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Clarinet Lessons in Wisconsin

What clarinet lessons cost across Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin

A one-hour clarinet lesson in Wisconsin typically costs $58 to $84, and a half hour $32 to $46. Most towns sit close to that range. The River Falls area runs highest, up to $96 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
Milwaukee area
Milwaukee$32–$49$59–$89LessonsCosts
Waukesha$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
West Allis$32–$49$59–$89LessonsCosts
Wauwatosa$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Brookfield$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
New Berlin$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Menomonee Falls$32–$46$58–$85LessonsCosts
Greenfield$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Oak Creek$32–$46$58–$85LessonsCosts
Franklin$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
West Bend$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Muskego$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Mequon$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Germantown$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
South Milwaukee$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Oconomowoc$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Cudahy$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Hartford$32–$49$59–$89LessonsCosts
Whitefish Bay$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Greendale$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Glendale$32–$47$59–$87LessonsCosts
Shorewood$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Port Washington$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Cedarburg$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Brown Deer$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Grafton$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Sussex$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Richfield$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Lisbon$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Madison area
Madison$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Sun Prairie$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Fitchburg$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Middleton$32–$47$59–$86LessonsCosts
Waunakee$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Verona$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Stoughton$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Oregon$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
DeForest$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Monroe$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Green Bay area
Green Bay$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
De Pere$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Howard$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Ashwaubenon$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Bellevue$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Allouez$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Suamico$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Hobart$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Appleton area
Appleton$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Kaukauna$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Harrison$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Greenville$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Little Chute$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Racine area
Racine$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Mount Pleasant$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Caledonia$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Burlington$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Kenosha area
Kenosha$33–$51$60–$94LessonsCosts
Pleasant Prairie$32–$49$59–$89LessonsCosts
Salem Lakes$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Oshkosh area
Oshkosh$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Neenah$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Fox Crossing$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Menasha$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
La Crosse area
La Crosse$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Onalaska$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Holmen$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Eau Claire area
Eau Claire$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Chippewa Falls$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Janesville area
Janesville$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Beloit$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Wausau area
Wausau$32–$46$58–$85LessonsCosts
Weston$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Manitowoc area
Manitowoc$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Two Rivers$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
River Falls area
River Falls$33–$52$60–$96LessonsCosts
Hudson$33–$52$60–$96LessonsCosts
New Richmond$33–$51$60–$93LessonsCosts
Stevens Point area
Stevens Point$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Plover$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Wisconsin Rapids area
Wisconsin Rapids$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Marshfield$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Watertown area
Watertown$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Fort Atkinson$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Beaver Dam area
Beaver Dam$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Waupun$31–$44$57–$80LessonsCosts
Other Wisconsin towns
Baraboo$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Fond du Lac$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Marinette$32–$47$59–$87LessonsCosts
Menomonie$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Platteville$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Sheboygan$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Superior$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Whitewater$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts

Find Your Next Clarinet Teacher in Wisconsin

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

1 clarinet instructor available in the next 5 days
Canon Cochran

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 Wisconsin via Zoom
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$0 $35 /30 minute trial
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How clarinet learning works in Wisconsin

How does clarinet fit school music in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin schools provide music instruction from kindergarten through grade 6, then make general, vocal, and instrumental music available in grades 7–12; the curriculum includes playing and reading music, so clarinet can become part of a broader school music education. Band entry varies by district: students can start in fifth grade in Sheboygan and West Allis-West Milwaukee, while Franklin Middle School in Green Bay and DeLong Middle School in Eau Claire begin in sixth. At LakeView K-8 in Kenosha, band starts in fifth grade, giving families a useful early option.

When school music starts in Wisconsin districts

Green Bay Area Public School DistrictBand at franklin middle school6th
Appleton Area School DistrictBand at houdini elementary6th
Kenosha Unified School DistrictBand at lakeview k-85th
Eau Claire Area School DistrictBand at delong middle school6th
School District of La CrosseBand6th
Sheboygan Area School DistrictBeginning band5th
School District of JanesvilleBeginning band6th
West Allis-West Milwaukee School DistrictElementary band5th

Who runs what for Wisconsin clarinetists?

Wisconsin's main student routes are run by the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA). WSMA connects school music programs to grades 6–12 Solo & Ensemble festivals and school-based honors groups; WMTA offers district and state auditions for grades 1–12, including private-studio students. The Wisconsin Music Educators Association supports music educators, while its Band Council supports wind and percussion students. That distinction matters: clarinetists usually look to WSMA for school honors and to WMTA for a route that can include private students.

Who runs what in Wisconsin

Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA)

Runs
Runs district and state Solo & Ensemble festivals and school-based honors opportunities.
For
School music students in grades 6–12.

Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA)

Runs
Sponsors district and state auditions for instrumental and vocal students.
For
Students in grades 1–12, including private-studio students.

Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA)

Runs
Supports music education through advocacy, educator development, and partner opportunities.
For
Wisconsin music educators and their students.

Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) Band Council

Runs
Supports wind and percussion students and Wisconsin band educators.
For
Band students of all ages and abilities.

Wisconsin Concert Band Association (WCBA)

Runs
Offers All-State High School and All-State Junior Band opportunities.
For
High school and junior high band students.

Auditions and events in Wisconsin

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

For a school-based route, clarinetists in grades 6–12 begin with WSMA District Solo & Ensemble through their school music program. A Class A solo earning a starred first rating advances to the State Solo & Ensemble Festival, held in late April or early May. High school students in grades 9–11 at WSMA-member schools who regularly participate in a school ensemble can also audition for High School State Honors; registration usually opens in early November and auditions take place in February. Selected students attend camp in June and perform in Madison in October. Middle Level State Honors auditions take place in early April, with registration opening in December and closing in early February.

The clarinet route in Wisconsin, step by step

  1. District Solo & EnsembleGrades 6–12 enter through a WSMA-member school; district festivals run from November and January through April.
  2. Middle Level State HonorsRegistration opens in December and closes in early February; auditions take place in early April.
  3. High School State HonorsEligible grades 9–11 register in November and December, audition in February, and attend camp in June; selected students perform in Madison in October.

The Wisconsin clarinet year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

WSMA District Solo & Ensemble FestivalWisconsin School Music AssociationStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov

WSMA Middle Level State HonorsWisconsin School Music AssociationStart the piece Oct to Jan

Start the piece Oct to JanApr 3

WSMA State Solo & Ensemble FestivalWisconsin School Music AssociationStart the piece Oct to Jan

Start the piece Oct to JanApr 24

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

For 2027 WSMA High School State Honors, clarinetists prepare a solo chosen from the WSMA Festival Music List, required scales, and sight-reading. The school music teacher helps choose a suitable festival selection for district Solo & Ensemble, and a Class A starred first rating is the qualifying result for state. WMTA woodwind auditions add a different format: memorization is optional on District 2 and 3 tracks, but State Track requires memorized pieces; at least one selection needs accompaniment, and recorded accompaniment is not accepted. In weekly lessons, allow three to six months to prepare an event piece carefully, especially when scales, reading, and accompaniment are involved.

What else is there to enter?

Students who want an additional performance goal can enter WMTA district auditions, held from February through April, with district and state tracks for instrumental students in grades 1–12. Its State Track asks older students for memorized repertoire, while district tracks are a more accessible starting point. For school clarinetists, WSMA Solo & Ensemble remains the clearest individual festival route; a student who prefers playing without an audition focus can still build skill through regular school band and ensemble work.

Clarinet events in Wisconsin, 2026–27

WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival

Wisconsin School Music Association

When
April 24 and May 1, 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Students who receive a starred first rating at the Class A level at a district festival

WSMA High School State Honors Music Project

Wisconsin School Music Association

When
Auditions February 6 and 13, 2027; camp and concerts June–October 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
High school students; audition for band, orchestra, choir, or jazz ensemble

WSMA Middle Level State Honors

Wisconsin School Music Association

When
April 3, 9, and 10, 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Middle-level students; exact grade eligibility is set in the audition requirements

WMTA State VIE Competition

Wisconsin Music Teachers Association

When
Usually in spring
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Vocal, instrumental, and ensemble student competitors; exact grade eligibility varies

WSMA District Solo & Ensemble Festival

Wisconsin School Music Association

When
November 2026 and January–April 2027; specific dates vary by district
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Grades 6–12; registration is through WSMA member schools

WMTA District Competitions

Wisconsin Music Teachers Association

When
Usually during the school year
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Student competitors; grade eligibility varies by event

Homeschool and private school students

Homeschool students can take part in Wisconsin district extracurricular music on the same basis as district pupils, and districts may charge their usual participation fees. WSMA also allows eligible homeschool students in grades 6–12 to use family membership to enter District Solo & Ensemble; a Class A starred first rating can lead to the state festival. The High School State Honors Project has a narrower route because it requires attendance at a WSMA-member school and regular participation in a school ensemble.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on clarinet

Many children begin clarinet in upper elementary or middle school, when they can manage the instrument's keys, mouthpiece, and steady breath; Wisconsin districts often open band in fifth or sixth grade. Starting private lessons beforehand helps your child learn to assemble the clarinet, make a clear sound, and read the first notes before band rehearsals begin. Lessons also give a beginner individual attention alongside school, so early questions about embouchure and hand position do not get lost in a group.

A teen in Wisconsin

A teen can begin clarinet in school band or alongside it, then use Wisconsin's school-year audition cycle as a goal. WSMA High School State Honors auditions are for grades 9–11, with registration opening in November and auditions in February; the middle-level auditions come in April. A one-on-one lesson can fit around ensemble rehearsals and help a new or returning player build a manageable weekly routine, without treating honors auditions as the only reason to play.

Starting or coming back as an adult

Adults in Wisconsin have welcoming places to make music with other clarinetists. New Horizons Music Fox Valley in Appleton offers adults of any experience a community band or orchestra without an audition, while the Oshkosh Area Community Band is open to adults who have finished high school and has no joining fee or audition. The Cedarburg Civic Band rehearses in summer, and the New Horizons Band of Southeast Wisconsin meets in Waukesha. It is not too late to start or return; a teacher can meet you at your current level and shape the next step around your goals.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good clarinet teacher do?

A good clarinet teacher listens closely to tone, breath, and articulation, then gives you or your child a clear next step rather than simply adding harder music. That matters in Wisconsin, where a student may move from school band into WSMA festivals or honors auditions, while another may be learning for personal enjoyment. Training matters, but fit matters too: an adult returning to clarinet and a younger beginner need different pacing and encouragement. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one; every teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in clarinet.

How do live online clarinet lessons work?

A live Zoom lesson lets your clarinet teacher hear your tone, tonguing, and rhythm in real time and see your hand position, posture, and how you assemble the instrument. Set your device so the teacher can see your face, hands, and clarinet, with a quiet place to play and your music nearby. You meet one-on-one each week with the same teacher, so feedback builds from one session to the next without a commute. A student in Milwaukee or Verona has the same choice of teacher and the same lesson. The first 30-minute lesson is free, with no payment method needed, so you can meet the teacher and decide if weekly lessons feel right.

What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You

A teacher with a degree in clarinetEvery Lesson With You clarinet teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in clarinet.
Canon CochranCanonBachelor’s in Clarinet
Meet the teachers below
The same teacher every weekLive, one-on-one lessons with one teacher who knows your goals.
Practice goals every weekEach lesson ends with what to practice before the next one.
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Clarinet in Wisconsin

Where to hear clarinet

Wisconsin audiences can hear a range of live music beyond the local concerts in Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Racine, Kenosha, La Crosse, and Eau Claire. In Milwaukee, Festival City Symphony’s 2026–2027 Saturday Classics concerts are free, with a suggested $5 donation for children and students. Madison Opera presents three operas each year and offers eligible students rush tickets for under $21; the Wisconsin Union Theater also presents classical and jazz performances during its 2026–2027 season.

Where to play with others

Clarinetists have youth and adult ensemble options beyond school band. In Stevens Point, the Central Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra serves middle and high school students from ten central Wisconsin counties; clarinetists in grades 9–12 can audition. Adults can join the Oshkosh Area Community Band without an audition or fee, while the Neenah Community Band welcomes musicians age 15 and older at rehearsals without an audition. In Cedarburg, high school students and adults can join the Civic Band, including players who want to attend rehearsals and concerts without marching.

Clarinet around Wisconsin, area by area

Madison area

Madison offers students live performances by Madison College’s Municipal Band, Community Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Big Band. For a young clarinetist, hearing woodwinds in different ensemble settings can make school band repertoire easier to place and inspire new listening goals. Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras accepts woodwind players, including clarinetists, by audition; its full orchestras include woodwinds.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 10, 38 lesson weeks (Madison Metropolitan School District)

Green Bay area

In Green Bay, Green Bay Youth Orchestras offers several youth ensemble options for students interested in playing with others. Families can also hear the Civic Symphony of Green Bay’s Music for Young Listeners concert on February 26, 2027; scholarships are available to reduce or cover student admission. UW–Green Bay’s 6:30 Concert Series at the Weidner Center provides another local concert option.

School year
Aug 31 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Green Bay Area Public School District)

Appleton area

Appleton has a range of live music for a clarinet student to explore. Fox Valley Symphony offers student rush tickets on the day of a concert, while Mile of Music brings free original live music to all-ages official venues in downtown Appleton. These experiences offer a contrast between orchestral performance and the varied sounds of a multi-artist music festival.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 4, 38 lesson weeks (Appleton Area School District)

Racine area

Racine’s summer Music & More concerts at First Presbyterian Church are free and take place Thursdays at noon. The Racine Concert Band also has a selective substitute route for experienced musicians: players audition for its substitute list, and vacancies are filled by invitation to those who have performed as substitutes. That gives a clarinetist a demanding community-band goal.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Racine Unified School District)

Kenosha area

Kenosha offers free concerts and recitals by Carthage College faculty and students around Kenosha County. UW–Parkside also presents free Friday noon concerts during fall and spring semesters, with no ticket required. Hearing these performances in different settings helps a clarinet student recognize how wind instruments contribute to larger ensembles.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 3, 37 lesson weeks (Kenosha Unified School District)

La Crosse area

La Crosse offers two community-band choices for clarinetists. Da Capo Concert Band requests a $20 contribution at the beginning of each half of its season, while La Crosse Concert Band performs during the summer. Their community setting gives players a chance to make music with local musicians beyond school band.

School year
Aug 20 to May 28, 39 lesson weeks (School District of La Crosse)

Eau Claire area

In Eau Claire, Tuesday Night Blues offers free live music every Tuesday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with all ages welcome. Sounds Like Summer presents local bands at Phoenix Park on Thursdays from June through August, from 6 to 8 p.m. These performances let clarinet students hear a range of live music outside a traditional concert band setting.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Eau Claire Area School District)

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a teacher who can explain how they build tone, breath support, and reading skills for your age and goals. Lesson With You offers one-on-one weekly Zoom lessons with a teacher who holds at least a bachelor's degree in clarinet, and you can choose a teacher or ask us for a recommendation.

Yes, because a teacher can hear your sound and rhythm in real time and see your hands, posture, and instrument setup over Zoom. Weekly one-on-one lessons also give you consistent feedback without a commute, and you can try a free 30-minute first lesson before deciding.

Many Wisconsin schools offer band beginning in fifth or sixth grade, though the starting grade depends on the district. For example, LakeView K-8 in Kenosha starts band in fifth grade, while Franklin Middle School in Green Bay offers it in sixth.

A school clarinetist can enter WSMA District Solo & Ensemble through the school music program, and a Class A starred first rating advances to the state festival. Eligible high school students in grades 9–11 can also audition for WSMA High School State Honors if they attend a member school and regularly participate in a school ensemble.

Yes, eligible homeschool students in grades 6–12 can join WSMA family membership and enter District Solo & Ensemble, then advance to state with a Class A starred first rating. Wisconsin homeschool students may also participate in district extracurricular music on the same basis as district pupils, with usual participation fees possible.

Many children are ready in upper elementary school, when they can manage the keys, mouthpiece, and steady breath needed for clarinet. Starting around the time band begins in fifth or sixth grade works well, though private lessons can prepare a child earlier.

No, adults can start or return to clarinet at any age, and several Wisconsin community ensembles welcome adult players. New Horizons Music Fox Valley in Appleton, for example, takes adults of any experience without an audition.

Clarinet lessons in Wisconsin typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $46 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.