Clarinet Lessons in Louisiana

What clarinet lessons cost across Louisiana, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 17 min read

Clarinet lesson prices across Louisiana
Meet teachers
How clarinet learning works in Louisiana
Auditions and events in Louisiana
Starting at any age
Finding the right teacher
Clarinet in Louisiana
Area by area
Frequently Asked Questions

Clarinet lesson prices across Louisiana

A one-hour clarinet lesson in Louisiana typically costs $58 to $82, and a half hour $32 to $45. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The New Orleans area runs highest, up to $94 an hour.

Every town has two guides: a clarinet lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.

Find your town

Town	30 minutes	One hour	Guides
New Orleans area
New Orleans	$32–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Metairie	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Kenner	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Marrero	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Laplace	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Terrytown	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Chalmette	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Harvey	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Gretna	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Estelle	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Luling	$32–$47	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
River Ridge	$32–$51	$60–$92	Lessons Costs
Woodmere	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Destrehan	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Waggaman	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Belle Chasse	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Timberlane	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Baton Rouge area
Baton Rouge	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Prairieville	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Central	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Zachary	$32–$45	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Shenandoah	$32–$47	$59–$86	Lessons Costs
Gonzales	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Baker	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Gardere	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Shreveport area
Shreveport	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bossier City	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Lafayette area
Lafayette	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Youngsville	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Broussard	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Carencro	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Crowley	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Abbeville	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Mandeville area
Mandeville	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Slidell	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Covington	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Houma area
Houma	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bayou Cane	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Thibodaux	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bayou Blue	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Lake Charles area
Lake Charles	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Sulphur	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Moss Bluff	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Monroe area
Monroe	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Claiborne	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
West Monroe	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Alexandria area
Alexandria	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Pineville	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Other Louisiana towns
Bogalusa	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Hammond	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Minden	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Morgan City	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Natchitoches	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
New Iberia	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Opelousas	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Ruston	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs

Meet a Clarinet Teacher in Louisiana Before You Continue Weekly

The free first lesson is a low-pressure way to meet the teacher, experience live online clarinet instruction, and decide whether weekly lessons feel right for you or your child in Louisiana.

One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
Live weekly lessons from home with no commute
Build tone, reading, reed confidence, and school-band skills
Choose 30, 45, or 60 minutes after the free lesson

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Find Your Next Clarinet Teacher in Louisiana

Browse clarinet teachers, compare fit and availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in Louisiana.

Instrument

Day & Time

Student Age

Student Skill Level

1 clarinet instructor available in the next 5 days

Canon Cochran

Bachelor’s in ClarinetPatient & ThoroughWarm & EncouragingGreat with All Ages

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 4 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Louisiana via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ /30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Canon

How clarinet learning works in Louisiana

How does clarinet fit school music in Louisiana?

Louisiana schools generally teach clarinet through band, and the starting grade depends on the district. Band begins in fifth grade at Tchefuncte Middle School in St. Tammany Parish, while Caddo Middle Magnet in Caddo Parish and Bluff Middle School in Ascension Parish offer beginning band in sixth grade. Zachary starts band and orchestra in fifth grade. In East Baton Rouge Parish School System, students may lease a district instrument, which helps families manage the first step into school band.

When school music starts in Louisiana districts

St. Tammany Parish Public SchoolsBand5th grade

Caddo Parish Public SchoolsBeginning band at caddo middle magnet6th grade

Ascension Parish School BoardBand at bluff middle school6th grade

Iberia Parish School DistrictBand6th grade

St. Bernard Parish Public School DistrictInstrumental band at chalmette elementary5th grade

Zachary Community School DistrictBand and orchestra5th grade

St. Landry Parish School DistrictBand at lawtell elementary4th grade

Who runs what for Louisiana clarinetists?

For clarinetists, Louisiana's clearest statewide route runs through the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), which sponsors All-State Band and the State Solo and Small Ensemble Assessment. The Louisiana Bandmasters Association (LBA) also offers middle- and high-school band opportunities, including All-Star honor bands, while the Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA) lets students with a Superior rating at a District Rally or LMEA contest advance to State Rally music events. These are distinct routes, so a family can choose between ensemble honors, solo assessment and Rally recognition.

Who runs what in Louisiana

Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA)

Runs: State Rally music events after a qualifying Superior rating.
For: High school students who qualify at District Rally or LMEA contest.

Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA)

Runs: All-State ensembles and solo and small ensemble assessments.
For: School musicians meeting each event’s eligibility rules.

Louisiana Bandmasters Association (LBA)

Runs: Middle- and high-school band opportunities, including All-Star honor bands.
For: Middle- and high-school band students.

Auditions and events in Louisiana

How does a clarinetist reach Louisiana's top student honors?

For a Louisiana high school All-State Band place, a clarinetist first auditions in the school’s LMEA district; districts decide whether this is combined with District Honor Band. Students in grades 9–12 must be enrolled in an accredited Louisiana high school and participate in its ensemble, unless an eligible teacher certifies them when the school has no ensemble. A student who meets the district score threshold and instrument quota advances to the state round, which uses a live monitored recording submitted for adjudication; selected players enter Symphonic or Concert Band. Middle-school clarinetists in grades 6–8 follow a similar district-to-state route. LMEA’s State Solo and Small Ensemble Assessment is another honor path for middle and high school players, with 2027 registration closing March 22.

The clarinet route in Louisiana, step by step

School district auditionHigh school clarinetists audition in their LMEA district in September or October; districts may combine it with District Honor Band.
High school state roundQualifying district players submit a live monitored MP3 audition; selected students enter Symphonic or Concert Band.
Middle-school district auditionGrades 6–8 audition in their district; district recommendations and instrument quotas determine state-round advancement.
Middle-school state roundThe 2026 state-round audition is due November 14; results are due November 23 and registration by December 11.
State solo assessmentMiddle- and high-school clarinetists may enter without district qualification; 2027 registration closes March 22.

The Louisiana clarinet year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

Multi-District Honor OrchestraLouisiana Music Educators AssociationStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov 19–21

State Solo and Small Ensemble AssessmentEntry fee: $25 per solo; $20 per ensemble memberStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar to Apr

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

LMEA All-State clarinet auditions ask for all 12 major scales and the chromatic scale, plus etudes and sight-reading. Scales count for 30 percent of the score, etudes for 50 percent and sight-reading for 20 percent, so secure tone and steady technique matter alongside accurate notes. At district solo and small ensemble assessment, a student has six minutes for one selection and does not need to memorize. State solo selections follow age-specific lists, and a clarinet solo with piano accompaniment must include the piano part; a piano-only recording is allowed. In weekly lessons, a substantial event piece usually takes three to six months to prepare well.

What else is there to enter?

For a shorter solo goal, the district solo and small ensemble assessments run by the Louisiana Music Educators Association give clarinetists a chance to perform for adjudicators without pursuing an All-State ensemble. These assessments suit students who want focused feedback on an individual piece. In Louisiana, the district assessment fee is $5 per solo or ensemble member, so it can be a more accessible first performance setting than a larger honor-group audition.

Clarinet events in Louisiana, 2026–27

State Solo and Small Ensemble Assessment