Hey everybody.

I am sure many people on SDK play an instrument. Whether it be trumpet, flute, baritone, drums, etc.

Today our band director for the middle school came today. He tested most of the 5th graders to see which instrument would be the best for us. Apparently I'm a natural at the clarinet (going to play front row), so I decided to make a blog to help you all decide, if the clarinet is a good choice for you.

Good requirements (* is must have.)

Strong lungs*
You have to usually blow very hard into the clarinet to get a sound out of it. This is why having strong lungs are a key factor to being a good clarinet player. When you're playing your clarinet, be sure the reed is carefully balanced on your bottom lip, and your top lip and teeth on top. Try to purse your lips at the edges to keep excess air from coming out.

Dexterity*
The clarinet is typically a long instrument, with lots of different fingering combinations. This is why dexterity comes in hand. Many clarinet pieces are fast, so you need to be able to have skilled hands to correctly finger the notes on time. If you don't have a clarinet, a good way to practice is to get a pencil, and put your left hand on top, right hand on bottom. Practice moving your fingers in different ways, and increase speed as you go.

Ability to read sheet music
This will come in handy if you are playing in a group, but it is also an important skill overall. If you can't already read sheet music, you usually can get help from your music/band teacher.

These are 3 main requirements that i was tested for. If you have an interest in clarinet, try it out! It seems to be a very fun and popular instrument, and you have this blog to assist you.

If you have any questions about the clarinet feel free to comment below. The band director from the middle school gave me a lot of information, so if you need it just ask.

Have fun!

Sheridan