just wanted to say THANKS for all of these suggestions.
I`m a beginner too and having some problems with high notes, so i`m going to try all of these suggestions.

For anyone who is still watching this topic, here`s two things I start off with when someone wants a better tone.

First, play an open G and slowly move more and more of the mouthpiece into your mouth. Eventually, it will squeak. When it does, stop. Then pull the mouthpiece out just a tiny bit. Then play. The sound instantly darkens up a bit.

Second, breathing is everything. People say "Breathe from your diaphragm" but if you haven`t done it before, you don`t know what it will feel like. This is how to find out. Find a clock with a second hand. Then, for 4 seconds breathe in as much as you can. The next 4 seconds breathe out completely, so you have no more air in your lungs. Then, without breathing in, play (any note) and keep playing until you absolutely cannot make a sound any longer. You`ll notice something pusing on your lungs from around your stomach. Congratulations, you`ve found your diaphragm! That`s where you want to breathe from.

If the notes are sounding airy I recomend getting a new reed or possibly moving up a reed size. Harder reeds also help getting higher notes.

Well I can say about the saliva in the mouthpiece is that if it gets in the way clean it during your practices so it doesn`t affect your playing.

Good luck with your clarinet.

hey well listen ok make sure that u get a cleaning kit for ur clarinet and make sure u clean it dont eat or drink soda before u play ur clarinet but if u do wash out ur mouth.about the saliva well that is natural but wipe it off when u get the chance. in the cleaning kit there should be a swab that when u run it throught the clarinet it will wipe out all the saliva but u have to run it through about 2 or 3 times.if u need any help just e-mail me.

hi. i`d been playing for one year so i know some stuff....
the first thing: hold your reed tight in ur mouth or else u`ll get a flat tone. second of all, dont play too loud. my teacher threatened to take me off 1st part after i played loud. and the 3rd part, dont giveup