Clarinet Lessons With Elizabeth Leehey
Purchasing a Clarinet
Purchasing a clarinet for a beginning student:
I recommend that beginning young students start with a plastic clarinet. You can rent or purchase or "rent-to own" at many instrument shops. There are several models to choose from. The Backun Alpha plastic clarinet is the best quality plastic clarinet I have played. Other brands including Buffet or Jupiter plastic student clarinets will also serve a young student well. Be sure to go to a reputable instrument dealer who will provide you will a quality instrument in proper working condition.
The reeds I recommend for a beginner are: Vandoren #2.5 .
I also recommend an upgraded mouthpiece: Vandoren 5RV LYRE. (this is VERY specific)
The sales and repair person I recommend is Mike Leonard 508-653-2189. His web site is
Please note: It is NOT a good idea to purchase an instrument online!
Purchasing a clarinet for an intermediate or advanced student:
Once a student is beyond a beginner level, I recommend upgrading the instrument. My instrument of choice is a Buffet R13 clarinet. Selecting an instrument of this quality can be very confusing and is best done with the help of an experienced professional player.
The 2 instrument sellers I recommend are:
Mike Leonard at www.leonardsmusic.com
Lisa Canning at Lisa's Clarinet Shop