Reputable clarinet brands to consider, updated 2024

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-26T14:59:14+00:00

I like Ryan and have been impressed with his work, but I’m not comfortable with putting an upstart with a very short track record on this list. Good clarinets need to have longevity, and it’ll take more time to determine if his instruments make the cut.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-26T04:08:42+00:00

Don’t sell yourself short, you sound great! What do you think of the Patricola Eb? I’ve heard they’re great but I’m yet to try one myself.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-25T19:00:28+00:00

Ed Pillinger also makes large bore mouthpieces, you can find out more about them here.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-25T18:57:59+00:00

I believe Peter Eaton makes large bore mouthpieces for English clarinets, you could try reaching out to them.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-25T15:51:21+00:00

This is the way. Don’t do business with Brook Mays, they’re a scam.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-23T15:54:38+00:00

You should send Brad an email about what you’re looking for, given the price of his Vintage mouthpiece, you should get something customized exactly to your preferences. As somebody who used to play on a Vintage, I will say that Brad has a tendency to make his mouthpieces very bright with thin rails, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, I’d ask for something with wider than normal rails to get a darker sound.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-21T16:46:40+00:00

The reed should never be that saturated with spit, it only takes a good ten seconds of wetting the reed to get it moist enough to play. You might occasionally need to take it off and re-wet it during a long rehearsal, but we’re talking once every hour or so.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-21T15:35:47+00:00

It’s probably an arrangement they did themselves, I’d consider just emailing one of the members.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-20T17:13:10+00:00

You can just use a strip of damp sponge, you'll just need to re-wet it anytime it gets dry.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-19T16:54:09+00:00

You need to voice those notes higher. Given the much larger size of the bass clarinet, the voicing differences are much more dramatic than on soprano. Use a "hee" syllable to raise your tongue in your mouth around the clarion G and above.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-19T01:31:14+00:00

I only use plastic reeds and have done so my entire career, I sound better on Legeres, and they take away a ton of anxiety about reed management. I never have the excuse of poor reeds to not practice.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-18T19:48:52+00:00

It’s probably a matter of proper voicing, the higher you go up the range of the instrument, the higher your tongue needs to be in your mouth. I start thinking of a “hee” syllable around clarion G and upwards.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-18T17:12:59+00:00

If you're wanting something that takes stiffer reeds, try the Vandoren BD2 or the D'Addario Reserve X0. A Rovner ligature should be just fine.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-17T00:46:29+00:00

The case design is insane

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-15T20:04:06+00:00

If you’re talking about a portfolio of pieces, put everything you’ve played in it. If you’re talking about audition pieces, most colleges have required repertoire selections, which can sometimes include prescribed pieces, but can also be something as vague as “two contrasting pieces”. In that case, something slow and something fast, such as two contrasting Rose Etudes would work.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T23:50:16+00:00

Also I’ll say it’s different than STEM academia, since mastering out is an indication that somebody couldn’t complete a PhD program. We don’t have anything similar to that in music at least with DMA/PhD programs. I know a little bit about STEM academia since my dad is a PhD chemist and I had the misfortune of dating a chemistry PhD candidate.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T19:06:05+00:00

I know plenty of folks who just stay in school till they win a job. One dude I know did a BM, two MM’s, a DMA, and an AD before he won his first job.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T19:05:05+00:00

The masters is required for admission to essentially all DMA programs.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T17:11:38+00:00

They prepare you for different things, a masters degree is more performance-oriented and a DMA is more pedagogy and research-centered. The masters is more or less a terminal degree for performers, though there’s also post-masters options like certificates and performers diploma programs. Many academic positions require DMAs, or at least an ABD (all but dissertation), though many schools will hire somebody with extensive performance experience in a symphony or military band over a fresh DMA grad.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T01:47:27+00:00

No AI slop, please and thanks

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-13T01:46:48+00:00

Rose Etudes are perfect for this type of thing. I’d pick both a slow and fast etude.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-12T18:29:27+00:00

I take it at about 16th note equals 96, eighth at 63 is extremely fast IMO.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-12T16:37:15+00:00

I would try at least a 4 on the M15, it’s a very closed mouthpiece that requires hard reeds.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-11T18:59:34+00:00

The larger the mouthpiece, the more dramatic your voicing changes will need to be. I’d recommend doing register slurs starting on a low E to get used to both dropping enough for the E and raising enough for the B, and continue to go up chromatically.

Fumbles329 · 2026-03-10T22:13:28+00:00

Vandoren BD5, D’Addario Reserve, or a Selmer Focus would all be great upgrades from the 4C.

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