Clarinet Lessons

All students receive individualised instruction allowing them to progress at their own pace, with their musical interests and needs quickly and efficiently met. Younger students must be accompanied by an adult. They learn to set goals, manage their time and effort and monitor their own progress. Clarinet lessons involve five main areas:

Instrument Technique

For beginner students this includes learning to identify the various parts, learning how to put the clarinet together and how to pick up and hold the instrument. Students also learn about reed choice and placement, fingering, blowing, embouchure (mouth position) and tone production. They will also learn how to care for and maintain the clarinet.

Advanced students will develop their tone and instrument control and build on basic concepts by learning extended techniques such as alternate fingerings, portamento, circular breathing and microtones.

Music Reading Skills

Beginner students learn how to read and interpret basic notation and musical terms, as well as techniques that aid in increasing the speed of reading music. Students also develop sight-reading skills, which will allow them to be able to perform pieces with little or no practice.

Advanced students will extend their music reading skills by studying more complicated traditional notation as well as other methods such as graphic and contemporary notational techniques.

Practice Technique

Students learn effective practice techniques including how to manage time efficiently, how to become motivated to practice and how to avoid and limit frustration. Importantly, students will learn how to focus their practice rather than just spend time with the instrument.

Aural Skills

Students develop listening skills that aid in the ability to sight-read efficiently and to learn new pieces quickly and accurately. More advanced students will build on these skills applying them to performance techniques such as tuning, intonation and improvisation.

General Knowledge

Students learn the theory behind the instrument and its repertoire and how to apply this knowledge to practice and performance techniques.

The ultimate goal for students is to have fun and gain an appreciation of the instrument and its repertoire.