Skip to main content

How to Blow in a Clarinet

Developing a proper inhalation technique is crucial to learning to blow through the clarinet properly. Without proper technique, the instrument will sound dull and lifeless, you will have problems with the clarinet squeaking and notes will sound weak. Posture and proper breathing techniques will ensure that you approach your music in a healthful and productive manner. The best clarinetists in the world practice their breathing on a daily basis, always trying to expand -- both their diaphragms -- and their ability to hold large amounts of air.

Step 1

Stand with the clarinet at an angle of 45 degrees to the body. Sitting is not recommended when learning, as it constricts airflow.

Step 2

Stretch your lower lip over your bottom teeth. This creates a cushion for the reed and will prevent air from leaking through the sides.

Step 3

Place the clarinet in your mouth with the reed touching the bottom lip. Use the end joint of your thumb as a reference for how far the clarinet should be placed inside the mouth. Your teeth will rest on top of the mouthpiece and the upper lip will create a seal with the mouthpiece.

Step 4

Breathe from the diaphragm -- taking air in through the corners of your mouth -- and pushing it down, until your stomach and sides grow large with air. In fact, the act of simply expanding your stomach will force you to take air in.

Step 5

Push the air out of your body by contracting the muscles of the diaphragm. Blow a slow and steady stream of air through your mouth. Keep the tongue slightly arched to create a ramp for the air to travel across -- and through the reed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sunday Stories: The Power of Audiation in Music Composition

Happy Sunday! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of audiation in music composition and share an inspiring story about a composer who mastered this skill. Audiation, the ability to hear and understand music in your mind, is a crucial tool for composers, enabling them to bring their musical ideas to life with greater detail and precision. What is Audiation? Audiation is the process of hearing and comprehending music in your mind without any external sound. It is similar to thinking in a language, where you can understand and manipulate words and sentences internally.  For composers, audiation is an essential skill that allows them to imagine, develop, and refine their musical ideas before they are played or written down 1 . The Benefits of Audiation for Composers 1. Enhanced Musical Understanding Audiation helps composers develop a deeper understanding of music. By hearing and analyzing music internally, they can grasp the relationships between different musical elements, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more