Dr Downing Music

Peter's unique clarinet method can be used alongside any tutor book. Standard clarinet tutor books only teach music. They do not show you how to play the clarinet properly. Many of them get the basics completely wrong. 

Parents asked us to help them to guide their children but they did not have any musical knowledge so we wrote this book to help them.

Go to the Clarinet Technique Health Centre for full details.

At the age of 18, I taught myself to play the clarinet. Like so many others before me and since, I struggled to achieve a good technique despite the contradictory advice offered in the existing primers and tutor books. If there is a fault to be played on the clarinet, I have suffered them all.

George Seamans was the clarinet tutor of Santaluces High School Band in Florida. He used our Clarinettist's Technique Doctor to help his students. Here is his email to us:

Dear Peter,

I am amazed at the fact that I can play the high register so easily. You are so correct in your method.

So that you understand: - I have been instructing high school students with no private instruction and very limited ability so that it was necessary to un-teach their habits while at the same time guiding them with your method. It has been successful in that they have grasped the concept with a few exceptions.

When they experience the ease of attaining high notes it should erase any doubts in their minds as to applying your approach with a more concentrated effort.

A friend of the band director teaches in a private elementary school and has asked me to work with his clarinet students. It will be a mixture of new and one year students........

With sincere thanks.

George