Introduction to the Clarinet
The clarinet is a good alternative for the young beginner who wishes to play saxophone, but finds the size restrictive. These instruments are closely related - the technique for producing sound is the same and the fingering is similar, so a competent clarinet player will have little difficulty transferring their skills to the saxophone.

Another consideration is repertoire. Because the clarinet is 100 years older than the saxophone, there is a wider range and style of music available. It might be considered a more versatile instrument.

Basic Training
There are some excellent ways of giving the novice a head start in producing their first sounds. Do not start with the whole instrument - this will distract the student. Take the mouthpiece, complete with ligature and suitable beginner's reed, and connect it to the barrel only - the barrel at this stage is used merely as a support. Using the basic blowing technique, encourage the student to vibrate the reed. It should sound not unlike a duck call.

The beginner, once successfully vibrating the reed, should experiment, for example blowing at different volumes. A creative teacher or skilled salesman will be able to enthuse the student, thus ensuring rapid progress.

Modern Clarinet Manufacture
France has a cultural history of making clarinets, and Paris is the centre of the finest clarinet manufacturing in the world: Buffet Crampon, Le Blanc, and Selmer (Paris) rank among the top five makers in the world. There are many other familiar names: Boosey & Hawkes, Yamaha, Jupiter, Howarth, Bundy and Armstrong to name but a few.

Clarinets are made in a variety of materials: plastic, metal, wood and modern compounds. "Green Line", by Buffet Crampon, is a response to environmental pressures against the use of rare woods such as ebony.