Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

While the clarinet is a beautiful, mesmerizing instrument, from time to time it can make a sound that no one really likes ... yes, it is a squeak. Even the most advanced clarinetists sometimes “squeak”, so don't worry. But if you do not squeak "sometimes" and quite often, then you have a problem. There can be many reasons here, but most of them can be solved quite simply. Click! And you sound better than you could ever imagine.

Steps

1. 1 Investigate potential problems and solutions. There are many factors that can lead to a squeak, some are easy to fix, some are not. Ask someone more experienced, your boss, or your music store salesperson for help. They will tell you what is wrong. If you'd like to try to identify the problem yourself, here's a list of possible causes:
   • Clarinet: If you are playing a Starter model, or if your instrument has suffered serious wear and tear, this may be causing the problem. Perhaps you have damaged (or missing) gaskets, damaged valves, a crack (if it's a wooden clarinet), or something else. ČSN (Cleaning, Lubricating, Tuning) can fix this, of course, only if your clarinet is not in such a state that it is easier to get a new one. Ask someone from the music store to help you.
   • Embouchure: If the problem is not with the clarinet, it is most likely due to your wrong ear cushion. To check your ear cushions for correctness, do the following: take a high salt (above the top ruler of the staff), and press the G-sharp valve. If you do not hear higher up (the bottom ruler of the staff), then your ear cushion is wrong. If this happens, ask someone to watch and give advice, or play in front of a mirror. Tips for checking ...
     • Mouthpiece Reach: You may be holding the mouthpiece too shallow (preventing it from vibrating), or vice versa - holding it too deep in your mouth. Experiment with this until the beeping stops.
     • Air leakage: Make sure your mouth forms a "pouch" around the mouthpiece. It is possible that air leaks at the corners of the mouth during blowing, which makes it difficult to play, and leads to a squeak.
     • Bite / pressure: possible. You press too hard on the mouthpiece with your upper teeth (which is bad for both the teeth and the mouthpiece), or bite with your lower teeth on the reed, or simply press too much on the mouthpiece. Try to relax, but stay focused. To prevent damage to your upper teeth and / or mouthpiece, you can purchase a mouthpiece spacer, a small piece of rubber that prevents vibration from the instrument through the mouthpiece to your teeth. They can be purchased for an affordable price at any music store.
     • Tongue: Improper tongue technique can put undue pressure on the reed and unevenly divide the air flow, rather than causing a squeak. All you need is to set up the correct language technique, especially after classes with a teacher.
   • Hand position: For most young children, hand position is a sore point. Children's fingers are not large enough to completely cover the tonal holes, or they simply cannot support the weight of the instrument. When this happens, children develop bad habits for themselves, for example, holding the instrument by the trill key, which causes a rather strange sound or incorrect placement of the thumb, all these are habits that are very difficult to break later. There are several ways out of the situation:
     • Neck Strap: For an affordable price, you can purchase a neck strap that attaches near the thumb on the clarinet and distributes weight between the arms and neck.
     • Small clarinet: If your fingers are still small or thin, a neck strap won't help you much. Some teachers teach young clarinetists in E-flat clarinet instead of the "conventional" B flat. Of course, there are some nuances here. Eventually, the student will have to get used to the B-flat clarinet, which differs from the E-flat in both play and cost. The exception here is Kinder-Klari, designed especially for children. Also, some manufacturers make clarinets with knobby holes that can be covered with children's fingers.
     • Lyons English clarinets: These are clarinets that are specially designed for children 5-6 years old. They have a plastic mechanism, tuning C, and do not look like the clarinets we are used to. They are three times lighter than a regular clarinet and are very easy to maintain.
   • Airflow: The key to getting a good clarinet sound is understanding that "fast" air is not the same as "loud" air. Poor airflow, combined with a poor instrument, reed, or ear pad can result in heartbreaking sounds. This is something that will get better and better over time. Practice, preferably taking private lessons, for faster progress.
   • Cane: There are many factors here that can lead to a squeak. First, check to see if your cane is cracked or chipped. A damaged reed is a 100% guarantee of a squeak during the game. Next, let's examine the reed in more detail. This article will explain to you how to test the V-shape in the middle of a reed. If your problem persists, you can try a harder cane if you have used a softer one, and a softer one if you have used a hard one. Also experiment with brands - better quality cane and pruning can make a big difference for the better.
   • Game experience: In fact, if you started playing last week, squeaking is normal for you. This will gradually come with practice and with the improvement of the instrument. Step by step, with the help of private lessons with a group leader or teacher, you will play better and better.
2. 2 Head to the music store with some of these ideas. Talk about the squeak, your assumptions about the cause, and find out what they can do for you. Eventually you will be helped, the staff will be happy to do it for you.
3. 3 Applying some changes. Refurbish / overhaul your clarinet (or buy a new one), retrain the ear pads, start buying a different reed, etc. This can be quite expensive, but if you intend to go with your music in life then it is definitely worth it.
4. 4 Exercise. Practice is the key to excellence, and music is no exception. Remember that you are beeping, but also keep track of how it starts to happen less and less as you work out. Congratulations, you are on your way to becoming a great clarinetist.

Tips

• Remember that music requires investment. If you have serious squeaking problems, fix them as quickly as possible. Bad habits are hard to break, and playing with used, worn out tools can do you a disservice.
• Do not give up! Mastering any musical instrument is not an easy task, but everything is possible if you show perseverance.

Warnings

• Even if fixing a broken clarinet mechanism seems "easy" to you, don't try to do it yourself unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing! You can easily damage the clarinet or lose a screw and have to purchase a completely new instrument.