Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to play the clarinet
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
A first clarinet course covers breathing, fingering and reading music, with pieces that run from classical to jazz and a chance to play in an ensemble. Beginner clarinets can be hired by the month, and adult beginner bands in the US take people who have never played.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
What it's really like
City Lit's Clarinet 1A in London is for absolute beginners. It covers articulation, breathing, dynamics and the fingering for the main notes, reading pitch and rhythm, simple improvising and playing in an ensemble, with pieces from classical to jazz. It is the first of a series that continues with Clarinet 1B, and the college suggests at least 20 minutes' practice a day on at least four days a week.
You need your own B flat clarinet, reeds and a pencil from the first week, plus the course book, Abracadabra Clarinet (third edition), which City Lit put at about £10. Hiring spreads the cost; Dawkes Music's beginner clarinet comes with a mouthpiece, ligature and cap, two strength 1.5 reeds, a case, a cleaning swab and cork grease.
In the US, New Horizons bands teach adults a band instrument from scratch. Baldwin Wallace's band in Ohio welcomes adults who never had the chance to play, and Eastman's Green Band in Rochester takes true beginners. Once you reach about Grade 3 to 4 (UK graded exams, roughly early intermediate), Morley College's big band course in London takes clarinet players.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Clarinet 1A, autumn 2025: 11 Monday evening sessions of 90 minutes; absolute beginners; bring your own B flat clarinet | £219, or £153 concession |
| Morley College, London | Big Band Beginners: 12 Tuesday evenings of two hours from 15 September 2026; for players at about Grade 3-4 with little or no band experience | £285, or £215 concession |
| Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School, Berea, Ohio | New Horizons Band: Tuesday evenings, 15 September 2026 to 6 May 2027; for adults who have never played as well as returners | $190 a semester or $350 the year, plus a $25 registration fee |
| Eastman Community Music School, Rochester, New York | New Horizons Green Band: Wednesday mornings for a year in two semesters; true beginners welcome; bring your own instrument | $210 a semester (2026-27) |
Dawkes Music listed its Yamaha YCL-255 B flat clarinet for hire at £25 a month including VAT, with a three-month minimum, maintenance and insurance included and a £50 excess for loss, theft or damage beyond repair.
How to start
- Book a beginners' class at an adult education college or join a New Horizons beginner band; City Lit's Clarinet 1A is for absolute beginners.
- Get a B flat clarinet, bought or hired; some music shops hire a beginner model with reeds, a case and a cleaning swab included.
- Buy a few soft reeds and the tutor book your course names, and plan on about 20 minutes' practice on at least four days a week.
Where to go
- City Lit: Clarinet 1A, for absolute beginners (London) UK
- Morley College: Big Band Beginners, for clarinet and other players at Grade 3-4 (London) UK
- Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School: New Horizons Band (Berea, Ohio) US
- Eastman Community Music School: New Horizons Green Band for beginners (Rochester, New York) US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Which clarinet should a beginner start on?
A B flat clarinet. City Lit's beginners' course asks students to bring one, and Dawkes Music's beginner hire clarinet is a B flat.
What strength reed should a beginner clarinet use?
Start soft. Dawkes Music's beginner hire kit includes two strength 1.5 reeds; ask your teacher before moving to a harder reed.
Can I rent a clarinet instead of buying one?
Yes. Dawkes Music listed a Yamaha beginner clarinet at £25 a month with a three-month minimum, and from month four half of each payment can be credited towards an instrument from them.
How much should I practise the clarinet as a beginner?
City Lit suggests at least 20 minutes a day on at least four days a week.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Clarinet 1A (ME107A); City Lit, Choosing an instrumental class at City Lit; Morley College, Big Band Beginners (W26JPMA02A); Dawkes Music, Rent a clarinet; Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School, New Horizons Band; Eastman Community Music School, New Horizons Green Band. Opened 9 November 2026.
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