How to control clarinet air pressure: 1) Breathe diaphragmatically, 2) Use a 4-4-4 breathing drill (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4) to build steady support, 3) Maintain upright, relaxed posture, 4) Focus a narrow airstream and tighten embouchure for high notes. Too much pressure = sharp/squeaky; too little = flat/weak. ...  read more

The clarinet in ambient music adds a warm, sustained, and human timbre to electronic soundscapes. To achieve an ambient clarinet sound: 1) play long, legato tones with relaxed embouchure and controlled breath; 2) capture nuances with a quality condenser mic placed 1-2 ft away and processed with reverb plus subtle delay; 3) maintain reeds and instrument humidity for consistent tone. ...  read more

Clarinet articulation is how notes are started, sustained and released using breath support, tongue placement, embouchure and fingering. Quick starter: 1) Long tones (5-10 minutes) for steady air, 2) single tongue scale drills with a clear “ta” for 5 minutes, and 3) metronome work on slurred and staccato patterns, beginning around 60 BPM and increasing by 5-10 BPM as clarity stays consistent. ...  read more

There's always something new to learn about the clarinet, no matter your skill level or experience. Whether you're just starting or have been playing for years, some surprising clarinet information will surely tickle your fancy. Today, we'll explore some fascinating details that will make you see your instrument in a whole new light. ...  read more

Step-by-step: Improve clarinet breath control — 1) Check posture: sit or stand tall, chest high. 2) Diaphragmatic breathing: lie on your back with a light book on your belly, 5–10 minutes daily. 3) Practice long tones in the middle register, then gradually shift higher while keeping a steady airflow. 4) Add overtones and mouthpiece buzzing to focus air direction. 5) For altissimo, use a firm but flexible embouchure and a focused, fast airstream; progress slowly. Repeat daily and track hold times and pitch stability. ...  read more

Use diaphragmatic inhalation, a steady “sipping” exhale, long-tone and buzzing exercises, a relaxed but sealed embouchure, and good posture. Practice daily 10-20 minutes focused on low-register long tones to build a full, stable chalumeau sound, then gradually add dynamics and articulation while keeping the air steady. ...  read more

Extended clarinet techniques commonly used in contemporary classical music include multiphonics (two or more notes at once), flutter-tonguing (fast tongue roll for a growling texture), circular breathing (continuous sound without breaks), glissandi (smooth pitch slides), slap-tongue (percussive pops), quarter tones (micro-intervals between semitones), and key clicks (unvoiced rhythmic tapping of keys). ...  read more

The clarinet in Impressionist music is prized for its warm chalumeau register and flexible color palette; composers like Debussy and Ravel used its blendable timbre to create dreamy solos, delicate orchestral color, and evocative atmospheres across works such as Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole. ...  read more

The clarinet appears in tango, Latin/Afro-Cuban, bossa nova, Brazilian, Cape and Kansas City jazz as a flexible lead and section voice that can cut, blend or float depending on style. To play these genres authentically, clarinetists must adapt tone, articulation, rhythmic feel, ornamentation and equipment setup, then practice style-specific patterns, long tones, scales and metronome work that match each tradition. ...  read more

How does the clarinet fit in fusion music? The clarinet works in fusion music as a flexible melodic and textural voice that blends with jazz, world, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Indian and electronic settings. Players use techniques like overblowing, multiphonics, microtones, glissandos, circular breathing and effects such as reverb, delay and looping to match modern grooves and global rhythms. ...  read more