Teaching about the clarinet? here are a a few ideas for you
Have fun making this simple single reed instrument Gather the following 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.
These are just a few ideas for music lesson planning available at the fun music company.
Spotlight on clarinet players: Share this information with your class in the manner that best suits you. You could also give the students a class project to learn about one or more of these musicians/
An American clarinetist, best known for his jazz musicianship was Benny Goodman. He was born in 1909 to jewish immigrants in Chicago He learned the clarinet very quickly and worked as a professional musician while still a teenager. In New York City in the twenties and thirties Goodman led his own band. Goodman even became known as “The King of Swing” as his music was very popular during the swing era Goodman continued to play and make recordings for the rest of his life, and is one of the best known jazz clarinetists of all time. He was one of the few jazz musicians to cross over to the classical realm and make recordings of well known classical pieces.
Thea King (1925-2007) was an important English clarinetist. She played with many different groups, but perhaps her most significant position was principal clarinetist of the English Chamber Orchestra from 1964 to 1999. She became “Dame Thea King” when she was inducted into the Order of the British Empire in 1985.
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.
The first ever female member of the Berlin Philharmonic was a german clarinetist, Sabine Meyer The other members didn’t accept her, however, and after a short time she left to become a full-time clarinet soloist. She is also very involved in chamber music (music for a small group of players).
