was invaluable to me when I was competing. It really helps you to stay on beat during technical pieces and some metronomes just sound so darn cute!

5.) Clarinets can be off key, especially if you have a genuine wooden clarinet. It has to do with the moisture in the air that makes the wood expand and contract. Can you believe something like this actually messes with your tone?

I would suggest buying a tuner, so that you can make sure you are always on key. This is very beneficial if you plan on playing in ensembles. No one wants to play the instrument that is sticking out like a sore thumb because they are flat!

6.)Focus on your embouchure. If you practice a lot, maintaining the proper embouchure becomes easy. Nestle your clarinet firmly on your bottom lip and hug your top lips tightly around it. You just have to tighten your lips like your life depends on it and not let any air through, accept into your clarinet. Your face should be flat during all this embouchure action, so look in the mirror to make sure your doing it correctly. I have to say, sometimes my lips hurt when I'm out of practice. So practice, practice, practice, so you don't get out of shape!

7.)To produce those rich tones, the air has to come from your diaphragm. Breath deeply and feel your stomach expanding. That is the breath from the diaphragm and you have to pull as much air as you can out of it in a focused manner. If you have good breath support, you will produce the gorgeous wooded tone that the clarinet is known for.

I played the clarinet. Actually, I never did go to band camp, but I had summer marching band and it was horrendous. The heat and the humidity were so unbearable, that I would pray to God to make me faint. Alas, I never fainted, but I was stung by a bee while standing at attention. That was a nightmare!

So this brings the question to mind, where does the clarinet fit in? We never got any solos in marching band. For four years, us clarinetists were marching all the way in the back of the football field. We were not allowed in the jazz band either. We were told the clarinet is simply not a jazz instrument. Someone even told me once that the clarinet was not a cool instrument. I beg to differ!

What would the entire, "Nutcracker Suite," or "Adagio," by Mozart, be with out clarinet solos? Incomplete! What other instrument plays such a meloncholic, yet joyous tone that can only be personified through the jazz style? I feel like the clarinet, when played by a natural, can suit any style of music.

Yes, the clarinet shines in an orchestra and woodwind quartets, but I must say that it is a fine instrument that should be utilized more. I would love to see a clarinet as the star of a jazz or marching band. I am also waiting for the day when clarinets aren't associated with geeky musicians who went to band camp, but are looked at as instruments of true lyrical beauty, and their players-world class musicians with great depth, technique and a whole lot of jazz!

The old adage is true, "Practice makes perfect." It really does. I played for enough years to know that an instrument needs to be practiced ,or you get majorly rusty. So take out those arpeggios, those etudes, those scales and all your favorite songs and go to work. It can really be very gratifying when you master them. Once you've mastered them, you can really appreciate the artistry and feel the music and shape it in different ways. No instrument is as soothing, clear and heartbreaking in this way as the clarinet. That pure, deep tone has won my heart and it sings to me like an old friend. It moves me and I have been glad to share with you what little I know of this beautiful woodwind instrument.

Take up a clarinet, or any instrument and make a song, work on a craft. Make a routine and dedicate yourself to the life of a musician. Make beautiful music today if you dare!

B Flat Clarinets Rule!