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I have just started learning the clarinet. Some days I'm quite pleased with my progress but other days I can't even get a note out................ when does it get easier?

to the forums!

Clarinet is a fun instrument! Often reasons that you can't produce a sound are down to tiredness or the reed not being in good shape, or possibly the reed not being positioned correctly (make sure the reed isn't too high or low, or skewed to one side or the other). Be patient, all will get better bit by bit

Do you have a teacher? It might be wise to have occasional lessons if you don't already : it'll ensure you're on the right track. I'd also recommend getting together with others to play when you're feeling ready to. We organise our own forum events here.

Have fun, enjoy the forum, and if you have any specific clarinet enquiries, do feel free to give me a shout.

Hi

and welcome to the forums.

I'm another clarinettist here

I can't remember much back to being a beginner apart from the puffed cheeks, squawks and all that saliva YUK

Barry gives good advice. He's our resident "expert" so to speak.

I would hazzard a guess though that your issues could be down to embouchre (mouth shape and control). Would be well worth getting someone in the know (Your teacher???) to check. Too little or too much in the mouth causes problems as well as any reed issues (as Barry said) Too slack or too tight and you also get problems...


Another thought. Is the instrument new or 2nd hand??? Has it been thoroughly checked over for any sticking keys, loose springs or leaking pads???? These can cause intermittent sound problems too...

Good luck in sorting this out. Clarinet is a good instrument and perseverance really pays off

Welcome

Thanks for your replies.
I learned the recorder and violin at school a very long time ago and always prefered wind to strings. I can still remember how to read music but still need to brush up on the theory. I started teaching myself the clarinet last year, got stuck and gave up. I have now got a teacher and have had two lessons.I was playing on a 1 1/2 reed and she has put me on a 2 reed which I did find hard but persevered. DawnF was spot on about the squawking and saliva !!!!

The clarinet is new but probably not very good. I have researched the clarinet online but there are so many different makes and reviews that I wouldn't really know what is suitable. I thought I would buy a decent one now that I will carry on with it.

Barry-clari, have you any advice or is it really down to personal choice and money? Tell me more about the
get togethers, that's something I enjoyed when I played the recorder and violin

Have a look at the diary threads for 2009 and 2010.
You'll find these on the Events board which is at the top of the General forum.

Apart from the more obvious Buffet and Yamaha clarinets the Hanson student model is also worth a look. These come with a good mouthpiece which can be an issue with some makes.
Welcome to the forum.

Welcome KatieB!

I'm learning the clarinet too

As well as the calendars which sbhoa mentioned, you'll also find pinned a thread called "Forum concerts and other events" which explains roughly what happens at each type of the event.

This forum has a search facility, so if there's any particular clarinet you fancy, you could do a search for it to see what others have said about it. But it depends what's important to you - I particularly wanted to get a new clarinet with the keywork in a slightly different position, but I think most people go for the tone they like. If you can manage with your existing clarinet for a while longer though, it might be better to wait a bit until your embouchure settles down. And since you've now got a teacher, she'll be able to advise you as well

Have fun!

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head Katie. Buffet, Yamaha, Hanson, Leblanc/Vito all make good starter instruments. If you can try a few, so much the better.





Don't know how close you are to Greenwich (SE London), but there's still spaces available for the forum orchestral playday there on 28th November. Otherwise, there are events already in the pipeline in London (Teddington, Central London, SE London), Brighton, Taunton, Durham, Eccles, York and Stalybridge in 2010

welcome katieB
I'm Jo and I am learning violin and double bass, BUT I have just bought a clarinet to 'mess about with'! (you know how it goes )
I have decided it will be my 'no strings attached' instrument as with violin and double bass I am so serious, punish myself mentally if I don't practice, I feel I need a 'laid back relationship' with something

anyway, only started playing it a week ago so I am in no position to say how long before it gets easier!

I can say that I have noticed that I make more 'duck squeaking noises' when I am tired (so the first 10 minutes have a lot less duck squeaks than the last 20 minutes)! after 10 mins practice I get tired/out of breath and check and recheck my embouchure every note or so as the squeaks just keep coming and the sound gets awful (it's an 'ok' sound in the first 10 minutes), so I just 'shrug my shoulder' and think 'its ok, it will get better one day' I am fairly sure it is mostly down to 'practice' and one day it will stop happening, however I have organised to see a teacher on a very occasional basis just to make sure I do things right (ie I use the right embouchure, I set up my reed ok, I use the right reed etc etc).

Having a 'check up starter lesson' on wednesday my very first one so we'll see

yep...

A long time since I started, but it probably takes 2-3 weeks at least to strenghten your embouchure and get over the sore inner lower lip from your bottom teeth. After that, I recall that I was making a pretty unpleasant sound when I played, until sometime between 6 - 12 months after starting. Then one day, I suddenly noticed that I was making quite a nice sound! So stick at it, and it will all "come right" before too long!

I'm pretty sure that you shouldn't have a sore bottom lip from teeth at any time.......

...because it probably means you're biting, agree with sbhoa...

It's reassuring to read that it can take time. I started taking clarinet lessons in March and have a 30 min lesson a week. Work and family commitments mean that I'm not able to practice as often as would like/should!!

Just when I thought that squeaking was a dim distant memory......

It is a fantastic instrument though and really enjoying it. It's great to be able to read everyone's advice on the forum.

Barry-clari assured me that new ways to squeak will be discovered at each stage of development...... or something like that.

Something like that! There are many different types of squeak, and they all sound a bit different. I've got very able, over the years, to know what each squeak means...

Tell me about it!!! I've been re-tackling altissimo tonight, trying to add some alternative fingerings to my mental note bank ..... (not entirely sure it was successfull! )