Clarinet – a great instrument for children to learn about in the music classroom

Here are a few lesson planning ideas that you can use when learning about the clarinet in the music class. There are lots more ideas for music lesson plans in the printable music lesson plans series at this webpage.

Have fun making this simple single reed instrument You will need: plastic combs and pieces of paper, about 2 inches by 2 inches (5 cm by 5 cm). To play it simply place the paper on the comb in line with the teeth and hold it with your thumbs. Simply blow to make a sound with your lips around the paper and the comb. Students will come to understand the idea of a single reed vibrating with this activity

Spotlight on clarinet players: Share this information with your class in the manner that best suits you. Alternatively, assign these musicians to groups of students for short-term projects and have them give presentations.

An American clarinetist, best known for his jazz musicianship was Benny Goodman. He was born in 1909 to jewish immigrants in Chicago While a teenager he learned the clarinet very quickly and became a professional musician In New York City in the twenties and thirties Goodman led his own band. They played a style of jazz called Swing, and Benny became known as “The King of Swing.” Benny Goodman is known as one of the best jazz clarinetists of all timse, as he continued to make recordings for the rest of his life He was one of the few jazz musicians to cross over to the classical realm and make recordings of well known classical pieces.

An important English Clarinetist was Thea King (1925-2007) She was the principal clarinetist of the English Chamber Orchestra from 1964 to 1999, and played with many other groups. She was inducted into the Order of the British Empire in 1985, becoming “Dame Thea King.”

Richard Stoltzman (born 1942) is a well known American classical clarinetist. He has also made some jazz recordings. He majored in both music and mathematics at Ohio State University. He is in high demand as a clarinet soloist with orchestras around the world.

Sabine Meyer, a German clarinetist born in 1959, was the first ever female member of the Berlin Philharmonic. She soon left when the other members didn’t accept her to become a full time clarinet soloist. She is also an accomplished Chamber Music player.