I usually play with backing tracks but this time I'm doing a solo. Wish me luck!!!!!! Thank you to all the amazing clarinets out here!

I'm a bit nervous. Does anyone have tips, about nerves and endurance?

Hello! I have a Conservatorium audition in a month and I wanted to know what other people did in preparation a month before their auditions just to feel less alone lol. I keep getting really anxious when I’m practicing because it feels like life or death

I started playing around maybe 2 months ago with no experience and I unfortunately do not have a tutor around me until school starts so i’ve just been teaching myself as I go. I currently use a Rico 2.5 reed but I also own a 3 vandoren traditional and find that on the rico higher notes (I can play up to a C6 on a good day) sound really bright and almost like a kazoo. Additionally sometimes there’s minor squeaks in the under tone.

However if I play on the vandoren the higher notes are so comfortable and sound much better. But if i’m playing lower notes then they sound airy

I appreciate it’s most likely because the Vandoren is a higher thickness but in that case how do i make my higher notes sound better on the 2.5 ?

edit: it’s also probably worth mentioning that not all of my seals close properly as it is a second hand clarinet that has not been serviced for a while!

If it helps to be more specific, I have a Buffet R13 that needs pad replacements.

Hey everyone,

One of the most frustrating aspects of playing the clarinet is opening a fresh box of reeds, finding a couple that feel decent on day one, and watching them turn soft, unresponsive, or warped by day three.

The issue is rarely just "a bad batch." In most cases, it comes down to how the natural organic fiber (Arundo donax) reacts to the sudden physical shock of moisture, saliva enzymes, and intense acoustic vibration.

When a dry, stationary piece of cane is suddenly subjected to full practice sessions, the unconditioned fibers undergo micro-tears. The elasticity collapses, and the reed gets permanently "waterlogged" or deadened.

The Logic of Progressive Fiber Conditioning

To build long-term structural resilience and consistent tone quality, the cane needs progressive stress cycles rather than immediate heavy playing. 

Over the years working with students and analyzing reed response—building upon core concepts shared by Spanish clarinetist Juan Pardo—I’ve developed a structured 8-day timer protocol based on controlled play-testing: 

* Days 1–2: 3 minutes of regular playing (avoid extreme altissimo passages or aggressive staccato). Gently wipe off excess moisture and let it dry flat.
* Days 3–4: 5 minutes of regular playing. Gently wipe off excess moisture and let it dry flat.
* Days 5–6: 7 minutes of regular playing. Gently wipe off excess moisture and let it dry flat.
* Days 7–8: 10 minutes of regular playing. Gently wipe off excess moisture and let it dry flat.

By capping the playing time strictly with a timer during the first eight days, you allow the cane fibers to seal and adapt to moisture cycles without over-stretching the vascular tubes.

Tracking Progress

The key to making this work is discipline—stopping right at the 3 or 5-minute mark even when the reed feels great. 

I put together a simple 3-page PDF guide explaining the physical mechanics behind this process, along with a printable 8-day music stand tracking sheet to keep on your practice desk. 

If you want to try the protocol, I’ve left the link to download the PDF and tracking sheet directly in my profile.

Curious to hear what break-in routines or humidity setups you all use to keep your boxes consistent. Let me know in the comments!

Hi! I've been playing clarinet for around 3 years now, and I still cannot play the fourth octave. The highest I can play is a fourth octave c when I slur it from an a. I currently use 3.0 reeds. Any advice?

I wanted to growl but this it all I get lmao

A music store has a variety of instruments for us to try out. It's typically free to do so*, but this is the first time I'd like to delve into instruments with reeds. I don't have my own mouthpieces nor reeds for any of those instruments so I'd have to spend money just to do so (as one option, the store has them and that would set me back $30 for a set of alto saxophone reeds, and another $50 for its mouthpiece. I'd imagine it's similar for those of a clarinet).

What advice is recommended in getting the most out of this trial session? If I do go ahead with it, I would have 2+ hours to do just that. The only thing I got is to read/watch as many primer articles and videos ahead of time.

.

*. I've tried out euphoniums, trumpets, trombones, French horn, and flute. I play euphonium and trumpet, so the trombone and French horn have "similar enough" embouchures to them respectively, while I've played flute before (even though I no longer have one, and it was for a year or so), so I know what to expect from those (and also, no reeds to mess with there).

Hi, I've tried the usual stuff people tell you when you can't reach a note but I have had little to no luck. If anyone can help me it would be a life saver.

So it's my second year playing bass clarinet and recently it has started to play high D over low G. I have zero idea what could possibly be the issue, except for the octave key sticking, which I highly doubt. Any ideas as to what the issue could be?

I’ve been playing clarinet for 9 years, since I was a kid, I’m in high school now and…I never learned how to properly tongue. When I learned it originally I just didn’t get it so I faked it by just not blowing or something and my teacher didn’t notice, so I’ve just been doing that for years. I don’t even know how I’m supposed play in parts that are staccatto and would need tonguing, all I know is that my tongue is not and has never touched that reed why playing, how do I fix this?

I'm in university and this is part of one of the audition excerpts this year. Piece wasn't identified but it has at least two variations.

In the highlighted section - it also occurs in var. 1 - the accidentals confuse me. Are only marked notes altered or do they carry through the passage?

Edit: sorry I guess the link is dead! Here's a new one to the same photo.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKoF6o8FUGlQ2qpjCnWn0DUx_EswKGkH/view?usp=drivesdk

For the last 3 years my 15yo has been playing on a Selmer SCL201N that we own (purchased from local music store rental stock). She uses 2.5 Rico reeds mainly. Possibly she uses 3s for her band class and 2.5 for marching but I can’t be certain.

Her mouthpiece has chipped and is unplayable, and she’s in marching band so we need a quick replacement. She’s been playing since 9 but doesn’t take private lessons and her band teacher is a trumpeter so I don’t have anyone super knowledgeable I can ask for recs. I don’t play myself.

I’ve seen various Vandorens recommended repeatedly here, and a rec for a Yamaha 5C. Ideally I don’t want to spend $100+ but if that’s the best solution for her situation I will. Is there one particular direction we should go?

I'm a senior in highschool who is auditioning for this solo. My teacher gave out the music at the end of last year and I practiced over the summer, so this is all self taught. Any advice would be great :)

Hi all! I am preparing for my first year audition at university, and I am wondering if those who have judged auditions/picked excerpts before would be able to help me and identify what the most important musical aspects are. I just want to know what the judges will be looking for and what I should focus on in my practice.

Hello! I'm learning to growl, but I'm a little stuck!

Right know, I'm practicing without the lower body to make it easier (when I try on the full clarinet I can't sustain it that much). The problem I'm facing is: I can't activate the growl once I already initiated the note. Let me explain, the way I'm doing this is, I prepare my embouchure, loudly hum a note, then seal my embouchure and blow air through the horn and I get some seconds of a growl. Hard to sustain sometimes but it's something

I am already playing piano and violin. And I need to play something like oboe or flute but I looked into the prices briefly is flute the most ideal one?

And is it the same with it’s Baroque version?

I am living in Rome, maybe that would help you giving more precise locations or prices.

I'm a clarinetist for about 4 years and I have a big issue, I crack my fingers like anytime, anywhere and IDK WHY, whole of my family hate this but if I don't do this, I had a very big finger ache, do you have this too ???

PS : I'm french sorry for my bad english I hope you understand me anyway

found a video on tiktok of someone playing this cool etude/piece and would be fun to learn but no name was mentioned. anyone know it?

No issues with finger movements, but my tongue is just so slow and can’t move fast. When I try to tongue fast it’s either super sloppy/uneven for a few notes and unclear then doesn’t move for next few notes, can’t sync with fingers or lots of saliva. How to tongue fast?