The 10 Best Clarinet Lessons Online of 2024 (Free and Paid)

Are you a budding musician looking to hone your clarinet skills? You’re in luck! In today’s digital age, learning an instrument online has become the norm, and the clarinet is no exception. With a plethora of options available, it can be difficult to sift through and find the best lessons to suit your needs.

Starting the clarinet can be intimidating for people who do not have prior experience with woodwind instruments. Beginners often find it tough to get any sound out of the instrument at all. However, with proper guidance and careful instruction, anyone can begin their journey to clarinet mastery.

The vastness of the internet sometimes leads to uncertainty on how to choose the best platform. So, to make it easier, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best clarinet lessons online. Some of these are paid, while others are free. 

1. Artist Works (Paid)

Screenshot of artistworks.com

Artist Works allows you to learn at your own pace from virtuosos. Artist Works teachers are internationally renowned musicians with years of experience in playing and teaching their instruments.

Ricardo Morales – the clarinet instructor – is the Principal clarinetist at The Philadelphia Orchestra, and teaches at elite performance schools like The Juilliard School. His lessons are suited to players of any level. They start from the fundamentals and go on to teach classical pieces you can add to your orchestral or solo repertoire.

Through Artist works, you can get unlimited access to these videos and loop them, or play them at slower speeds. 

A feature that sets Artist Works apart from other online courses is its Video Exchange Library. Students can record videos and send their questions to the instructor through the website. The instructor will send back a video response with specific guidance.

These videos will then be made available in the ever-growing Video Exchange Library for other students to watch and learn from. Artist Works thus allows students to learn the clarinet together, under the guidance of an expert clarinetist.

2. Udemy (Paid)

Udemy is a well-known platform for online teaching and learning and can be used to learn the clarinet as well. There are several clarinet courses on Udemy, each one aimed at learners of a particular skill level.

Udemy is especially good for beginners and people who want to learn the instrument mainly as a hobby. Students can choose a course and instructor they resonate with the most, try out the instrument, and learn the fundamentals.

Not only are the courses quite affordable, but the site also offers heavy discounts on the courses from time to time. Additionally, once you buy a course, you get lifetime access to the materials and resources. 

You might even want to offer your own clarinet lessons on Udemy after you’ve mastered the instrument!

3. Sharon Music Academy (Paid)

Screenshot of sharonmusicacademy.com

Sharon Music Academy offers both online and in-person lessons in several musical instruments, including the clarinet. A hybrid of online and face-to-face in-person lessons is also available.

Their teachers are highly experienced, holding advanced degrees from music institutions and conservatories. Students are taught all aspects of the clarinet, including breath control, improvisation, and technique.

They are also given ear training and exhaustive instruction in music theory, as well as how to read music and rhythm. Additionally, students also get opportunities to play and perform with ensembles and orchestras for well-rounded music education.

If you’re considering getting music certifications, the academy also offers special programs to prepare students for ABRSM exams.

4. Skype Clarinet Lessons (Paid)

Screenshot of skypeclarinetlessons.com

Clarinetist David Blumberg offers private clarinet lessons on Zoom and Skype. This is a great option for students who want to learn from the best in the field and also prefer one-on-one personal attention. 

The instructor teaches all time zones, so students anywhere in the world are welcome to consider this option. A major benefit of these lessons is that you can record your Zoom meetings to keep and review later.

For one, this allows you to review your mistakes and important instructions you may otherwise have missed. Secondly, you will also be able to see your progress and improvement right from the first lesson.

5. Fiverr (Paid)

Fiverr is a freelancing site, where freelancers offer their skills and services for a fee. People who are well-versed in instruments offer price-based plans to teach clients online. 

Although the tutors on Fiverr may not necessarily be as qualified or experienced as teachers on other platforms, it offers a lot of options that are both affordable and flexible. 

You can pick the tutor best suited to your needs and preferences and work out a system that suits you both. With freelancers from all over the world offering their services, you are bound to find a good match for your budget and availability.

Once you become reasonably confident in your clarinet abilities, you can offer to tutor others online as well! 

6. Clarinet Companion (Paid)

Screenshot of www.clarinetcompanion.com

The Clarinet Companion is an exhaustive online course by clarinetist Colin Hunter. 

The first lesson – on how to assemble your clarinet – is free, and the remaining can be accessed for a small monthly fee.

The lessons start from the basics of assembling and caring for the instrument and go on to teach advanced grades as recognized by the ABRSM. The lessons include videos, clear photographs, and simple but detailed instructions. 

Additionally, the course includes a large number of sound files to ease the learning process, as well as sheet music that you can download and access offline. 

7. Your Space Music Lessons (Paid)

Screenshot of www.yourspacemusiclessons.com

Your Space Music Lessons is a music school that specializes in online music training. It offers Skype and Zoom lessons in many instruments, including the clarinet. The teachers are experienced in teaching online and give clear instructions regarding camera setup in the first lesson. 

If you’re unsure about whether this is something you’ll like, they also offer taster or trial lessons. These are 20 minute free sessions that give you an idea of what they have to offer.

Your Space Music Lessons also prepares students for the ABRSM and Trinity exams. 

They encourage both children and adults of all ages to take up – or return to, an instrument. They go out of their way to ensure that children are safe and protected online, with strict child-safety policies and all DBS-approved teachers.

8. Clarinet Mentors (Free/Paid)

Screenshot of www.clarinetmentors.com

Clarinet Mentors – founded by clarinetist Michelle Anderson – is a great learning resource aimed at adult learners of all skill levels. 

There are loads of free resources available on the site, like a free E-book for beginners and videos on common clarinet problems. Additionally, you can subscribe to the Clarinet Mentors to receive exclusive videos and regular clarinet-related information – like news of concerts, live streams, and so on. 

For more detailed learning, the site also offers multiple paid courses, each catering to a particular skill level. If you want a preview, you can access a few videos of each course for free.

9. Clarinet Now (Free)

Screenshot of www.clarinet-now.com

Clarinet Now is a free resource aimed to correct bad habits that hinder clarinetists from improving and give genuine advice.

The site is meant to be used as an additional resource for clarinet-related information and insight, and cannot completely replace an online course or a tutor. 

Chris Jones – the creator of the site – writes about common bad habits while playing or handling the clarinet, and gives tips on improving technique. All posts are accompanied by clear, informative pictures. 

Additionally, the site also offers advice to clarinetists on a range of issues – from navigating a career as a professional clarinetist to handling clarinet section leader duties.

10. Cally’s Clarinet Channel (Free)

Cally’s Clarinet Channel is a YouTube channel dedicated to teaching the clarinet. 

There are several videos giving tips on practicing and playing the clarinet, as well as exercises that can help students achieve their clarinet goals. 

Cally – the creator of the channel –  also talks about what she has learned throughout her clarinet journey, and what mistakes she was making initially. It’s a great additional resource for students just starting out or long-time students that are unhappy with their clarinet progress. 

The videos are also interspersed with humorous edits and are fun to watch.

Conclusion

Your choice of a learning platform will depend primarily on your budget, goals, and level of experience with the clarinet. Additionally, you will also have to keep in mind factors like how flexible the course is, and the resources and materials that you will have access to. 

Irrespective of how tough it appears at first, or what other people seem to think of your playing, it is true that practice makes perfect. As long as you enjoy playing the clarinet and choose the right teacher, consistent efforts and time will take you a long way towards clarinet mastery.

Arda Tuncer

Arda Tuncer

Arda Tuncer is a music producer, composer, songwriter, arranger, and performer. She releases music as part of the music duo, Kronik Leila. She has worked and collaborated with some prestigious orchestras around Europe, while also holding University positions as music theory professor and music research assistant. Arda studied music theory and clarinet at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and completed her degree at the Conservatory of Strasbourg in France.

Leave a Comment

Leave a reply

Musician Wave
Logo