Im having difficulty figuring out which way to go next. I did my grade 5 recently and started practicing grade 6 pieces. Ideally, i wanted to do another grade before i leave school next june but i haven't done grade 5 theory - i have bought all the theory books but i have no1 to teach me as they're is a lack of music resources etc.. at my school.

Over the holidays i came up with the idea of leaving grade 5 theory until i go to 6th form because the school im going to is much more musically orientated and surely there will be someone there who could teach me.

So if i put off the theory for a while what could i concentrate on in my lessons?

Another problem im having at the moment (thankyou for your patience so far!) is my clarinet sound. I really want to produce a nice sound but at the moment it seems to be very airy. My teacher says it could be my reed (2 1/2) and i should use a 3 but i find them too hard. Is there anything i can practice to improve my sound and maybe my technique. Ive been playing mozarts clarinet concerto (the grade 8+ movements) and found that my coordination could be also be improved.

Rachael

Hmm, well when it comes to grade 5 theory, I'd suggest teaching yourself, and taking the exam asap. It might be a bit tricky, but surely your teacher could give you a hand any where where you get really stuck, and either way, you should pass even if there is some stuff you can't grasp.

My reason for this is that (having just gone into 6th form college) you may find you really don't want the extra work load. It might be ifferent for you, I chose a particularly demanding course cause Im crazy, and know I couldn't mange theory, plus my flute playing, and all the work I'm expected to be doing for my 6 other subjects!

Im afriad I don't play clarinet though, so can't really help there! Anyone else?...

I agree with Tamsin saying you might not want the extra work load. I'm about to take grade 7 clarinet, I'm in Upper 6th, and my friend in lower 6th is taking grade 6, and we're both struggling to learn our scales. Our pieces are ok because we work on them in lessons, but we both have alevel exams in january and are finding it hard to prioritise! I would aim to get grade 5 done asap and keep working on the grade 6 stuff, at least if you can do the stuff before hand, you could still enter at christmas and not be so much under pressure!

I think theory is one of those things that you should really do as quickly as possible if you have the time and the work space. If you don't then you just have to plod at it slowly. Luckily I have just taken my grade 5 theory (today. Can't wait for the results) and I am in Yr 9 so my workload isn't too huge. It also means that I have far more time for my studies once I get to GCSE and A Level.

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With regard to your sound: use a 3 reed but stick it inyour mouth and suck/lick it for about 5 mins. this makes it softer but produces a nice sound.

Don't play if you or you're instrument is cold! even if u have a plastic/ebonite instrument take the mouth peice off and breathe through the Clarinet. sounds odd but it works for me.

When i was developing my tone i played around until i found one note that gave a really nice tone. for me it was middle C. i played this note constantly for a few minutes and then worked up and down the scale trying to keep the tone the same. its not exciting but it works.