Summerhays Music offers student, intermediate or professional level clarinet players some of the best known manufactures in the music industry. Armstrong, Artley, Buffet, Bundy, Jupiter, Selmer, Vito, Yamaha and more.

These companies are all proven manufacturers that make quality instruments that play well and are easily maintained and repaired when repairs are needed.

Accessories for the clarinetist are also available at Summerhays. These include a wide array of mouthpieces and ligatures ranging from student level to professional quality. Other accessories essential to clarinet performance include cleaning swabs, cork grease, reed cases, and a wide variety of reed brands.

The following are just a few of the Clarinets we regularly have in stock at unbeatable prices:

Recommended brands: Yamaha, Buffet, Accent, Selmer.

The clarinet is one of the most popular instruments to learn the basics of music. The student level clarinet is a very reasonable priced instrument and provides the opportunity for your player to enjoy all the social contacts in band and orchestra. The skills you learn playing the clarinet can be used to play the saxophone and the flute as well.

Student level clarinets are made from a specially formulated plastic material called ABS. Intermediate and professional clarinets are made of grenadilla, rosewood or African blackwood. Any student level clarinet that is purchased at Summerhays Music can later be upgraded to an intermediate or professional instrument.

You will want to make sure your clarinet has been looked over by an instrument repair technician. They will check the condition of all the pads and insure that all the pads seal tightly. Any air leakage will adversely affect the clarity of the tone production. Low and high registers of the instrument will be checked for accuracy of pitch. All keys will be checked to make sure they move with ease. Spring tension is also checked to insure proper resistance and key closure when pressing these keys.

A word of caution: inexpensive clarinets made overseas are finding their way into the market through the internet, big box stores, and other discount centers. While the lower price is tempting, you should consider that poorly constructed instruments play poorly, hindering the student’s ability to learn. They are also difficult if not impossible to regulate and adjust. Many repair shops won’t even touch them, or charge a premium to do so. Most teachers will agree that a poor instrument defeats the student even before he/she has begun.

Tips & Warnings

1. Use a cleaning swab after each time you play. It is a cloth with a string & metal weight attached. This is drawn through the instrument to keep it dry.
2. Use the best reeds for performances.
3. Buy a reed holder to fit into the clarinet case. This will help the reed last longer.
4. Exercise care when assembling the instrument parts.
5. Utilize a special cork grease to aid the assembly of the instrument.
6. Avoid bending the “bridge” key when assembling the clarinet.
7. The clarinet can be easily damaged or knocked over when set down vertically on the flared bell. To avoid this, use a clarinet stand.

Johann Christoph Denner invented the clarinet in Germany around the beginning of the 18th century. By adding a register key to a folk instrument called the chalumeau, Denner was able to extend the range of the instrument significantly. Over time, additional keywork and airtight pads were added to improve tone and playability. Today, the clarinet is used in both jazz and classical ensembles, as well as in chamber groups and as a solo instrument.

As a relative newcomer to the woodwind instrument family, the clarinet does not find its way into the musical repertoire until the mid 18th century. The first major composer to write a significant amount of music for the clarinet was Mozart who wrote a concerto, a quintet, and many chamber works for the instrument. By the end of the century, the clarinet had become a regular member of the orchestra, probably due mainly to the attention Mozart had given the instrument.

The 19th century saw the clarinet become a major instrument in orchestral and chamber music literature. Major composers including Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Beethoven, Berlioz, Liszt, and Rimsky-Korsakov utilized the clarinet prominently in their compositions. During this period, the clarinet evolved from a primitive 6 to 13 key folk like instrument into the modern instrument we have today. As early as 1839, Hyacinthe Klose developed the modern Boehm fingering system that remains in use in most countries today. By the end of the century, the clarinet had also become an indispensible member of the bands and wind ensembles that were coming into prominence at that time.