im in 8 grade and i want to start playing clarinet. i've never played one before so i'm totally new at this. is it a hard or confusing instrument to play? should i buy or rent one to start? also, does anyone know some good teachers in texas? and one more thing. do you think if i start playing now, i would be able to play in the high school marching band? the only other instrument i play is piano...

thanks!

also what kind of clarinet should i get? ( and i wasnt in band in jr high. my school didnt have it :/ )

Hi!
For the instrument, I would rent a Buffet B12. Many shops hire out instruments for a fixed period of time and then sell them to you at a discounted price! This is actually a very good system! Buffet are very good. Unfortunately, I live in England, so I wouldn't have a clue about teachers in Texas! Clarinet is an easy/intermediate instrument to learn. You should learn fairly quickly if you play the piano! I play the piano, clarinet, flute and piccolo. I started piano aged 7, clarinet aged 10, flute aged 11, piccolo aged 12 and that's it! I learnt clarinet to grade 4 in 1 1/2 years, flute to grade 4 in 6 months. You might be able to be in the marching band maybe 9th, probably 10th grade.
Good luck!

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A buffet B12 is a very high quality resin(plastic) clarinet which is one of the best beginner resin clarinets available!

depends on the high school as well, some high schools of higher class (no disrespect) prefer to use wood clarinets in marching band, they dont want any substitutions, its texas, the state is crawling with outstanding music teachers, im sure even a flute major could teach you a thing or two about the clarinet, i suggest you just go find a woodwind teacher, clarinet is pretty popular and they should know what theyre doing. Try visiting your high school and talking with the directors there, im sure if your that interested in their program they will gladly help you out.

What part of texas?....also what class..1A 2a 3a 4a or 5a?

My high school is 4a.

What's the difference between a wood or plastic clarinet? Different sound? Is one harder to play?

Thanks for all the help everyon!

I started the clarinet last year in grade 7, and I found it really easy to learn.
I didn't have lessons but I did have a book that showed all the fingerings.
You basically can learn as fast as you want once you get the hang of how to hold your mouth and hands. The clarinet has a wonderful sound, and I think you should definately learn how to play it!

P.S. I found the clarinet a bit easer because I learned how to play the recorder first. I don't know if that's just me though.

Is the clarinet music the same as piano music? As in, could I play my clarinet by following the music in my piano books?

You could but you couldn't play to an accompaniment as the piano is in C and the clarinet is in Bb, which means a Bb on the piano would sound like a C on the clarinet

Ah..so the Bb clarinet is one whole step down from the notes on a piano? (A C on piano would be a B flat on a Bb clarinet, or an A on piano would be a G on clarinet...)

I've seen clarinets in other keys, as in C not Bb. Which one would be best for me to get?

Sorry for all the questions. :/

First off, I'm sure that if you're successful with playing the piano, it'll make learning the clarinet (or other instruments) much easier. It helped me. I don't know how it is in Texas but here if you can play and your band teacher approves it, you'll make it to band. I chose playing the clarinet not because of anything really, other than the fact that it was way lighter than a double-barreled french horn. I'd recommend renting it if you're not sure if you're going to be good or not. I rented mine, and there are many benefits you may get from renting too. Hope this helps!

First off Im glad your considering playing clarinet. I started in 5th grade and I loved it from the minute I started. I would deffently start on a plastic clarinet. I just switched from plastic to wood my freshman year in highschool. Since you play piano, Clarinet should be quite easy to pick up. My band director had me learn the alto sax for our school jazz band and it took me 2months, so easy. As for teachers I couldnt help you, Im located in wisconsin. But good luck!

Congratulations for playing clarinet! I'm a high school section leader (which means I'm kind of the head boss of my section, other than the directors). I think that if you work hard, you will be able to play in marching band. If you already know music principles, starting any instrument is easier. I have an oboe player who is marching clarinet, and she can play decently after one day. If you work hard, you can do anything. Most (99.9%) clarinets are Bb clarinets, and that's what I'd recommend. Wood clarinets are much better quality and make a better sound, but they are more fragile. For marching, use plastic. You can use plastic in concert band, however, as wood clarinets are expensive. In terms of pitch, you have it backwards. A Bb on piano is a C on clarinet. A G on piano is a clarinet A.

Good luck on starting to play! I know I threw a lot of information in here at once.