You probably don't sound like you think you do!

You're trying a new clarinet.

You're trying different barrels.

You're trying different bells.

You're trying different reeds.

You're playing in different places.

How do you sound? Likely not the way you think you do!

Chances are good that people listening to you don't hear what you hear. They will hear one sound standing two feet from you, a different sound ten feet away, and a different sound to the people in an audience.

Not only will you sound differently depending on what you play, you will sound differently depending on where you play: A small room, a small auditorium, a concert hall.

With so many variables, what can you do?

• If you're not playing with a thick mouthpiece patch, put a piece of thick paper on top of your mouthpiece or learn to be able to play with a double-lip ("French") embouchure. This will minimize the effects of bone conduction that so influences your perception of the sound that actually goes "out there".

• If possible, have an experienced player listen to you from a reasonable distance, say six feet. Sounds that you hear, especially articulation sounds and breath sounds, may not be at all evident to that other person.

• If you can't find an expert player, record yourself using a high quality recorder (not your smartphone) and play back using a high quality speaker system or even better, headphones. Put the microphone at least six feet away from you.

The last thing you should do is to rely on what you hear when you, yourself, are playing!