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Clarinet Lessons in Pennsylvania

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

Marc Levesque - About Us - Lesson With You
Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 19 min read

Clarinet lesson prices across Pennsylvania

A one-hour clarinet lesson in Pennsylvania typically costs $59 to $92, and a half hour $32 to $50. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The Philadelphia area runs highest, up to $111 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.

Town30 minutesOne hourGuides
Philadelphia area
Philadelphia$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Levittown$36–$59$67–$107LessonsCosts
Norristown$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Chester$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Drexel Hill$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
King of Prussia$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Pottstown$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
West Chester$36–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Phoenixville$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Lansdale$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Willow Grove$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Ardmore$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Montgomeryville$36–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Coatesville$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Yeadon$37–$60$68–$109LessonsCosts
Lansdowne$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Darby$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Broomall$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Roslyn$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Pittsburgh area
Pittsburgh$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Bethel Park$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Monroeville$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Plum$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Allison Park$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
New Castle$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Baldwin$32–$47$59–$87LessonsCosts
Murrysville$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
West Mifflin$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
McKeesport$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Franklin Park$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Greensburg$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Wilkinsburg$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Carnot-Moon$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Washington$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Butler$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Jefferson Hills$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
New Kensington$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Lower Burrell$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Munhall$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Allentown area
Allentown$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Bethlehem$34–$56$64–$102LessonsCosts
Easton$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Fullerton$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Emmaus$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Northampton$34–$56$64–$103LessonsCosts
Harrisburg area
Harrisburg$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Carlisle$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Colonial Park$33–$53$61–$96LessonsCosts
Hershey$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Progress$33–$53$61–$96LessonsCosts
Scranton area
Scranton$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Wilkes-Barre$32–$47$59–$87LessonsCosts
Hazleton$32–$49$59–$89LessonsCosts
Dunmore$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Kingston$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Mountain Top$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Nanticoke$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Lancaster area
Lancaster$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Ephrata$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Elizabethtown$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Reading area
Reading$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Wyomissing$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
York area
York$33–$52$60–$94LessonsCosts
Hanover$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Weigelstown$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Shiloh$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Chambersburg area
Chambersburg$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Waynesboro$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Hermitage area
Hermitage$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Sharon$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Other Pennsylvania towns
Altoona$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Bloomsburg$33–$51$60–$93LessonsCosts
Erie$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Indiana$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Johnstown$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Lebanon$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Meadville$32–$51$60–$93LessonsCosts
Pottsville$33–$51$60–$94LessonsCosts
St. Marys$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
State College$33–$51$60–$93LessonsCosts
Williamsport$32–$47$59–$87LessonsCosts

Find Your Next Clarinet Teacher in Pennsylvania

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

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Canon Cochran

Canon Cochran

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How clarinet learning works in Pennsylvania

How does clarinet fit school music in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania school music starts at different grades by district, but clarinet usually enters through band rather than a separate clarinet class. The School District of Philadelphia offers band lessons from fourth grade at Vare-Washington Elementary, where students can use district-owned instruments; Reading School District includes sixth graders in middle school band, and some districts begin in sixth grade. Pennsylvania sets arts standards at the ends of grades 3, 5, 8, and 12, while each school board decides graduation requirements. That local control means your first step is asking your school when beginners can join band.

When school music starts in Pennsylvania districts

The School District of PhiladelphiaBand4th grade
Reading School DistrictMiddle school band6th grade
School District of the City of YorkBand4th grade
Bethel Park School DistrictBand4th grade
Upper Darby School DistrictBand4th grade
Easton Area School DistrictBand4th grade
Plum Borough School DistrictBand4th grade
West Chester Area School DistrictElementary band4th grade

Who runs what for Pennsylvania clarinetists?

Pennsylvania’s student clarinet route is shaped by two different organizations: Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) organizes school band festivals, while Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) offers a solo performance route. PMEA advancement moves through district and region band toward All-State, so a school music director is central to that path. PMTA’s Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival begins with a local preliminary audition and advances selected performers to a state showcase. These routes serve different goals, and a clarinetist can pursue ensemble recognition, solo recognition, or both.

Who runs what in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA)

Runs
Runs district, region, and All-State school band festivals.
For
School music students advancing through auditions.

Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA)

Runs
Runs Dorothy Sutton solo festival and Keystone Concerto Festival.
For
Students entered by eligible teachers.

Auditions and events in Pennsylvania

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

The school honor route moves from district band to region band and then All-State band, with acceptance at each level required to continue. Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Ensembles take place in April, after district and regional auditions during the school year; the 2026–27 audition windows run from November through February. A separate national competition route begins with Pennsylvania’s MTNA state performance competition, then advances to a video division round and an in-person national final for division winners or representatives. Its Junior Woodwind category includes clarinet and is for entrants ages 11–14 on January 1, 2027.

The clarinet route in Pennsylvania, step by step

  1. District bandStudents begin with district auditions during the school year, then accepted players advance to the region level.
  2. Region bandStudents accepted into district ensembles continue through regional auditions and festivals during winter.
  3. All-State bandStudents accepted into region ensembles can audition for All-State; PMEA ensembles meet in April.
  4. MTNA Junior WoodwindClarinetists ages 11–14 enter through Pennsylvania’s state competition and, if advanced, compete in the video division round.

The Pennsylvania clarinet year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

Pennsylvania State MTNA Performance CompetitionsPennsylvania Music Teachers AssociationStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov 8

PMEA District 7 Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Jazz, and Modern Band FestivalsPMEA District 7Start the piece Jul to Oct

Start the piece Jul to OctJan to Apr

PMEA Region V Band FestivalPennsylvania Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Aug to Nov

Start the piece Aug to NovFeb 18–20

PMEA Solo & Small Ensemble Music Performance AssessmentPennsylvania Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar to May

Hershey Symphony Young Artist CompetitionHershey Symphony OrchestraStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar 16

PMEA All-State EnsemblesPennsylvania Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Oct to Jan

Start the piece Oct to JanApr 14–17

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

Clarinet auditions reward a steady tone, clean articulation, and reliable rhythm, so the work should build control as well as accurate notes. Choose music that suits your current playing, and arrange a live accompanist for a solo work written with accompaniment. A focused event piece usually takes three to six months of weekly lessons to prepare well, which gives you time to strengthen difficult passages rather than rush them.

What else is there to enter?

Clarinetists seeking an individual performance goal can consider Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) festivals and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Junior Woodwind competition. PMTA’s Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival holds its state showcase in early November, and the current season’s event is past; the festival requires a live accompanist for works written with accompaniment. Junior Woodwind suits clarinetists ages 11–14 and continues from the Pennsylvania competition to national rounds. Both options give a focused solo goal to a student who prefers individual performance to another ensemble.

Clarinet events in Pennsylvania, 2026–27

PMEA All-State Ensembles

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

When
April 14–17, 2027; audition windows run November 2026–February 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Primarily grades 10–12; selection and eligibility depend on ensemble

PMEA Solo & Small Ensemble Music Performance Assessment

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

When
Usually March–May 2027; event dates vary by district
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
K–12 students, sponsored by a participating music teacher

PMEA District 7 Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Jazz, and Modern Band Festivals

PMEA District 7

When
January–April 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
School music students; eligibility and grades vary by festival

PMEA Region V Band Festival

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

When
February 18–20, 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
High school students who advance from district auditions

Hershey Symphony Young Artist Competition

Hershey Symphony Orchestra

When
Final audition March 16, 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Grades 8–11 during the 2026–27 school year

Pennsylvania State MTNA Performance Competitions

Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association

When
Usually early November each year
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Junior, senior, and young artist divisions; junior division is for school-age students

Homeschool and private school students

Homeschool students can pursue PMEA District 7 festivals only through an eligible ensemble route: they must take part in a community-based equivalent and have sponsorship from the appropriate PMEA-member director. The same rule applies to private, parochial, charter, and cyber-school students, who need their own school ensemble or an equivalent community group. A student who cannot meet that requirement can still work toward a solo opportunity such as the PMTA Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival, which starts with a local preliminary audition.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on clarinet

Clarinet often suits a child around fourth grade, when many Pennsylvania districts first offer band, though readiness depends on the child’s hands, breath control, and ability to practice steadily. In places such as Philadelphia and Bethel Park, band begins in fourth grade, so private study beforehand can make the first school rehearsals less crowded with new skills. A teacher can help your child assemble and care for the instrument, form a steady embouchure, and read notes before band begins, then support the school music being learned alongside it.

A teen in Pennsylvania

A teen who is new to clarinet can join school band where the district permits, then build toward a district audition; in PMEA District 7, grades 7–12 may audition for district band, while region and All-State participation is for grades 10–12. The school ensemble route advances from district to region to All-State, so private lessons work best when they reinforce the music the student is preparing with the school director. For a solo goal, PMTA’s Dorothy Sutton route offers another path, beginning locally and advancing to a state showcase.

Starting or coming back as an adult

Adults have welcoming ways to play clarinet with others in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Community Orchestra in Philadelphia has no auditions, and Bellefonte Community Band in Bellefonte welcomes new players without dues or auditions; the Tri-County New Horizons Band is open to adults across the state. An experienced player can also inquire about Gem City Concert Band in Erie, where players should read and perform at an advanced high-school or college level. Starting or returning is not too late, and a teacher can meet you at your current reading and playing level.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good clarinet teacher do?

A good clarinet teacher listens for a centered tone, relaxed breathing, and a steady response across the instrument, then chooses music that suits the student’s goals. A younger beginner needs clear routines for assembling and caring for the clarinet, while a teen pursuing PMEA band or a solo festival needs support that fits the school director’s work. Adults often value a pace that respects what they already know. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one, and the free first lesson gives you a chance to see whether the fit feels right.

How do live online clarinet lessons work?

In a live Zoom clarinet lesson, your teacher listens to tone, articulation, rhythm, and phrasing in real time, and watches hand position and embouchure through the camera. A quiet room, a music stand, and a camera angle that shows your hands and face make feedback more useful. The lesson is one-on-one each week with a dedicated teacher, so the work can build from what the student actually needs rather than a fixed group pace. Philadelphia and Franklin Park students have the same choice of teacher and lesson, without a commute to fit into the week.

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Clarinet in Pennsylvania

Where to hear clarinet

Live music gives a clarinet student a chance to hear the instrument blend with other winds and strings. In State College, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra concerts offer student tickets, and its free family concert is scheduled for March 20, 2027. Erie Philharmonic symphonic and pops concerts offer $19 admission for students with a valid school ID, subject to availability. These are useful ways to hear orchestral playing beyond the school band setting.

Where to play with others

A clarinetist can move from school band into youth orchestra, where woodwinds play alongside strings and percussion. The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra auditions woodwind players including clarinet, and the Johnstown Symphony Youth Orchestra provides a clarinet audition packet; Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra includes clarinet in its wind auditions, with no audition for its Overture ensembles. For adults, community bands offer a different setting focused on wind band repertoire: Crystal Band of Scranton invites interested musicians to attend a rehearsal or talk with members at a concert, while Gem City Concert Band in Erie welcomes advanced players.

Clarinet around Pennsylvania, area by area

Philadelphia area

Philadelphia offers two ways for students to hear live classical music: Curtis presents free student recitals open to all patrons, and K–12 and university students can reserve $9 tickets for its symphony concerts during the 2026–27 season. These performances let a young clarinetist hear how the instrument fits into a full orchestra. The School District of Philadelphia’s Vare-Washington Elementary also provides district-owned instruments to students.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 9, 40 lesson weeks (The School District of Philadelphia)

Pittsburgh area

Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra’s Youth Jazz Ensemble offers a playing opportunity without an audition, giving a clarinetist a chance to explore jazz alongside ensemble work. In Wexford, a free public camp concert is planned for July 2027. Together, these options offer different listening and playing experiences, from a student jazz ensemble to a public performance outside the city.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 8, 40 lesson weeks (Pittsburgh Public Schools)

Allentown area

Allentown families can hear Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra concerts, with free admission for students 21 and under during the 2026–27 season. The 2027 Allentown Symphony Orchestra family concert is open to the public, with free tickets for those under 21 through the box office. Allentown’s summer concert series has brought free weekly open-air performances to West Park, giving young clarinetists another way to hear live music.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 10, 40 lesson weeks (Allentown School District)

Harrisburg area

In Harrisburg, the symphony’s free summer concert series offers a relaxed way to hear orchestral music. High school and college students with valid ID can also buy last-minute Masterworks tickets for $10. These concerts give a young clarinetist a chance to hear orchestral repertoire beyond school rehearsals.

School year
Aug 26 to Jun 4, 40 lesson weeks (Harrisburg City School District)

Scranton area

Wilkes-Barre’s Sunsets on SOMA holds free concerts in Midtown Village on the third Wednesday evening of each month from May through September. In Scranton, the University of Scranton’s Performance Music student musicians give a free public general recital, offering a chance to hear student musicians perform in a formal concert setting.

Lancaster area

Lancaster has a student playing opportunity through Nextgen Youth Music’s Allegretto Chamber Orchestra, open by audition to students in grades 8–12. Long’s Park Summer Music Series presents free public performances every Sunday in summer. A young clarinetist can hear orchestra repertoire outdoors and consider chamber ensemble playing as a next step.

Reading area

In Reading, the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra offers an audition route for young clarinetists. Students can attend a Reading Symphony Orchestra Classics Series concert free when a parent or guardian buys a full-price ticket. Hearing a live symphony can make the clarinet’s role within a larger score easier to recognize.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 3, 39 lesson weeks (Reading School District)
Town guides
Reading, Wyomissing

York area

York Youth Symphony offers a student ensemble route, with tuition assistance available. Springettsbury Township’s Sounds of Summer presents free concerts on Sunday and Wednesday evenings from June through August, giving students a less formal way to hear live music. Regular youth orchestra rehearsals and outdoor performances serve different parts of a clarinetist’s development.

A little clarinet history in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a direct early link to clarinet making: Heinrich Gottlieb Gütter made a boxwood clarinet in Bethlehem sometime between 1820 and 1847, stamped “Gutter Bethlehem.” Philadelphia-born clarinetist Ignatius “Iggy” Gennusa later became principal clarinetist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1951. Those local connections show that the clarinet belongs both to the state’s craft history and to the professional orchestral tradition. For a student, learning the instrument connects a practical school-band skill with a part of Pennsylvania’s musical past.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a teacher who can explain how they build tone, breathing, finger technique, and reading at your level. Lesson With You lets you select a teacher or ask us to recommend one, and the free first lesson helps you decide whether the match feels right.

Yes, live video lessons work well for clarinet because the teacher can hear tone and articulation in real time and watch your hands and embouchure. A camera view of your face and instrument, plus a quiet space and music stand, helps the teacher give specific feedback.

Many Pennsylvania districts introduce clarinet through band in fourth grade, though the start differs by district. Philadelphia begins band lessons at Vare-Washington Elementary in fourth grade, while Reading School District middle school band includes sixth graders.

For school honors, a clarinetist advances from PMEA district band to region band and then All-State band, earning acceptance at each level. A student can also pursue solo recognition through PMTA’s Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival, which begins with a local audition.

Yes, homeschool students can qualify for PMEA District 7 festivals by participating in a community-based ensemble equivalent and receiving sponsorship from the appropriate PMEA-member director. A solo route such as the PMTA Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival is another option.

Many children are ready around fourth grade, when band begins in many Pennsylvania districts. Hand size, breath control, and ability to practice matter as much as age, and private lessons can prepare a child for school band or support it once it begins.

No, adults can start or return to clarinet at any age. Pennsylvania has adult community bands such as the Philadelphia Community Orchestra and Bellefonte Community Band, and a teacher can shape lessons around your experience and goals.

Clarinet lessons in Pennsylvania typically cost about $69 an hour, or $32 to $50 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.