Getting Started With

Instruments 
BARREL, MOUTHPIECE, REED, & LIGATURE  
 Barrel, Mouthpiece, Reed, & Ligature 

                 Reed 

           Barrel 
      Mouthpiece           Ligature 
Assembling Barrel, Mouthpiece, Reed,
& Ligature
1) Place your case on the floor in front of you with the logo facing up!! 
2) Make sure the cork on your mouthpiece is greased with cork grease (this keeps it from
getting stuck) 
3) Assemble Barrel & Mouthpiece 
4) Push/Twist the barrel and mouthpiece together. 
Ligature Placement 
1) Slide the Ligature on mouthpiece before the reed 
2) The screw of the ligature should be either on the right or left
side depending on the ligature you may have. They are not all
the same. 
3) Bigger opening of the ligature should go on first on the
mouthpiece. 
Wet it and set
it
Put the reed in your mouth.
Soak it for approximately 15
seconds and then flip the
reed over and soak the
bottom side. * Do not touch
the tip of the reed ever!*
Before ever setting up the
clarinet always wet the reed
while you assemble it. 
 Step 1 Step 2

Setting up the Reed to

the mouthpiece 
1) Grab the Barrel of the instrument with your left
hand, with the mouthpiece opening facing you, lift the
ligature with your left thumb with enough room to
allow the reed to slide in
2) Slide the reed in, let the ligature slide back down. 
The flat side of the reed goes on the mouthpiece and
the Heel goes at the bottom.  Step 3
3) line up the tip of the reed to the tip of the
mouthpiece. Careful not to touch the tip of the reed
when lining it up on the mouthpiece. The tip is fragile. 
4) Once it is lined up tighten the ligature screws 
 Forming the band face
with the mouthpiece
1) Hold the mouthpiece and barrel with your right hand & put your mirror on your stand. 
2) Set the embouchure/band face and gently slide the mouthpiece into the point where
the mouthpiece touches the reed ( This is how much mouthpiece you should be taking in) 
              I. Do not take in too much mouthpiece or too little 
3) Make sure that the barrel is pointing towards the center between their two knees and
not at the angle associated with the saxophone.

4) Click the top teeth on the mouthpiece and push-up like pushing dentures in place. 

5) The top teeth will touch at a higher point on the top of the mouthpiece. 
6) Firm the corners ( Seal the corners) and pull the chin down ( flat chin). 
Let's Practice Holding the band face

1) Always look at yourself in the mirror and make sure nothing moves when you put the
mouthpiece in your mouth; flat chin, firm corners (no open corners), and make sure you're
pushing up against your top front teeth, etc..) 
2) Hold it for 30 Sec. 
3) Hold it for 40 sec.
4) Remove from mouth and repeat the process. (take off the reed and wet it and put it back) 
Pushing Air ( No tone)
1) Set the embouchure 
2) Gently slide the mouthpiece into the correct setting.  Make and maintain lip-reed, teeth-
mouthpiece contact at all times. 
3) Set corners (Firm Corners) 
4) Breath in through the corners of the mouth (HO sound) and push air through the mouthpiece
(no tone yet) 
5) Your band face should not move!!!!
Air To Tone
1) Set your embouchure/band face
2) Breath correctly ( with your corners) 
3) Gently begin with just an air stream and gradually increase the air speed and lip pressure until
a tone is produced. 
* Make sure your band face does not move and that the only thing moving when you breath is
the opening of your corners.. 
* When you speed up the air a sound should be produced but DO NOT Puff up your cheeks keep
your band face still !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!