Hope someone can help me - I have a little boy I am teaching the clarinet but he is blowing out his cheeks - has anyone got any tips on how I can explain how not to do this? He has only been learning a few weeks but I really don't want him to get into this habit. Thanks in advance for your help.

I've also had this problem with a clarinet pupil. Is he trying to blow too hard? I bought quite a useful little book called Dr Downing's Clarinettist's Technique Doctor which mentions this problem - it suggests breathing gently through the mouthpiece rather than blowing.

Thanks very much I shall give that a go! Cheers

Try getting him to whistle - you can't do this and blow your cheeks out! he can then see that it is possible to expel a lot of air and still keep his cheeks in.