Clarinet for Students

Look Listen Play

A colorful visual workbook for your first clarinet lessons

Look • Listen • Breathe • Play

NISMCAA | Book 8

Your clarinet journey

Learn to assemble a B flat Boehm clarinet, make comfortable first sounds, cover its holes and play short melodies. Every lesson pairs a visual guide with a practical task. Learn at your own pace with a clarinet teacher.

Start with open G, then add fingers to reach lower notes. This book uses written clarinet pitches. C4 means middle C on the written staff. G3 is lower than G4. Learn later throat notes only when your teacher approves.

My name: __________________________________

My school: __________________________________

My teacher: _________________________________

My first goal: _________________________________

How to use your book

1. LOOK at the picture and find the same places.

2. SAY the note names and count the rhythm.

3. TRY briefly with your teacher, then rest.

4. PRACTICE the next page and show what you learned.

Use short comfortable attempts with breaks. Stop if playing hurts or makes you dizzy. Ask your teacher to adjust supports, mouthpiece contact and lesson pace. Keep your own mouthpiece and reeds clean and avoid sharing them.

Your lesson route

Each lesson has a teaching page and a practice page. Tick it when you can show its skill.

○ 01 Meet your clarinet · 9

○ 02 Prepare your learning space · 11

○ 03 Name the main parts · 13

○ 04 Assemble with adult guidance · 15

○ 05 Understand the reed · 17

○ 06 Fit the reed and ligature · 19

○ 07 Give each hand its job · 21

○ 08 Stand with easy shoulders · 23

○ 09 Sit comfortably to play · 25

○ 10 Breathe easily for sound · 27

○ 11 Make the playing mouth shape · 29

○ 12 Try the mouthpiece and barrel · 31

○ 13 Make your first written G · 33

○ 14 Seal a hole gently · 35

○ 15 Meet the left thumb controls · 37

○ 16 Play written F · 39

○ 17 Play written E · 41

○ 18 Play written D · 43

○ 19 Play written C · 45

○ 20 Join your first five notes · 47

○ 21 Count a steady pulse · 49

○ 22 Start notes with a light tongue · 51

Reference and writing pages begin on page 97.

Your next lessons

Each lesson has a teaching page and a practice page. Tick it when you can show its skill.

○ 23 Read note lengths · 53

○ 24 Give silence its full time · 55

○ 25 Play your first melody · 57

○ 26 Read the treble staff · 59

○ 27 Play low written B · 61

○ 28 Play low written A · 63

○ 29 Play low written G · 65

○ 30 Explore your natural note ladder · 67

○ 31 Play throat A when ready · 69

○ 32 Meet throat B flat · 71

○ 33 Understand your B flat clarinet · 73

○ 34 Join two notes with a slur · 75

○ 35 Count pairs of eighth notes · 77

○ 36 Change volume with a clear tone · 79

○ 37 Listen and adjust pitch · 81

○ 38 Learn about the register change · 83

○ 39 Solve one sound problem · 85

○ 40 Play a musical conversation · 87

○ 41 Write your own small melody · 89

○ 42 Play with your classmates · 91

○ 43 Care for your instrument · 93

○ 44 Share your progress and next goal · 95

Reference and writing pages begin on page 97.

See the playing position

Side view: mouthpiece sits comfortably at your lips and the instrument slopes down in front of you. Keep your head upright and shoulders easy. Your teacher checks your own angle.

Seated view: stable chair, both feet supported and stand at a comfortable reading height. Left hand stays above right. Right thumb supports beneath its rest.

Read the finger diagrams

LH means left hand and RH means right hand. For each hand, 1 is index, 2 middle and 3 ring. The diagram lists the six main front holes from mouthpiece toward bell.

Filled circles mean cover a hole or press a key. White circles mean open or unpressed. Thumb hole, register key and A key are separate indicators. They are not drawn at exact physical distances.

Read a rhythm block

Each bar has four beats. Play the letter for the length underneath its block. A wider block lasts longer. REST means stay silent and keep counting.

Here: E D C D | E E for two beats REST. These are written E4 D4 C4. Say, clap and finger first. The grids help you learn timings; they are not complete musical scores.

LESSON 01 • LOOK AND TRY

Meet your clarinet

Discover the instrument and its sound.

1. Find the mouthpiece, long body and bell.

2. Listen while your teacher plays a short phrase.

3. Air makes a single reed vibrate against the mouthpiece.

Listen: Notice the start and ending of a sound.

Check: Keep a gentle seal and easy shoulders. Take comfortable breaks.

LESSON 01 • PLAY AND CHECK

Try it yourself

1. Point to the top and bottom of the instrument.

2. Describe the sound in your own words.

3. Draw a clarinet and label its bell.

Ready for more? Compare a low and a higher teacher example.

School connection: Describing sound practices observation and vocabulary.

○ I tried it ○ I can show it ○ I want help

One thing I noticed: __________________________

My next small step: ___________________________

LESSON 02 • LOOK AND TRY

Prepare your learning space

Choose a comfortable setup with your teacher.

1. Teacher checks hand reach, weight and suitable support.

2. Set your stand where you can read without bending.

3. Make room for your instrument and classmates.

Listen: Comfort helps you listen without struggling.

Check: Keep a gentle seal and easy shoulders. Take comfortable breaks.