From First Notes to Altissimo: Clarinet Tips for Every Level

Whether you're just starting clarinet, returning after years away, or working on advanced techniques like high notes and altissimo, this livestream is packed with practical clarinet advice. In this session I discuss beginner clarinet equipment, embouchure, articulation, first notes, playing over the break, improving high notes, altissimo warm-ups, voicing, overtone exercises, and even some jazz practice advice for classical musicians. Topics include: • Choosing beginner clarinet equipment • Mouthpieces, reeds, and ligatures • Avoiding common beginner mistakes • Embouchure fundamentals • Producing your first clarinet sound • Tonguing and articulation • Playing over the break • Improving high notes • Altissimo practice techniques • Voicing and air support • Overtone exercises • Clarinet maintenance tips • Jazz advice for classical musicians 0:00 Welcome & beginner clarinet discussion 1:03 Equipment matters: mouthpieces, reeds & ligatures 3:17 Beginner clarinet recommendations 4:02 Stuck mouthpiece and humidity issues 5:19 Breaking in a wooden clarinet 6:23 How to remove a stuck mouthpiece safely 9:35 Question: How do I play higher notes? 11:15 Producing your first clarinet sound 12:42 Embouchure basics 14:40 Double-lip embouchure to prevent biting 16:00 First notes on clarinet (E, D, C) 16:35 Tonguing and articulation basics 17:24 Playing your first songs 18:05 Expanding down the clarinet 18:33 Playing over the break 20:20 Building the clarion register 20:48 Tongue position and voicing for high notes 22:12 Air support and abdominal engagement 23:23 Alternate exercise for reaching high C 24:40 Introduction to altissimo playing 25:31 Altissimo warm-up exercise 26:05 Understanding clarinet registers 26:47 Altissimo extender exercise 28:03 Transitioning into altissimo 28:50 Common C-sharp fingering mistake 30:25 Overtones and the clarinet 32:57 Clarion-to-chalumeau transition issues 35:45 Checking the register key vent 37:00 Overtone exercise using the bell 39:55 Understanding voicing 40:12 Ray Wheeler clarinet X-ray discussion 43:39 Jazz advice for classical musicians 48:12 Felix Peikli recommendation 49:39 Final questions and wrap-up Whether you're a beginner, adult returner, band student, teacher, or experienced clarinetist, I hope you'll find something useful here. 🎵 More beginner lessons:    • First Week With Your Clarinet!   🎵 First Notes on Clarinet:    • How to Play Your First Notes on the Clarinet   Subscribe for weekly clarinet lessons, livestreams, warm-ups, and practice advice.