I am piano novice, grade 2 (still shaking from my exam last week - it's got to be the ultimate humiliation). I would like to take up a second instrument and am quite keen on the clarinet. I know nothing about it other than it's a transposing instrument, so none of my Complete Keyboard Player books will be any good, will they! A few questions for you clarinet experts: should I rent or buy? which one should I get (I know there are several different ones, bass etc), how easy will is it to learn compared to the piano? Any advice most gratefully received.

The clarinet is a superb instrument to play, of course, it can't be compared to the piano !!! (it's easier in its way ! only one lot of notes to look at at one time) You have to be prepared to work on tone, breathing etc, it's not like the piano, when you hit the key, you get the note you hoped for, with the clarinet you make the sound, not the strings !! You could use your song books to have fun, but you wouldn't be able to play with anyone else using them !! there are plenty of brill clarinet books around - heaps written for this amazing instrument !! I have a Buffet Crampon RC, which is an exspensive top of the range clarinet, for the first few years I had a bakerlite (plastic) Selmer, an ex army one, it was great. I outgrew it of course, but you can find heaps of second hand clarinets on the market, the student Yamaha's are good, as are the Buffet Crampon, you can't go wrong with one of those. Of course, a wooden clarinet is the best, a nicer tone etc. Try and get someone to go with you when you buy second hand, to make sure the instrument is good.
The world needs clarinetists, go for it, it has become an instrument in decline, don't let this happen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you need any advice concerning reeds, care of instrument etc don't hesitate !!

Yeah that's good advice. Most beginners start on a Buffet B12 which is a good instrument to start on. As you progress it would be good to get a wooden clarinet, but probably when you've learnt it a bit.

There are loads of tutor books and music you can get for it.

Of course you can use them - if you want. The transposing business is just for when you're playing with other instruments.

The Abracadabra book is excellent for beginners, as is the Boosey and Hawkes book. Ebay has a good selection of new and second hand books.
Once you can play a bit, I'd recommend the Klose book, but I'm not sure if it's still in print.

Don't forget the clarinet forum at www.woodwind.org It's excellent for getting help and advice.

The B12 is great for beginners, but new ones are way overpriced in my opinion. A cheaper alternative is the student model from Hanson. A british company, they've been getting excellent reviews. I got my first clarinet from them.

Clarinets are complex instruments and if you start reading the forums at woodwind, you'll soon be drawn into a mysterious world of reeds, ligatures, mouthpieces and barrels, not to mention the clarinet itself!

Have fun!

Steve

I post there occasionally (prize for the first person to work out who I am!). The regulars who post there know an awful lot, but there can be an overwhelming smell of anorak occasionally!

Randall - go for it! You might have guessed that we're all a bit biased around here, but it's just such a super instrument <goes misty-eyed thinking about clarinets>. As everyone else has said, the transposing instrument status only becomes an issue when playing with other people.

The only time I wouldn't recommend clarinet is if you want to play loads of pre-Baroque music, because there isn't any (except arrangements).

People have suggested a few brands and models, all of which seem good choices. The big brands are Buffet, Selmer (the American wing is either Bundy or Selmer Bundy) and Yamaha, and I've heard good things about Hanson (not just from stevensfo). I've always been keen on Boosey and Hawkes clarinets, but they're no longer in production.

You will need an ordinary Bb clarinet to start with, and can move on to bass or Eb later. Most student models are plastic, and whilst there's nothing to stop you learning from scratch on a wooden instrument, you might want to get the hang of your blowy thing before spending £1000 or more on a really good instrument.

A few people have suggested e-bay. Whilst you can pick up a real bargain, there are a few turkeys there too. Make sure what you're buying is a Boehm system instrument (which it probably will be, unless stated otherwise. Boehm system instruments have the right number of keys. There are a few, really rough-looking Albert system instruments manufactured overseas and sold cheaply on e-bay, so beware of these). The general rule of thumb is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! elidatrading, who sometimes posts here, has useful advice on purchasing through e-bay on her website.

Let us know how you do, and welcome to the world of clarinets!

I'm a clarinet teacher and my favourite book is Clarinet Basics by Paul Harris. It's clear, fun, uses familiar tunes as well as some which have been written especially, and moves at a sensible pace. There's no need to fork out on a wooden clarinet straight away, especially as a new one is £800 or more. I passed my Grade 6 on my Boosey & Hawkes plastic one. A good beginner clarinet costs £250 - £300 ish new, but a lot of music shops sell second hand ones when people upgrade.

Really Deborah! How on earth could you forget the oldest brand of all: Leblanc.

I still read the forum, but haven't contributed in a long time. The moderators used to annoy me so much with their sudden "This thread is closed." Every time I complained, I received private emails reminding me, rather childishly I thought, that they were in charge and could do what they liked.

I know what you mean about the anoraks. The expression 'Barrel bores' clearly has two meanings!
But among all the boring discussions are real gems of wisdom.
I've been corresponding with Bob Draznik for a long time now and he's given me so much help with repairing old clarinets. We had a lot of anorak type discussions on which oils were best for rejuvenating old grenadilla (olive, peanut, then almond!) There was also a link once to an article about hand position which improved my playing overnight and some great recommendations - eg the Doc's products.

Very educational in other ways. I had no idea the americans were so obsessed with marching bands!

I'll try and spot your posts next time I'm there!

Steve

Thanks for all these incredibly helpful comments. How about if I RENT a decent clarinet for the first few months? My local music shop will deduct the price of the hire off the total amount should I decide to buy? What do y'all think?

Who said I'd forgotten about Leblanc? It might have been a deliberate omission on my part (or maybe I just did forget )

Renting's good, it gives you an opportunity to see how you get on, without the potential hassle of selling a second-hand clarinet a few months later if you don't get on with it.

Another option to go for is to check out if the shop has a buy-back scheme on new instruments. A couple of places I know of do - the initial outlay is the same as for buying new but if you give up after a few months (unlikely - it'll be love at 1st squeek) they will buy the instrument back off you less a fixed ammount. This is usually less than the ammount you pay overall if you hire the instrument for a while.

Try to get some lessons early on to get you going in the right direction and go with your teacher's choice of book. I dislike Abracadabra - can't put my finger on why - both Tune A Day and Clarinet Basics are good in my opinion.

Good luck

I personally say that clarinets ARE too common, go for a rarer instrument like viola, french horn, bassoon etc... Especially if you want to get into orchestras/chamber ensembles as those kinda instruments are usually lacking, but places for violins, trumpets, flutes etc are VERY competitive, kinda like a place as an orchestral pianist

IrisH - LoonY

Just because they are common doesn't mean you shouldn't play them.

You forgot the oboe!

There's a reason why some instruments are common. People LIKE them!

I guess there's also the question of price.

Steve

Yup, you only have to compare a basic decent clarinet or flute with a basic decent oboe or bassoon to see one reason why people don't tend to dabble on the latter...

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a clarinet versus say, a bassoon or an oboe. Obviously I suppose, cost. But what about finding a teacher, is that more difficult with these other instruments?

Clarinet: many more teachers, cheaper reeds, lighter, smaller, more repitiore

Bassoon: less teachers (may have to travel further to lesson), expensive reeds, heavier, larger, less repitoire.

Oboe: less teachers (may have to travel further to lesson), expensive reeds, less repitoire.

I love the sound of a bassoon (but then again I am biased). But, go for what your heart says .

I think the most recent statistics show that clarinets are no longer 'in' and are declining in popularity ! Careful, we may soon need clarinetists !!!!

I heard that in a music college abroad somewhere...can't remember where (I was obviously listening carefully lol) that there were 250 odd clarinettists....imagine that. All playing the same pieces hehe

Isn't that true about most instruments? I'd always thought that there were plenty of clarinetists about. From what I hear from the orchestra/band players here, there's a real lack of trombone, french horn and oboe players.

It would be interesting to see figures for each instrument and % of under 16s taking up an instrument and then compare with the past.

My impression is that there are just as many kids taking up music now as in the past.

Perhaps the ABRSM has figures for instrument-exams taken etc.

Steve

sounds great

we wasted loads of money on renting a clarinet.

now i have my own! (well. i have for the past 5 years, but anyway...)

Buffet is a great make. wooden preferable but not necessary to get through the lower grades. If you want to perform then I'd suggest a wooden clarinet for the tonal sound.

Good luck!

clarinet is a great instument and don't worry about the transposing, it's not hard and you don't really need to transpose it youself anyway. I play piano and i find the clarinet quite easy because you already know how to play piano and it really help. I think you should first rent one just to try it out a little. The best student clarinet is Buffet Crampon B12/13 they have a really nice tone and it's easy to play.

Good luck learning the clarinet, it's so much fun!!!!