You and Your Clarinet - From Middle School to College

Band is a popular activity around the United States, and one of the most played instruments is the clarinet. The clarinet produces a strong, reedy tone through the vibrations of its reed. However, many people don't know the first thing about taking care of their instruments, so here are a few pointers.

When starting out in band, you'll probably be starting out on a plastic clarinet...unless you have already planned on becoming more than just an average player. Plastic clarinets are more sturdy than the other types, but the sound and tone produced by them is not nearly as good. Also, at this time, you will probably be using the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet that you bought and will most likely be using softer reeds as well. Reed strength at this point may be either two or two-and-a-half. You can check your reed strength by finding the small number on the back of the reed. However, even though these are still plastic clarinets, the brand of clarinets is still important. Always, when looking for clarinets, try to find a Buffet or a Selmer. Those are both the most popular brands as well as the best quality brands.

By the time you get into late middle school or early high school, you might want to think about upgrading you clarinet. For those who plan on just having it so that you'll have a better clarinet, I would recommend an intermediate clarinet like the Buffet E11. For those who plan on minoring or majoring in college, then you should consider a more professional level clarinet like the Buffet R13 or one of the Selmer Series Clarinets. I know people who have bought Buffet Toscas before and had them since high school ($5000 wooden clarinets). They're meant to last a long time if you take care of them properly. Also, by now you should be using Vandoren reeds at strength three or greater. You may also consider upgrading your mouthpiece to the next level.

You'll want either an intermediate mouthpiece like the Premier by Hite, or a professional one like the Vandoren M30 or B45. The level above professional is handmade and there really is no point in getting one of those at this point in time. Also, it is important to remember that you should always warm your wooden clarinet before practicing, especially during the winter. This reduces the chances of it cracking. Make sure you apply cork grease when putting your instrument together and to clean out your instrument every time after practicing as spit can cause your pads to rot. Replacing pads can be costly so I would recommend keeping your current ones intact as long as possible. Hope this helps you as you develop as a musician and clarinet player. And remember, practice makes perfect!