Variations Of The Clarinet

There are 6 versions of the clarinet:
- The Eb Clarinet
- The Soprano Clarinet
- Bb Clarinet (The Most Popular)
- The Alto Clarinet
- The Bass Clarinet
- The Contrabass Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Bb Clarinet

How it Works & How to Play

You Blow into the mouthpiece with which causes the reed to vibrate, which creates sound. To play notes the clarinettist covers the holes with fingers or keys. each note requires a different combination of notes, allowing air to travel different lengths before escaping the uncovered holes.

Skip to 7:59 to learn how to play the E note :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz8AuolJwfI

The History Of The Clarinet

The Clarinet was invented by Johann Christoph Denner in the early 18th century. Vivaldi and Handel were the first people to compose a song for the clarinet and Mozart and Beethoven composed many chamber works involving the instrument. Romantic era composers really showed off the clarinet's potential as a solo instrument (Carl Maria von Weber, Schumann and Brahms). 

What The Clarinet Is Made Of

 The clarinet is made up of African Blackwood, African Ebony wood, Jamaican Cocuswood plastic, or metal. It's reed is made up of wood. The keys are made up of nickel, silver or alloy metals.

What instrument family?

The clarinet is a part of the woodwinds family of instruments. Woodwinds produce sound when air is blown, the air vibrates inside. For example; the clarinet is blown between one reed and a surface and the bassoon has two reeds.

Why did we choose the clarinet?

Hanna: I chose to play the clarinet in jazz band because it seemed interesting to play. When we had to learn one in class I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to work on it and learn more about the history of the instrument!

Jamie: I chose the clarinet because it seemed like one of the easier instruments out of the five we could have chosen.

Morgan: I chose to play this instrument because it seemed fairly easily and my mom used to play it in high school. Also, out of the options it was my favourite.