I have a music degree, been playing piano for 34 years and one of my pupils has offered to get me started on a clarinet which he said with my skills would be straight forward

I love scales etc so not fussed on a pretty childrens book but something to get my teeth into at home without a teacher (for a while)

Would love a book with DVD or CD so I am hoping a kind clarinet player could suggest some good starting books bearing in mind I am a fluent reader

Thanks ideally I would like to get to grade 3 on my own and then have some lessons (if I can find someone!)

I used learn as you play when I started clarinet without a teacher. It moves on pretty quickly so would not be my choice for youngsters who are complete beginners.
No CD or anything but it was enough to get to grips with the notes and I supplemented with early repertoire books using exam syllabus as a guide.
If your pupil has a sound technique he will be able to see that you are getting the basics right. I was pretty lucky not to develop bad habits while mostly untutored.

thanks, will have a look

I used that one too and have the flute and trumpet ones as well. Really like them, easy to follow and, as sbhoa said, they move on quickly.

As you're already an accomplished musician, your biggest challenge will be getting to grips with technique, so a book of studies would be a good idea - 80 Graded Studies for Clarinet is a good one. It actually comes in two volumes; Book 1 contains 50 studies and Book 2 the rest. They're in order of difficulty.

Like you I played piano for a long time (though not to such a high standard) and then three years ago I took up clarinet. One of the things I found hard (sounds really obvious) was that you can't see the notes. On the piano, scales and arpeggios readily form themselves into visual patterns - on a wind instrument it's very different. The register key adds a further level of confusion because when you open it you get a note that's a twelfth higher, not an octave. That took a bit of getting used to.

Another issue that I'm only just coming to appreciate having listened to recordings of myself play is that with long notes on the clarinet you don't get the natural decay of the sound that you get on the piano, so you have to build it in.

You'll be at Grade 3 standard in no time. Enjoy!

Do if you can get your basic clarinet technique checked out by someone who's experienced in such things.

I managed to do that after about 6 months playing. Luckily I wasn't doing anything particularly awful.

thats great! I play with my eyes closed when doing scales etc and would love to do grade 3 in the spring. My 86 year old pupil has lots of woodwind and brass experience, conducted, sang, taught so will offer him free lessons in exchange for helping me.

Thanks, he brings my clarinet on thursday so perhaps when I can play a toon I`ll upload it to youtube.

Have a look at The Clarinet by Frederick J Thurston and Alan Frank, published by Boosey and Hawkes. This was first published in 1939, so has stood the test of time and covers everything from the very basics, through to some very advanced technical work. There is a comprehensive section in the middle covering scales, arpeggios and technical studies in the middle of the book.

I wouldn't recommend this to someone with no prior musical knowledge but I think for an adult with your previous experience, it may well provide all you'll need! The Otto Langey book is also highly regarded but I have no personal experience of it.

Enjoy your clarinet!

Its nice to hear someone else will be joining the clarinet family! http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/019161/d....html?kbid=1582 is a good book by Christopher Allen.