Clarinetting and Physics

Whether I am playing by myself, in band, or at a concert, I am applying physics as I blow air into the clarinet.

Sound in the clarinet is made by oscillating motion or air flow. The reed is bendy and is normally controlled by resonating air in the clarinet. Once the air in the clarinet is vibrating, some of the energy leaves through the bell and any open holes (keys) The vibrating column of air flow determines the frequency and in effect the pitch. A sound wave can travel down through the clarinet and reflect and go back up. The longer the clarinet, the longer it takes to make a round trip. The length can be changed by lifting my fingers off or on keyholes and thus shortening or lengthening the distance. If all the holes are closed, the pitch is at its lowest (the lowest frequency). Frequency is the number of vibrations per second. The lower the note, the less vibrations there are per second. The higher the note, the more vibrations there are per second.

If I squeak (which is most likely on accident), that means the reed vibrated at its own resonance. By putting my lower lip on the reed, I am dampening the strength of the reed's natural resonance.

Describing exactly how the clarinet works is complicated, especially if I tried to add in the register key which takes the clarinet up another octave, so I am not sure if I said everything right.