Knowing how to play any instrument is a phenomenal thing, and as it turns out, it comes with numerous benefits, including being a huge stress reliever. But the question is, can you really thoroughly enjoy it if you’re not as good at it as you’d want to be?
This is the question that many amateur clarinetists ask themselves when they are embarking on this journey. They love playing this instrument, but it seems as if the sound they produce simply isn’t clean and strong enough.
And that’s okay. This is what occurs when you’re a beginner. Don’t fret! With the tips and tricks that are put together for you today, you will quickly improve and finally be satisfied with how you play it!
Concentrate On Your Breath
If you want to enhance yourself as far as this goes, then you should start perceiving this instrument as a vehicle, while your breath is the engine. The truth is that a lot of players do not utilize their breath (engine) to the maximum.
However, if your breath isn’t deep enough, then the sound you’ll produce won’t be powerful. In fact, it’s going to be pretty weak. On the flip side, if you breathe from your stomach, you will boost this sound in a flash.
As soon as you notice that you sound much stronger and louder, you will suddenly feel far more confident. For starters, you should take a deep breath through the nose, allow your tummy to expand, and then release the air slowly. That’s something that you must do before you begin playing.
Make Use Of Sheet Music!
Every musician, regardless of the instrument they play, has a favorite song that they want to learn. So, that’s probably the case with you, too! Fortunately, these days, online, you can easily find clarinet sheet music that will not only help you learn how to play your favorite tune, but also master this instrument. Now, lots of newbies refrain from using them in the beginning because they think that sheet music is designed solely for professionals or more experienced players.
But that’s actually not true at all. You can come across sheet music that’s intended for different levels of players. It doesn’t matter whether you are more or less seasoned when it comes to this instrument; what matters is that sheet music is going to help you perfect your skills and learn to play in different keys.
Longer Tones May Not Be Bad At All!
Many clarinetists, especially those who are relatively new to this instrument, steer clear of longer tones because they do not find them interesting and dynamic enough. But does it mean that it’s a wise decision to skip them?
Most definitely not! On the contrary, playing longer sounds will benefit you in many ways, and these are some advantages that you may not be aware of:
- You’ll have much better control over your breath
- It will make you sound more sophisticated
- It will boost your embouchure
- It will also build consistency
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should solely focus on long tones, but bear in mind that even a few minutes per day will make a positive difference, for sure.
Practice As Often As You Can
If you talk to clarinetists who have been in the music landscape for many years, or even decades, most of them (if not everybody) will tell you that you are never done with practice, regardless of your experience and knowledge.
This is especially important if you’re a beginner. When that’s the case, then you need to constantly practice if you want to hone your skills and get better. The more you do it, the better! Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should be obsessive about it.
Set aside some time each day for these purposes and go through your repertoire. If you conclude that you need to work on certain techniques, then focus on them. If you are just getting started, then you should practice for a few minutes per day, and then gradually increase that time.
This strategy will help you build endurance. Since you are a novice, you shouldn’t exaggerate with it. Thirty minutes per day should be your maximum until you are ready for more.
Then There’s The Mouthpiece
You shouldn’t perceive the mouthpiece as anything negative, but rather something that’s, in fact, positive. Your embouchure is one of the most impactful elements that affects the sounds you produce. These are some tips that you should consider implementing, as far as this is concerned:
- Your chin is supposed to be flat
- The corners of the mouth must be firm
- The pressure should not be too tense
- Do not bite
The whole point of implementing these strategies is to achieve stability without being stiff. At first, you may think that your mouth isn’t used to this, but don’t worry. Everything that you experience in the beginning is actually totally fine because you are working on the muscles that you didn’t even know were there.
Choose The Proper Angle
The sound you’ll be making when playing this instrument is supposed to be clear and smooth, not sharp and too pitchy. If you conclude that there’s something wrong with it, then you should change the angle.
In case you didn’t know, you’re supposed to hold this instrument at roughly forty-five degrees from the body. That will make you feel comfortable. Besides that, another thing that you shouldn’t overlook is your posture.
You need to sit up straight; otherwise, you’ll be pressuring your lungs too much, which will not only make you feel uncomfortable, but the sound you’ll produce will be squeaky.
Pay Attention To The Metronome
Don’t forget that the metronome is here to help you out, not the other way around. If you pay attention to it, you won’t rush things, you’ll be a lot steadier, and you won’t embrace some useless habits.
There’s no denying that the clarinet is a wonderful musical instrument; however, just like all of them, it requires lots of time, effort, and dedication to become a pro at it. That’s why it’s essential not to skip any step that was mentioned here today if you want to succeed in it!
