Beginner at the clarinet............need help ASAP!!!?

Question:hey, i have decided to take up the clarinet. and im already having trouble with it. lol. starting with how to blow into it.

ok, so i tried blowing into it, and i totally melted my brain. i blew so hard that i felt light headed. i made a sound, but it made my brain go wack. what can i do? im not expecting to get good over night, but its a start right? so what can i do to make it work. btw: its my first wind instrument, i have never played tuba or trumpet or anything like that before.

thankyou soooo sooo soooo much

xoxo

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: hey, i have decided to take up the clarinet. and im already having trouble with it. lol. starting with how to blow into it.

ok, so i tried blowing into it, and i totally melted my brain. i blew so hard that i felt light headed. i made a sound, but it made my brain go wack. what can i do? im not expecting to get good over night, but its a start right? so what can i do to make it work. btw: its my first wind instrument, i have never played tuba or trumpet or anything like that before.

thankyou soooo sooo soooo much

xoxo

First, let's make sure you set up the mouthpiece correctly. The reed should be on the flat part of the mouthpiece and the tip of the reed should be flush (even) with the top of the mouthpiece. Tighten the ligature down so that the reed doesn't move.
Secondly, let's set up the mouthpiece on your embouchure (mouth/lips). You want to curl your bottom lip over your bottom teeth so that you look like a grandma. Place the reed on the bottom lip (grandma lip, really tight/thin). Then, place your top teeth on the top of the mouthpiece. Next take a breath in and then blow. As you blow, the rest of your mouth will make a seal around the mouthpiece. Your chin should be pointing down and the mouthpiece as well, not straight out your mouth. The sound you'll want on the mouthpiece will sound like a duck call.

Just practice on the mouthpiece and practice playing for four counts and resting for four counts. This will increase your stamina and get you used to blowing. If you get light-headed, stop and take a break.

You probably have a beginning band book. Read the first few pages on how to set up the instrument and set your embouchure. Most books nowadays have really good pictures.

You might want to try a differnt instrument...

I play the french horn and trumpet (6 yrs experience) and when I tried to learn the clairnet, I felt the same thing you are talking about. I guess my mouth isnt fit for playing the clairnet... But french horn and trumpet came quite easily to me. Try out some other instruments and see what you have a natural tendancey for, and if you want to stick with the clairnet, go for it-it WILL get easier as you build up lung capicity.

"Already having trouble with it"? I'd be more alarmed if it was fine at first and you had trouble later. What were you expecting?

I strongly suggest finding an instrumental teacher. You've had good advice so far, but teaching is difficult to do over the web.