Your First Clarinet Lesson at The Music Place
Be really careful with your reed! The reed is the part of the clarinet that makes a sound and any splits or chips in it will make it much more difficult for a lovely sound to come out of the instrument.
Dawson’s music shop can give you some advice about the best clarinet for you or your child.
Clarinet Lessons For Experienced Players
You will be able to work with your teacher towards ABRSM exams, up to grade 8 and you will be able to take your exam here at the Music Place. Make sure you let your teacher know what you enjoy about playing the clarinet and also what you find tricky.
More opportunities for our clarinet students
- Perform at Instrumentalist Day or the Music Place Talent Show
- Join the horn section of a rock or pop band that rehearses weekly and performs throughout the year
- Adult Woodwind Group on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm
- Jazz Summer School in August and Jazz Weekend in March
Clarinet Lessons Manchester
From learning how to put the clarinet together to advanced techniques – enrol at The Music Place to start making progress!
Top Clarinet Tips for Beginners
- We can recommend Dawson’s music shop in Altrincham for help and advice about buying or renting a clarinet.
- Start off with a reed that is a strength of ‘one and a half’ – this is the perfect strength to get you going, then your teacher can advise you about changing to a harder reed strength in the future.
- Always take extra special care of your reed! It will be really hard to try and play with a split reed so throw out any that aren’t neat and tidy.
- Keep your shoulders and your fingers relaxed.
- Make sure you press the keys rather than gripping the clarinet.
- If your arms or wrists feel sore while playing, stop, have a break and make sure you tell your teacher so they can find a way to help you with this.
- Remember to practise ‘a little but often’ – this will make all the difference to your playing.
Meet The Music Place Clarinet Teachers…

Jenny is also a founding member of awarding winning ensemble, the Absolution Saxophone Quartet, regularly performing throughout the country. The quartet has recently been awarded a full scholarship to study on the Postgraduate International Artists’ Diploma course at the RNCM.
Jenny is also a member of the Pasaos Duo, providing workshops at special needs schools, clinics and elderly care homes throughout the UK as part of the outreach work of “Live Music Now!”.

Jo recently managed an Arts Council funded tour of the North West for her own big band project, featuring and promoting Manchester musicians, composers and arrangers.
Lucy and Jo also run Manchester Music Works, an organisation that takes the philosophy of the Music Place out into schools, making fun packed and informative music education available for all children.
Outside of music, Jo does voluntary work for the NSPCC and ChildLine.

After moving back to England (and Macclesfield) in 2012 Sam has established himself as a respected creative musician on the Manchester and UK improvised and experimental music scene. Sam has taught saxophone and general improvisation skills at the RNCM, Leeds College of Music, Yorkshire Young Musicians, run workshops in Cheshire and Manchester and held positions with various music services.
He believes strongly in the worth of music as a positive learning force and an enriching experience for everybody of any standard.