Hi

I'm just beginning to learn the clarinet and I'm noticing that I'm getting an ok sound from the clarinet itself, but I'm also able to hear the sound of my breath blowing through the clarinet. Is there something I'm doing incorrectly? Or is this normal? Or will it just disappear with practice.

Thanks

Hello, I'm a Trumpet player (hence the name and picture), but I can relate a bit to this. Leaking air out of your corners is usually happening because you aren't sealing mouth all the way around the mouthpiece, in other words there is "leak". This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it probably isn't the most efficient way to use your air. It all depends on the person. Generally people shake their finger at it, but for some it is not a problem. Different things work for different people. You need to find the setting that "clicks" for you. If you have a private lesson teacher, perhaps you might ask him about this, and if you don't have a private lesson teacher, I strongly recommend you get one. It is the best investment you could make playing-wise.

I certainly intend on taking lessons asap, but I unfortunately don't have one at the moment.

And I know the air leaks you're speaking of, and that's not quite what I'm referring to. I'm speaking of the air that flows through the clarinet and comes out the end, it tends to be fairly audible when I plya quietly or "fade out".

Thanks for your help though.

I think I know what you mean. That always bugs me too. What size reed are you using? I have the problem more with reeds that are stiffer than usual, or if my mouth is tired, particularly when playing long notes softly.

I think it's a #2 reed.

I'd make sure you could get a great, singing tone on just the mouthpiece and barrel first. It should be super steady and high pitched, oh and loud. Don't try to play softly, because it requires more development. If you start out playing softly, you'll never have a good embouchure or air support. I don't let my beginner students even put the horn together until they sound fabulous on the mpc and barrel. Beyond that, it could be your reed or embouchure, but I can't say without being there. Good luck to you!

I've read that it's helpful to first start out with just the mouthpiece and barrel, unfortunately I don't think I have that much discipline. Oh well.

Thanks for your advice, I'll follow it.

Your air probably isn't fast enough. Make sure your tongue is raised like your saying "hee" instead of low like fogging a window.

i use to do that try tighten up your mouth if that doesnt do anything try a bigger reed

Hmm... I have the same problem, even though I have been playing for a few years. Sadly enough, my school instrument teacher didn't have a clue how to actually get quality sound out of a clarinet (he was a trombone teacher before, but whatever, my school will hire anything if supposedly he's 'musical'), and I never did the barrel and mouthpeice technique. It seems that when I play my clarinet, I have the sound, but as it gets softer, you can almost hear another airstream, with a sound like spit flying through air. Eww..

So, anyways, I recomend that you just work on a set mouth posistion, and try to keep it constant. Just don't work on a wrong set position...

Welcome to the world of clarinet! Hope you have a good time playing music!

Use this guide to help you play the clarinet, DO NOT LEARN TO PLAY INCORRECTLY OR ELSE IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO LEARN TO PLAY IT RIGHT!!!

http://clarinet-lessons.blogspot.com/2007/02/rebeccas-relatively-quick-guide-to.html

And theperson108, try inhaling, hard, through your mouthpiece to suck out the condensation from your mouthpiece. Almost certainly that will make your sound better and spit-flying-through-air free.

Also, for softer sounds, maintain the air intensity but use less air. In other words, use fast air but less air.

It has a bit to do with your air quality. Blow faster (not necessarily louder!) air and you will not get that airy quality as much, however in the Chalumeau range it always sounds like that a little.

Err sorry forgot to clarify... When I mean faster air I mean you need to push air out with your diaphragm, it's a muscle below your lungs that will expand while exhaling which will let you control your air flow. I know it probably sounds a little strange/complicated but over time it becomes really easy.