Top 11 Best Online Resources To Learn How To Play Clarinet
Online learning resources, be it courses, videos, written content, one-on-one coaching, apps, et cetera, provide fantastic opportunities to learn (and teach) how to play the clarinet and understand music more generally. Though nothing truly beats dedicated in-person clarinet lessons, there are plenty of excellent alternatives online.
Note that by “resources,” I'm not only referring to video tutoring and full-length courses (though these are arguably the best options). I'm also considering masterclasses, applications, videos, articles, and other online resources for learning how to play the clarinet.
Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these resources based on the following metrics (in no particular order):
- Reputation of the clarinet learning resource
- Quality of education in technique, theory, and learning real songs
- Organization and depth of learning
- Adaptability of teaching to individual students (one-on-one lessons are best here)
- The resource must be currently available
With all that being said, let's list out the learning resources.
The Top 11 Best Online Resources To Learn Clarinet Are:
- ArtistWorks
- 8notes
- Sage Music
- iMusic School
- Clarinet Mentors
- Clarinet Now
- Clarinet Companion
- Clarinet Mastery
- Music Professor
- TakeLessons
- Play With A Pro
In this article, we'll go through each of the above-mentioned resources to get a stronger idea of what makes them great for learning the clarinet. Whether you're a complete beginner or a successful professional, there is always something to learn! I'll include links to check out each of the options for yourself. We'll also consider a few “honourable mentions” worth considering.
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Click here to see more of My New Microphone's recommended learning resources.
ArtistWorks
ArtistWorks was founded by Patricia and David Butler in Napa, California, in 2008. What sets this platform apart from many others is that it is made by musicians for musicians. Indeed, not only are the CEO, chairman, and vice-president of the company professional musicians but also every faculty member has some degree of professional experience in music.
This characteristic turns ArtistWorks into an art community rather than an online business delivering the only possible result of passion-driven work: excellence. Moreover, some of the names on the teacher roster have been on stages around the planet, like Stu Hamm, Paul Gilbert, Jared James Nichols, John Patitucci, and many more.
For clarinet, ArtistWorks counts on the services of Ricardo Morales, the Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Furthermore, besides being appointed principal clarinet at the age of 21 at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and playing with the Chicago Symphony, The Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic, he is also a faculty member of the Julliard Music School and the Temple University.
After enrolling, you can have a video exchange with him and follow his over 100 clarinet lessons at your own pace, stopping, rewinding, and slowing them down. Learning clarinet with a legend has never been so easy before.
Click here to start learning clarinet at ArtistWorks today!
8notes
Red Balloon Technology Ltd. is responsible for one of the biggest sheet music databases in the world. The company founded 8notes in 2001 and has been adding instruments and music sheets for the past two decades. As a result, there is virtually no music style or instrument you can't find on their vast database.
Besides the virtually endless library of resources, 8notes offers clarinet classes that are colour-coded for beginner, intermediate, and advanced. For example, advanced students can have access to a 14-solo lesson besides useful resources like a metronome, tuner, and chord charts.
Most of the resources on the platform are free of charge (around 90%), but there is also a paid membership area that will grant you access to a plethora of other resources that will pave the way to instrument proficiency.
Finally, since most of the resources on the site are free of charge, there are no reasons not to check this platform out.
Take 8notes Clarinet Lessons and improve your skills today!
Sage Music
The Sage Music School offers a plethora of options for students around the world. The backbone of the school and, perhaps, its most important feature is the science-based, patented Arpeggio lesson system, designed exclusively to bring the best out of every student while working at their own pace and having fun at the same time.
Speaking of fun, the school is all about teaching you real skills that can get you through the real world; that's why you can perform at the school's recitals, weekly open mics, and the music match program that allows you to play with like-minded musicians from all over the world.
Although it is more expensive than other online resources, the same price includes the flagship course to learn clarinet (named Sage Student). This is a custom-made study course for your goals and skills, the ability to join open mic nights, and a like-minded community through the music match program.
Clarinet lessons, in particular, are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Therefore, regardless of the stage you're at in your musical journey, Sage is a shortcut from where you are now and where you want to be.
Check out Sage Music Clarinet Lessons and learn to play the clarinet!
iMusic School
iMusic School has been challenging the music learning paradigm for the past 15 years. During that time, this music school saw the careers of over 180 thousand musicians reach the next level effortlessly with the proper guidance.
The platform brings together over 70 teachers, including celebrities like Jacob Collier, teaching over 300 courses and with almost 60 thousand videos currently uploaded. The faculty is divided into 10 instruments. But that's not all, since the iMusic School also offers students music theory lessons, specific style studies, a long list of cover songs to learn note by note, masterclasses by renowned artists, resources oriented to developing a certain specific skill you need, studio and recording lessons, and improvisational lessons among many others.
When talking about the clarinet, in particular, the platform offers the services of Freyja Gunnlaugsdottir, who teaches classical pieces in 19 videos and masterclasses. These pieces are by the great Bartók, Mülle, and Weiner, among others.
So, if you're looking for a one-stop resource for all your musical learning needs, the iMusic School is the perfect place to start looking.
Learn to play the clarinet at iMusic School!
Clarinet Mentors
Michelle Anderson founded Clarinet Mentors after working as a private teacher for over 30 years. During those three decades of hard work, she was able to hone her skills as a player and also refine her techniques as a teacher. Therefore, she can nowadays offer her students tried-and-true methods and techniques to propel their clarinet skills to the front of the stage.
But that's not all; the website Michelle Anderson created offers a plethora of free resources for avid students and a private, membership-required area where students can join the like-minded community, learn, join the newsletter, and participate in special events organized by the school.
Moreover, the reason behind the foundation of Clarinet Mentors was the ability to reach more people with the experience and knowledge Michelle had gathered in years of playing professionally and teaching. In this sense, you can instantly download Michelle's free eBook for beginners.
Therefore, what you can expect from Clarinet Mentors is a passion-driven hub for clarinet resources that can help you get on the right track without spending a dime and can also grant you a community of like-minded musicians for a minimal fee.
Learn to play with Clarinet Mentors today!
Clarinet Now
Christopher Jones played the clarinet for 26 years in the US Army with the West Point Band before retiring. He founded Clarinet Now to share all he's learned during that time with the rest of the world.
Most of the resources found on the website are free of charge since Christopher is not trying to turn Clarinet Now into a profitable business. The website attempts to close the gap between students trying to learn proper playing techniques (getting rid of bad posture and other vices) and the prices to pay for elite-level teachers.
Likewise, you can find his clarinet-playing book, which carries knowledge obtained through Christopher's academic formation; he owns a Master's Degree of Music in clarinet performance from the New Mexico State University.
Finally, this site offers free lessons that cover most clarinet-playing techniques that go from absolute beginner-oriented posture and basics to articulations, scales, legato technique, sheet music, and ear-training lessons.
Visit Clarinet Now and begin learning clarinet today!
Clarinet Companion
Colin Hunter has been playing the clarinet and teaching others how to play it for over 35 years in institutions like the Trinity College of London and Aberdeen University. Moreover, he taught for 26 years as a Senior Music Instructor for Aberdeen City.
Also, Colin's resume as a professional player is varied and rich, having played in many theatres around the world. He retired from the professional circuit in 2012 and from the teaching circuit in 2015 to devote all his time to the Clarinet Companion website.
On his website, you'll find a pre-determined course that can take you from absolute beginner to expert in a series of lessons that can teach you the absolute basics and guide you to mastery.
But that's not all, since Colin also offers personalized Skype classes to give you a more personalized, custom-made approach to your musical career. Moreover, the first Skype lesson is free, so you can taste what this accomplished player and teacher can offer to your playing.
So, if you're looking for a self-paced course and additional Skype lessons, Clarinet Companion is the perfect place to start looking.
Click here to learn from Clarinet Companion!
Clarinet Mastery
Clarinet Mastery was founded by Michelle Anderson as a way to share with a broader audience the experience and skills 35 years as a private teacher and professional player have given her. Moreover, she still regularly performs live with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the West Coast Chamber Music, the Harmonie Trio, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Lionsgate Sinfonia. Also, her YouTube channel, full of playing resources, has surpassed 2 million views and is still growing.
So, Michelle's credentials as a teacher and player are uncanny in the market and can be considered the highlight of Clarinet Mastery since you can have the playing education you need from an elite-level player and teacher for a fraction of what private lessons would cost.
In the same vein, the self-paced course is great for those with a busy schedule who want to fit lessons in the time they have to spare during weekends or at night. Furthermore, you can join Michelle twice a month for her live, online clarinet masterclasses and clear all your doubts with a master player and teacher.
So, if you're looking for a self-paced course taught by a clarinet legend with the chance of two masterclasses with live interaction monthly, checking Clarinet Mastery is a must.
Mastery the clarinet with Clarinet Mastery!
Music Professor
Music Professor was born with the idea of providing students, educators, and parents with the tools to initiate children on their playing journey. Moreover, the tools are not only dedicated to children; you can also benefit from the site's tried-and-true teaching method to become a proficient clarinet player as an adult.
In the clarinet section of the website, you can find 4 courses with over 300 lessons and more than 15 hours of videos by various teachers. The first level is dedicated to beginners and taught by Kathryn Nevin. The content is perfect for those who want to move from absolute beginner to playing songs through a series of video lessons that range from an introduction to the instrument and its assembly to reading music, scales, transpositions, and how to play the altissimo register properly.
By level 3 of the course, the teacher changes to Mary Druhan, who owns a doctorate and plays with the Dallas Festival of Modern Music, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Color of Sound chamber series, and Triforia Winds.
Finally, the music fundamentals part of the formation is taught by Cameron Coday and includes notions such as rhythm, tempo, notation, pitch, dynamics, and more.
So, if you're looking for a resource to learn clarinet from absolute zero to proficiency in a series of self-paced videos with some of the best teachers in the market, checking Music Professor is a must.
Visit Music Professor and improve your clarinet playing today!
TakeLessons
TakeLessons is a platform powered by no other than the Microsoft Corporation and works as a huge cloud-based market where students can find the perfect teacher for their needs. These needs cover everything from clarinet lessons to academic tutoring, language, and hobbies, among many others.
The idea behind TakeLessons was to act as a bridge between highly skilled teachers and avid students who might not have access to top-notch lessons because of geographical restrictions. Moreover, all transactions are done through TakeLessons, so you are always covered with a money-back warranty and can ensure your money goes to your teacher.
In terms of clarinet teachers, the search gave back 100 options that are ranked by students who can also leave reviews on their profiles. This way, you can find the perfect teacher for your needs.
So, if you don't want to go through a self-paced series of video lessons and prefer contact with your teacher, TakeLessons is a must-check.
Find your clarinet teacher at TakeLessons today!
Play With A Pro
After receiving formal education at the Julliard School of Music and being the clarinetist of The Royal Danish Orchestra for years, Adam Simonsen founded Play With A Pro as a way to bring quality music lessons closer to students for a price they could afford.
Close to what Microsoft did with its TakeLessons platform, Play with a Pro is a powerful bridge connecting skilled and willing teachers with students willing to master the instrument around the world.
Moreover, they offer a 100% money-back warranty and the possibility to take lessons with your phone. Most teachers offer a free introduction so you can have a taste of what to expect before spending one dime.
If you're looking for a clarinet teacher rather than self-paced lessons in video format, you have to check Play with a Pro out.
Learn to play clarinet with Play With A Pro!
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