Assembled Mouthpiece & Barrel
To make our first sounds, we will begin with just the mouthpiece and the barrel. We will add the rest of the clarinet back on soon.
If your clarinet is already assembled, carefully remove the bell, lower joint, upper joint and place them back in the case to keep them protected.
To make our first sounds, we will begin with just the mouthpiece and the barrel. We will add the rest of the clarinet back on soon.
If your clarinet is already assembled, carefully remove the bell, lower joint, upper joint and place them back in the case to keep them protected.
Go Tigers!!!
Casa Roble High School
& Pasteur Middle School
Go Rams!!!
Let's Make Noise
To make our first sounds, we will begin with just the mouthpiece and the barrel. We will add the rest of the clarinet back on soon.
If your clarinet is already assembled, carefully remove the bell, lower joint, upper joint and place them back in the case to keep them protected.
Assembled Mouthpiece & Barrel
The Grip
For our beginning sounds, we will grip the instrument by the barrel. You may use a light grip like the picture to the left or with a fist like the picture on the right. Be sure to keep your grip away from the reed and the hole at the base of the barrel.
Embouchure
Embouchure is the shape of your mouth used to play the instrument. Everyone is shaped differently and will place their mouth slightly different on the instrument, however, the basic embouchure shape will be similar for everyone. You're almost ready to make sound!
Step 1: Allow the lower lip to rest over the lower teeth, then place the reed onto the lower lip. You do not need to fold your lower lip over your lower teeth, but do not let the reed touch your teeth.
Step 2: Your top teeth will gently sit on the top of the mouthpiece with the upper lip tucked against the upper teeth and pushing downward onto the mouthpiece.
Embouchure
Embouchure is the shape of your mouth used to play the instrument. Everyone is shaped differently and will place their mouth slightly different on the instrument, however, the basic embouchure shape will be similar for everyone. You're almost ready to make sound!
Step 1: Allow the lower lip to rest over the lower teeth, then place the reed onto the lower lip. You do not need to fold your lower lip over your lower teeth, but do not let the reed touch your teeth.
Step 2: Your top teeth will gently sit on the top of the mouthpiece with the upper lip tucked against the upper teeth and pushing downward onto the mouthpiece.
Step 3: Pull the corners of your mouth in, toward the center.
Step 4: Protrude your lower jaw slightly forward and allow your top teeth to slide back and up toward the tip of the mouthpiece.
Step 5: Angle the mouthpiece and barrel to slightly less than a 45 degree angle from your body.
Step 6: Take a breath in through your mouth, close your mouth around the mouthpiece, blow across the reed and sustain the sound as long as you are able. The play box on the right is an example of the sound you should get with the mouthpiece and barrel. Use this as just a reference or to play along with.
Mouthpiece & Barrel
Repeat step 6 until you are able to sustain an even sound for 4 seconds. Take a break if you feel light headed, then return after a few minutes and try again.
Once you are able to sustain sound on the mouthpiece and barrel, then scroll down to learn how to sit properly...playing posture.