6 Easy Pieces for Clarinet Beginners

Learning the clarinet and looking for easy pieces to get you started with your instrument? Look no further! Read on because in this article, we'll go over 6 easy pieces from the classical repertoire which you can pick up right away, to quickly improve and begin to master the clarinet. Find the pieces in the Metronaut app, select your instrument, and start playing!

With Metronaut, find beginner clarinet sheet music and much more in our vast catalogue of sheet music, for all levels of difficulty. Whether you prefer classical music, film soundtracks or pop songs, we have something for every musician! Play with high-quality digital scores available to download and print, and learn at your own pace, wherever and whenever you want. Fully immerse yourself in the beauty of these pieces by playing with Metronaut's adaptable accompaniments, and taking control of the tempo as you go! Enhance your practice sessions and bring the music to life!

6. Symphony "From the New World" – 2. Largo, Antonín Dvořák

In 1893, the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák composed the Symphony No.9 in E Minor, also called the "From the New World" Symphony. The name of the movement "Largo" translates to "wide and broad", indicating that the piece is to be played slowly, between 40 and 60 bpm, allowing beginner musicians to take advantage of the slow pace and take the time to master the melody. This iconic melody has become one of the most beloved worldwide, and is a great piece to know to impress your friends and family with your clarinet-playing! In the Metronaut app, you can even choose if you want to play along with an orchestral or a piano accompaniment

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5. Schwanengesang – Serenade (Ständchen), Franz Schubert

Schubert's Serenade (Ständchen) is part of a song cycle titled "Schwanengesang" (Swan Song). This popular piece was composed in 1828, near the end of Schubert's short life, and it's perfect for beginner clarinetists to work on emotional expression in their playing. The beautiful melody evokes feelings of love, loss and longing, and was composed during the transitioning period from the Classical era to the early Romantic era. Originally composed for piano and voice, the piece has been arranged for a variety of instruments, including clarinet. In the Metronaut app, you can begin to learn with our easy arrangement before mastering the more complicated version!

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4. Swan Lake – Main Theme, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky's first ballet, was composed in the late 19th century and tells the story of Odette, a princess magically transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, and Prince Siegfried, who vows to break the magical spell with his love. Today, this ballet is one of the most popular and performed in the world, so if you're looking for an easy piece which your audience is sure to know, this is the one for you! Unravel the magic of "Swan Lake" by playing along to orchestral accompaniments

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3. Clarinet Sonata in E♭ Major Op.167 – 3. Lento, Camille Saint-Saëns

Looking to play pieces originally composed from the clarinet? Not only did the french composer Saint-Saëns write music in a variety of genres and forms, but he also composed for a wide range of instruments, including the clarinet. His clarinet sonata in four movements, created in 1921, is the most notable work he composed for the clarinet. The third movement, named "Lento" meaning "slow", is perfect for beginners who want to explore the classical clarinet repertoire while you're still getting the hang of your instrument. If you're new to music theory, this is also a great way to start getting comfortable with different time signatures—this composition uses a 3/2 time signature, meaning that each measure is divided in 3 beats, each beat being a half note

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2. Clarinet Concerto No.3 in B♭ Major – 2. Romance, Carl Philipp Stamitz

Although Carl Philipp Stamitz was a violinist, he composed 11 clarinet concertos, which contributed greatly to the development of compositions for clarinet solo. The concertos, and notably the third and seventh, are considered staples in the clarinet repertoire today, allowing clarinetists to take the lead as soloists and explore innovative techniques. As a beginner, this more upbeat tempo is a great way to work on eighth notes and scales. Playing along to the piano accompaniment is also perfect to keep the beat without having to use a metronome!

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1. Clarinet Sonata No.1 in B♭ Major – 1. Allegro moderato, Jean-Xavier Lefèvre

Looking for a challenge which will take you to the next level? The french clarinetist Jean-Xavier Lefèvre, who lived from 1763 to 1829, composed largely for clarinet. The first movement of his first clarinet sonata is still attainable for young clarinetists, while presenting certain techniques which you can begin to master to grow as a musician. For example, as you get more comfortable with the notes, you can start adding in the written trills, grace notes, and staccato notes to make the piece more expressive and technically complex. The motif which repeats throughout the movement will also make it easier to learn and play this piece.

Play "Clarinet Sonata No.1 in B♭ Major – 1. Allegro moderato" with Metronaut

To find more sheet music for clarinet, explore our collection The Clarinetist's Repertoire. If you want to go further, check out all the movements of Stamitz's Clarinet Concerto No. 3 in B♭ Major as well as Lefèvre's Clarinet Sonata No.1. To switch up styles, have a look at our clarinet sheet music for the Pop Genre.

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