Upgrades

Accessories/Gift Ideas

Clarinet Stand - A great stand for rehearsal or home. Students who keep their instrument out are more likely to practice.

Mouthpiece Patches - These allow students to place their teeth on the top of the mouthpiece with comfort.

Clarinet Cleaning Swab - Keeps the instrument in clean working order.

About Reeds

Reeds are at the forefront of how the clarinet speaks and how we make our sound as clarinetists. It is of extreme importance to understand that there are very bad reeds and we should avoid certain brands at all costs. How a reed is made and how it is balanced has a lot to do with how well it will play. There is nothing the clarinet player depends on more, than the condition of his/her reed and reeds are sensitive and delicate.

Reeds are expensive and they need to be cared for in a case. I recommend this reed case (Reed Case) This case helps keep reeds safe while not in play and does not allow the reeds to warp. It is important for students to rotate reeds and the humidity packs within this case help lengthen the life of a reed (saving you money) and also preserves its playability. I also keep extra humidity packs in the band room should students need to replace them (for free!).

Recommended Reed

Vandoren Reeds / Bass Clarinet Reeds - these are the best value and most consistent for our students. It is best if they begin using a strength of 2.5 once they are playing everyday in 6th grade and consider moving to a 3 if they have upgraded their mouthpiece or continue playing into 7th grade and beyond. The strength of the reed is mostly dictated by the mouthpiece and embouchure.

Ligatures

Ligatures are what attach the reed to the mouthpiece so they are obviously next on our upgrade list. Stock (what came with the instrument) ligatures tend to put too much pressure on the reed and does not allow it to vibrate and sing with that great characteristic clarinet sound.

Here is a list of recommended ligature upgrades.

Rovner V-1R Ligature - approx. $50 / Bass Clarinet Version

Rovner 1R Ligature - approx. $20 / Bass Clarinet Version

Mouthpiece

Mouthpieces are third on our list and again are a definite upgrade if students are looking to continue playing clarinet and are committed to becoming better musicians. The mouthpiece makes a huge difference in the sound students are able to produce. Mouthpieces also can get very tricky and sometimes it is best for students to try various mouthpieces to see which one they prefer. We will be doing mouthpiece demonstrations with students in the fall and send home what they decided on. With mouthpieces should also come a mouthpiece patch so that students teeth is not in direct contact with the hard rubber. You can buy them here.

Here is my recommended mouthpiece upgrade. For bass clarinet recommendations see Mr. Rafter

Vandoren M13

Vandoren B45

Instrument

The last thing to do as you progress is to upgrade your instrument. Student model instruments only allow you to go so far in your musical endeavors and an intermediate or better instrument will help you achieve that characteristic tone of the clarinet and allow you to play with more ease. Also intermediate models and better are made from real wood. This is a concern because a true wooden instrument is very fragile and students must take great care in keeping them indoors and out of big temperature swings. I recommend 2 instruments and believe you should play instruments before making a purchase. Please contact Mr. Rafter (trafter@delranschools.org) if you are considering making a new instrument purchase.

Backun - Protege approx $2,400 - This instrument is of great quality and has terrific key work and is a huge step up from our student model plastic clarinets.

Buffet R13 approx $4,000 - This is the industry and professional standard clarinet and nearly all of the famous clarinet players have used the R13 for years. This version of the wood called "Greenline" will not crack due to humidity or temperature. You can't go wrong with this instrument.