Want to start learning again.

[kiranaitl]

Use to play in middle school, moved and stopped playing now 20 and want to start learning again, how should i even go about it, im currently living on an island so in person lessons are kind a no go, should i buy like those starting books they had you use in when starting out and build from there or just pay for online lessons? its gonna be a hobby as i dont have a bunch of time for it but i can give it atleast an hour a day.

[ghostler]

Welcome to the forum.

What you will find about your clarinet playing is that although some years have passed since you last played, it is like riding a bicycle. It will all come back to you in short order, you'll be back to where you were before. With practice, you will improve moving from that point forward on. Even though you may not have an instructor nearby you, if you were grounded in the basics in middle school, may be able to pick up where you left off.

I haven't really kept up with books. I noticed that some of the old standards from when I was learning, back in the 1960's, 1970's are still available. For example:

Amazon US: Rubank Intermediate Method - Clarinet, Cost $8.99 US.

Here in this forum, there are others more familiar.

Do you still have your clarinet with you? Does your island have a music store with woodwind repairer, in case your clarinet needs servicing? And, supplies like clarinet reeds for purchasing?

[kurth83]

You can get pretty far with a dedicated hour per day of practice.

I think the trick is to combine method books with more musical etudes, so you are having fun as well as focused drills like scales and arpeggios.

Depending on genres you like there is a lot of music out there.

If online lessons were the only kind of lesson available to me I would do it.

I took online lessons on mandolin years ago, worked pretty well.

Due to internet lag you can't play duets together unfortunately, but your teacher can demonstrate how passages are played.

I have a pile of clarinet books (and some trumpet books too), Klose, Rose, baermann (1,2 and 3), all three Rubanks, and for trumpet I like St. Jacomme best for it's musical etudes.

I am working through the last Rubank (advanced vol 2) with my teacher currently and combine it with as many etudes as I can find in whatever key we are working on.  The Rubank duet books are super as well if you can find someone to play with.

Let me stress that clarinet is not something to be done without a teacher if you are even half serious.  Getting the fundamentals of playing right is hard on clarinet.  Proper finger technique is like ballet for the fingers.

[colber]

Welcome back to the clarinet!

You don't necessarily have to choose between a beginner book and online lessons. A good method book can give you structure, while occasional online lessons can help you avoid developing bad habits—especially with embouchure, posture, breathing and reed placement.

With one hour a day, you could try:

* 10 minutes of long tones and breathing
* 15 minutes of scales and basic exercises
* 20 minutes from a beginner method book
* 15 minutes playing simple pieces you enjoy

If possible, start by having your instrument checked by a repair technician, and make sure the mouthpiece and reeds are suitable. After a long break, the setup can make a big difference.

I run Easy Lig, a small clarinet accessory project, and we have also put together some free beginner and amamtor guides. This one may be useful:

https://easylig.com/blogs/infos

Take it slowly and focus on producing a comfortable, consistent sound. An hour a day is more than enough to make steady progress.