A clarinet is a musical instrument with a long, straight wooden or plastic body and a single vibrating reed that produces sound when you blow into it. The player covers and uncovers holes along the instrument's length with their fingers to change notes, creating the clarinet's distinctive smooth, mellow tone that can range from deep and rich to bright and piercing.

The clarinet belongs to the woodwind family of instruments (instruments that make sound by vibrating air through a tube). In an orchestra, clarinets often play melodies that sound both graceful and expressive. Jazz musicians love the clarinet for its ability to slide smoothly between notes and play fast, intricate passages. You might recognize the clarinet's sound from the opening of George Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue,” where it swoops upward in that famous glissando that sounds like a musical question mark.

Learning to play the clarinet takes patience and practice. Students must develop strong breath control and precise finger coordination to play smoothly. The instrument has keys and pads that seal the holes, making it easier to cover them properly. Many school bands include clarinets because they're versatile instruments that sound beautiful playing everything from classical symphonies to marching band tunes to klezmer music.