Julianna Massielo

Lesson Plan - First Clarinet Lesson

Context:
● 15 Minute Class
● No prior clarinet experience
● Teaching Classmate
Goal:
● For a student to become more comfortable with the clarinet
● Students will learn:
○ Important parts of the instrument
○ Instrument assembly
○ Holding Instrument correctly
■ Good posture and hand positioning
○ Creating an Embouchure
○ Breath Support
○ Producing the First Tone
○ Playing the first three pitches
○ Ear Training/ Echoing (play pitch and have student find pitch and play it back)
○ Care of the Instrument
Objectives:
● Student should be comfortable with the above listed goals
○ Put instrument together by themself
○ Explain to teacher how to have a correct embouchure
○ Play three main notes G-C
Materials:
● Clarinet
● Reed
● Chair
● Music Stand
● Sheet music

Time Sequencing Assessment

30sec ● Show how to open case Make sure student is

● Yamaha facing up recognizing parts of
● Go over parts of clarinet instrument, take apart
○ Mouthpiece, Barrel, Upper Joint, Lower and let student put it
Joint, and Bell together alone.
Julianna Massielo

30sec ● Go over how to hold clarinet Examine positioning and

○ R Thumb under joint correct if necessary.
○ L Thumb resting over back top hole

2min ● How to place reed Check after student does

○ Straight line it and repeat if
○ Barley any mouthpiece peeking over necessary.
edge of reed
○ Attach with mouthpiece joints
■ Not too tight

3min Detach barrel and mouthpiece together for mouthpiece Repeat until
practice. comfortable, make sure
it is correct as you go.
Teach the steps to a proper embouchure, and have them
repeat the steps:
● “Oui” “tu”
● Stretch bottom lip over teeth
● Place mouthpiece on lip
● Top teeth on mouthpiece
● Close mouth like drawstring
Practice producing strong sound on just mouthpiece

5min Go over positioning for notes G-C Watch and see if their
● G​ open positioning is correct, it
● F​ L-Thumb not correct them. Listen
● E ​L-Thumb and pointer finger for squeaking of any
● D ​L-Thumb pointer and middle finger kind and advise them on
● C ​L-thumb pointer, middle, and ring finger how to fix it.

4min Echoing of notes- hum pitches See if student is catching

on.

2min Take apart instrument Make sure student is

● Carefully take it apart away of parts that may
○ Take reed off first and store it safely get caught together.
○ Take off mouthpiece and bell
○ Show student how to use cloth to clean
inside
■ Two-three swabs