Beginner Clarinets - Which one to buy?

Purchasing a quality clarinet is important for all students, from beginners to advanced players. There are many brands and many models out there, and it can be difficult for inexperienced players or their families to choose a good model. However, with a little guidance, purchasing a quality clarinet is easy.

The most popular brands of clarinets are Yamaha, Vito, Jupiter, LeBlanc, Selmer, Bundy, Noblet, and Buffet. Most are French companies, because American students play on the French-system clarinet. There is also a German-system clarinet, but it's different and no beginning band students in the USA will use it.

The best of these brands are Yamaha, Leblanc, Selmer, and Buffet. Any of these brands are fine for a first, plastic clarinet. Plastic clarinets are ideal both for beginners and for marching band, because they can take a beating or the outdoor weather they'll be subjected to. Purchase your clarinet new if at all possible. If it's not possible, have a professional play test the instrument and play condition it before you pay for it and take it home. The danger with used instruments is that they could have stuck keys, pads that don't seal, misaligned rods, or a number of other problems. New clarinets shouldn't have these problems, and if they do, return them to the factory and get a different one.

The Yamaha YCL250 is a good plastic model. The LeBlanc 7214PC model is also good. The Buffet B-12 (which is actually ABS resin and not plastic) is a wonderful, highly recommended model for both beginning and intermediate students. This Buffet model could last a student from beginning level straight through high school (assuming the student plays only for fun).