Woody Woodwinds

You have to have a reed to play the clarinet. The reed is what makes the clarinet a woodwind. To get good sound on the clarinet, you have to have a reed that is in good condition, you have to position the reed on the clarinet correctly, and you have to know how to blow without squeaking. I play the clarinet in our school band along with Stephanie. The clarinet is not as simply played as it looks. There is a certain technique to get it to make a sound. After you get it to make a sound, you have to make sure that you don't squeak. The clarinet can't play more than one note at a time (a chord). Sometimes chords are written on clarinet music, but in that case, one clarinet would play one of the notes, and another would play the other. This is a clarinet. It can play up to 3 octaves. Even though the clarinet has 5 pieces, and is the hardest instrument to put together in the woodwind family, it is (I think) a really fun instrument to play. The clarinet is a good beginning instrument, but you can go much farther and learn to be a pro.

CLARINET TRIVIA:

True or False:

1. You don't have to have a reed to play the clarinet.

2. The clarinet can play chords.

3. The clarinet is not an easy intrument to put together.