Clarinet Kirkby in Ashfield

I have been playing the clarinet since the mid 1980’s, and whilst other instruments have come and gone in my life, this is one that has remained! I now not only enjoy still playing this instrument, but also offering lessons for the clarinet. Kirkby in Ashfield is one of the areas I cover.

The clarinet has a warm melodious and versatile character that can sometimes be at the root of many jokes (Green Clarinet), but could also hold its own if it came to a brawl!

The clarinet is not one the simplest of instruments to learn, but once you master the sound production it has a wonderful warm tone. The clarinet really isn’t one of those instruments that you can teach yourself to play. There are many aspects that are needed to produce an excellent tone and reed knowledge and care is as important as the maintenance of the instrument itself.

One of the most famous pieces of popular music for the clarinet is probably Stranger on the shore by Acker Bilk, but the clarinet has been used widely in blues, orchestral works, Dixieland, jazz– every genre of music there is. The television series A Victorian Kitchen Garden has the Clarinet and Harp playing the main themes. Famous clarinettists are Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman. A contemporary young clarinettist is Julian Bliss from the UK.

For me, the most magnificent thing about the clarinet it the sound, and the fact that you can choose to play a wide a range of music as you like. It sounds marvellous as a solo instrument, and equally as good when let loose to improvise and play as part of a band or orchestra.

Did you know: Woody Allen plays the clarinet at Michael’s Pub in New York City on Monday nights, and has even been known to turn down invitations to the Oscars because he has a gig?