Contact

Problem with squeaks 
Hi Chris --- I've been playing the clarinet for about two years now, and I still have problems with squeaks. I have checked the keywork and pads, rotated …

Resistance to blowing  
I have been playing clarinet for about 7 years and progressed from a Bundy band instrument, to E-11 Buffet and now R-13. Generally I am getting good …

Awful Whistle Sound on Clarinet!!!! 
I sometimes get an excruciating loud high pitched whistle when playing a fast rising figure when I have to go from A(second space) to D(fourth line). It …

Haven't played in over 16 years! Where to start? 
I recently decided to join a local community band to utilize my clarinet skills that I learned many years ago. Following the very first practice session, …

Upper lip importance? 
I have played the clarinet for many years in amateur wind orchestras in Norway. My embouchure was quite wrong at the beginning, but I was reasonably clever …

First 6 Months on Clarinet 
Hi Chris, I bought myself a cheap clarinet while I was travelling in Argentina (it’s a Benson) and now I'm living in a very small town in Argentina and …

Tuning 
I have to pull the barrel and the mid-sections apart to get anywhere close to "in tune"...are there reasons why? FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Carol, …

Sound/Tone Quality 
Hello. I've been playing clarinet for about 5 years and I needed help making my clarinet tone quality into one like a semi-professional one like my …

Teeth on mouthpiece 
Hello Chris, I've been playing clarinet for three days now :) I am having problems with my embouchure (surprise, surprise) and found your wonderful …

I picked up Clarinet as a double for a student. He quit but I'm hooked. 
My best alto student came into a lesson some three years ago with a clarinet saying he intended to double. This came out of the blue so I said "okay, …

Clarinet Embouchure/Air 
Hello Chris, I am playing for 5-6 years now. In the last year I am trying to improve myself a lot, somehow it went wrong while trying to do it. Now …

Clarinet Swab -- ClarinetCat.com 
Hello, I am working on a new clarinet swab product and I am looking for some advice and reviews. I am creating clarinet (and other woodwind) swabs …

Just a correction 
"Schumann Phantasiestucke, Op. 37" probably should read: op. 73, no? love your list :) From Clarinet-Now.com Thanks Anonymous, …

Mouthpiece for Jazz  
Hello, Can you recommend a mouthpiece for Jazz Clarinet? I have R13, thank you. Chan From Clarinet-Now.com Hello Chan, I did some …

Comparing Famous Clarinetists 
How would you compare and contrast the playing styles of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Pete Fountain, and Woody Allen? FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM …

Best fingering for a troublesome pattern..... 
My clarinets in 7th/8th grade are having trouble with a pattern of 8th notes that move at a 120+ tempo... Can anyone help me with alternate fingers?!?!?!? …

Acquired via Donation Vintage 1933 
Hi, I run a non-profit and we receive donated instruments. We recently acquired through a donation a 1933 La Bar Clarinet in its original Compo Bros …

Register Key Does Not Work??? 
I play clarinet in a 50 person band and really want to be good. I practice at school everyday. Band-Camp is coming up and my register key will NOT work. …

Learn how to start the sound properly Not rated yet
Hello. I was just reading the portion of your blog (which I love, by the way) about the difference between professional and amateur articulation. …

question on how to describe proper vocal cavity for playing Not rated yet
I've tried several methods with students to describe how to form the inside of their mouths for proper sound. We continually hear things like "open …

I'm not sure if I'm properly breathing/articulating?  Not rated yet
Hello there, I've been playing the clarinet for about 5 years now, and l have had this problem for quite a while, but it wasn't one that really …

Sight-reading Books Not rated yet
Hi, I made All-State callbacks in my state for clarinet. Do you have any suggestions for good books I could buy to practice specifically for sight-reading? …

Should the Clarinetists Left Wrist Move or Not? Not rated yet
I recently picked up Michele Gingras' book Clarinet Secrets, 52 performance strategies for the advanced clarinetist . --she also has a You Tube …

Stale air problem on Clarinet Not rated yet
Hello, I've been playing clarinet for roughly a year and have been struggling with breathing issues throughout but I feel as if it has gotten worse within …

Click here to write your own.

Pain in the lower lip Not rated yet
I have been playing the clarinet for few years, but when practicing seriously for long periods of time and pressing on the lower teeth doing the embouchure, …

Vicki, beginner clarinet student in an adult band Not rated yet
I played the piano as a kid, and a gazillion years later, I am learning to play the clarinet. Your tips are brilliant. I have just hired a young teacher …

New to the clarinet, New to music Not rated yet
Hi Mr Jones, I really do not know where to start this. First let me thank you for having a site like this, it is really great for you to take …

Buzzing Clarinet Not rated yet
Hi, Your site has really helped me and encourages me to continue to play and practice (and change reeds, haha). I am a newbie to music period. I took …

College Auditions  Not rated yet
Hi There! I have college auditions coming up soon and I don't even know where to begin! I have yet to purchase any music. Can you recommend anything for …

Tenor sax notes to clarinet Not rated yet
Hi my name is Brianna and I've been playing the clarinet for a while now. So I know my way around a clarinet pretty well. Anyway my conductor is running …

Reed position on mouthpiece Not rated yet
Hi, I'm really enjoying your site. I am studying the saxophone and am enjoying doubling on the clarinet. I'm not exactly clear on exactly where to …

Bore Oil? Not rated yet
Hi, What do you recommend in terms of oiling the bore of my R13? I've played high-quality baroque recorders for years, and they require regular (bi-annual) …

Reed Death? Not rated yet
How do you know when to throw out a reed? I have some reeds that seem to squeak more than they used to (could just be me). I play on a #3 vandoren reed …

Embouchure changing Not rated yet
After taking a break for the clarinet for two years I am back. My embouchure is giving me problems as it always have. Great tone and pitch for the lower …

Audition for band Not rated yet
Hi, I'm in 8th grade and I have to audition for band as a freshman. What are the clarinet fundamentals and major scales that you think the band director …

Legato Not rated yet
Minhye Kim Ilsan, South Korea Hello, I've been playing clarinet for about 8years. But I'm still feeling that my basic techniques are not stable. …

Legato Not rated yet
Hello, I've been playing clarinet for about 8years. But I'm still feeling that my basic techniques are not stable. Especially the legato problem. I …

High Notes on Bass Clarinet Not rated yet
How do you play the high notes on the Bass clarinet? I put a lot of air in it bu it makes the wrong sound. :( FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Far, …

Where is tongue when not articulating?  Not rated yet
Hi! I was doing some research to put on a Master’s Class for High Schoolers and really have appreciated all of your helpful information. When putting …

How much mouthpiece? Not rated yet
Hey, I've been really fixing up my embouchure and my articulation technique. I find it's A LOT easier to articulate I use more mouthpiece, but I find …

Squeaking sound Not rated yet
HI there, I think I am driving myself and my neighbors mad trying to get the sound of the clarinet register notes correct! Slurring these notes is …

Berkeley AC307 ELITE SERIES Clarinet - Has anyone purchased this instrument? Send us your Review. Not rated yet
First, how does one post a question on the Clarinet-Now Blog? Doesn't seem to be a place to post a question. I am a clarinet student using a Buffet R-13 …

Top clarinet teachers? Not rated yet
Hi, I'm an Army clarinet player currently loving life in South Korea. I really do, not being sarcastic. My clarinet professor in college was a student …

Feels like I can't blow through Not rated yet
I played clarinet from 6th grade through High School and into college. Haven't played in about 15 years though, and now my daughter wants to play, so I …

Right Hand Pain Not rated yet
Hi! I've read your page about how to properly hold a clarinet: Right Hand Clarinet Position I feel like I am doing everything right but, my right …

Problems with Sound Not rated yet
Hi Chris. My name is Alberto. I'm having problems with establishing that 'natural, beautiful, and easy' tone on my clarinet. I just recently brought …

Digging the challenge Not rated yet
I got bit by the bug about 2.5 years ago when I started playing clarinet on my job during lunch. Now that I'm retired I do the Spring Warmup, take …

Embouchure...possible dystonia? Not rated yet
Hi! I've been playing clarinet for 7 years and I used to have the embouchure down where no air leaked out and my chin was consistently flat. But all of …

A music fan - Barney Bigard Not rated yet
How can a web site call itself Clarinet Now , or anything else with the word clarinet in its name, without ever once mentioning, anywhere on your site, …

Click here to write your own.

Choosing a Method Book Not rated yet
I am new to your site, but really enjoying browsing. My daughter is 13, and beginning clarinet in a band class. We cannot afford private lessons right …

Learning... Improving... Broadening.... Wondering...... Not rated yet
Hi there! I absolutely love this site. I currently play Bb clarinet in my HS marching and concert band. I'm trying to make myself a better musician (my …

Coppell Section Leader Not rated yet
Is it possible to get group rates for the clarinet shoes? FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Phoebe, I just checked with Zazzle.com . With …

Student from the Québec province Not rated yet
Hello, and how are you! I have written to you before and got an excellent answer from you. I have an excellent teacher since the Feb 2010. One lesson …

Bill Kenney Jazz Clarinetist Not rated yet
I seem to run out of air while playing longer phrases. I am 69 years old but in great shape, work-out a lot, play and perform often. Could you post a list …

Breathing Not rated yet
Hi, I sent you an email last September about my breathing and the fact when I breath in my shoulders were lifting so I wasn't able to breathe out properly. …

Question on breathy clarinet sound Not rated yet
Hi I have just begun the clarinet, luckily I have had a bit of experience with woodwinds all my life.Gettin the sound is no prob, except I go through …

Hello from another clarinetist/teacher Not rated yet
Hi Chris, Thanks for your website. I found your website by mistake, It's really fantastic. I'm gonna steal, (borrow) some of your ideas for mine. If …