There are MANY different kinds of clarinet ligatures, and knowing how to put yours on the mouthpiece correctly is essential. Pictured left (above) is a standard metal ligature often used by beginning students. This is an "inverted" ligature. There are many styles of these -including ones made of leather or faux leather or cloth. Many students have these too. This is an inverted metal ligature. So, how do you put these on the mouthpiece? Here is the proper placement of the standard metal ligature. Note that the screws go in the front, on the reed side of the mouthpiece, and are screwed in from the RIGHT side. Here is the proper placement of a metal inverted ligature. The screws go in the b
Reeds....there is a lot to know here...for the beginning student we'll just start with the basics. A young student who is just starting to learn the clarinet will probably break several reeds as they are getting used to handling them, so I recommend purchasing a box of less-expensive Rico brand reeds. Pictured here.... start with a box of 10 in strength 2, or possibly 2 1/2. These reeds are fine for the absolute beginner student as they are learning how to put the instrument together and learning to make their first clarinet sounds. After this first box of reeds, I recommend changing to a better brand of reed such as Vandoren Traditional or Rico Reserve Classic, pictured here: You can purcha
Are your reeds in a big jumble like this? Let's get them organized! The condition of your reeds directly affects the quality of your sound. Chipped, dirty, or old reeds will not serve you well. Here's a few quick "reed tips" that will help you: Each time you open a new reed, write the date that you opened it on the bottom of the back (flat part) of the reed. Use ball point pen. This way you will never wonder how old your reed is. After you finish playing, dry off your reed with your (clean) fingers, and put it in a reed case. Don't leave your reed on the mouthpiece, and certainly don't throw it loose in your case! Keep all of your reeds in a zip-lock plastic bag, with a humidity control pack
