Monday, September 28, 2020

Teaching Beginning Clarinet: DO Sweat the Small Stuff!
by Megan Perkins
Stillwater (OK) Public Schools
Megan Perkins

Before we start...The following controversial claims will be made throughout this article. There are other ways to teach clarinet, but this is what has proven very successful in my classes.

Now let's get started.

Equipment:

Mouthpiece/ligature/reed setup MUST be consistent among all clarinet players in your classes. It is totally worth the fight. This provides consistency of tone in your ensembles later. It also sets your kids up for success!

This setup is good through high school.

Embouchure:

Start with mouthpiece and barrel for a few weeks to develop correct habits. Don't get ahead of yourself on this one - it's worth it!

These all have to stay intact while producing a tone!

Start the note with the tongue then it goes back up in the mouth. Gently 'flick or tap' the reed with tip of the tongue. Use the word 'tee' when talking about tone, rhythm, etc. This is different for clarinet than any other instrument. 'Ta' completely changes the embouchure.

Week 2 of instruction: Begin "Tone Boot Camp". Every kid has to graduate. The goal is to match my pitch and volume on mouthpiece and barrel. Repeat this while articulating quarter notes once articulation is introduced. If you don't trust yourself, use a tuner, Tonal Energy app, Harmony Director keyboard, etc. Students should play an F# on the mouthpiece & barrel.

Put the instrument together:

Crossing the break by January:

You have to go down before you can go up. Start 'walk-downs' ASAP and get them to the very bottom of the clarinet (low E) so they're comfortable covering the rings with good hand position.

It's all about A! Left hand first finger is angled down to the right, not straight across. Use the side of the first knuckle to play the A key, not the pad of the finger. Touch the very bottom corner of the A key ONLY! Finger rotates up to A; never leave contact with the clarinet! It's a very small and quick movement.

Play A while covering holes 2 & 3 in both left and right hand. All of my kids think the band book is wrong and that's just how it is. They play A and Bb that way all the time and don't know any different (6-12 grade). This fingering helps with pitch, tone, and ease of break-crossing. Do this instead of right hand down on G. Putting the right hand down on G makes it very flat. It is very counter-productive to manipulate the pitch of your instrument's best tuning note!

In October-ish, start 'A flips'. Students should go from A to open G, then A to F, A to E, etc. all the way down the instrument until they can successfully go from A to low E smoothly with no chirps or bobbles. This will span over a number of weeks. Monitor left hand first finger position to A key continuously.

If set up correctly, crossing the break is easy. Don't let them think it is difficult or it will be difficult! "Pop-ups" are a great exercise on every note! Pop the register key to get the high note (slur). This is especially GREAT for tongue position work when you get up into the left-hand-only notes!

Troubleshooting

When is it the reed, and when is it the player?

When it's the reed:

When it's the player:

How do you know when to break in new reeds or upgrade reed strength?

After a student plays, always ask "How long have you been playing on that reed?" I ask this as often as possible. Make them know the answer. They have to be trained to know and manage their reeds. I do monthly reed checks for a grade. I check that each student has at least four reeds in a labeled case, all are Vandoren, and they don't have cracks or discoloration.

Good tone needs resistance. 3s might sound a bit fuzzy for the first week or so, but make sure they keep a firm embouchure and use adequate air and they will adjust quickly. I use a reed clipper on their 2.5s to take off the tips. It works as a great transition for 2.5 to 3.

How do I get my clarinets to match pitch? They are always flat.

You can't play in tune until you play in 'tone'. Tuning a bad tone is a waste of time. If they can't play an F# on mouthpiece/barrel, there's no point in trying to tune them with a tuner. Get them listening early and often. Make them want to sound like one person when playing with you or in small groups. My phrase I use often: "You should be personally offended if someone doesn't match you!"

Use listening and matching exercises daily.

As a closing disclaimer: This is how I pace my classes when we are in traditional in-person learning every day! Distance clarinet is a topic I am still learning to tackle! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!

Megan Perkins is in her ninth year of teaching as an assistant band director for Stillwater Public Schools. She received her Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma in 2011. In Stillwater, Megan conducts the 8th grade band, teaches beginning clarinet, beginning flute, and assists with the seventh grade band and high school bands. Her bands consistently receive the OSSAA Outstanding Achievement Award at concert contests. Her 8th grade band was selected as an OkMEA Honor Band in 2017 and 2020. Mrs. Perkins teaches private clarinet lessons and has had numerous students selected to All-Region and All-State Bands. She was the 2016-2017 OkMEA Young Music Educator of the Year and was also awarded the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award in 2017. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Secondary Music and is a member of NAfME, Phi Beta Mu, and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Contact Your Local Palen Music Center Representative
Can we assist you with anything? Please contact your local Palen Music Center school road representative for all of your music education needs.
(417) 882-7000 (573) 256-5555 (816) 792-8301
OKC
(417) 781-3100 (405) 896-8111 (479) 464-8877
(918) 286-1555 (636) 229-1904 (417) 882-7000

If you would like to submit material, make corrections, give comments, or wish to be removed from this mailing list, please contact David Gorham.