Clarinetist. Teacher. Mentor. Private and Group Clarinet Lessons
Bb Clarinet and A Clarinet Eb Soprano Clarinet Bass Clarinet Contra Alto Clarinet Contra Bass Clarinet

Why Study with Ms. Bley?
My students are routinely selected as first chair players in their upper level school bands, All-District Bands, Senior Regional Orchestras, Youth Orchestras, Youth Wind Programs, and All-State Bands and Orchestras. My students are consistently selected as clarinetists and bass clarinetists in the NAfME All-National Honor Band, as well as the Music For All Honor Band of America. In 2019, my students were selected as Principal Clarinetists in both the Virginia All-State Orchestra and the Virginia All-State Band. In 2020, two of my students were selected for the Virginia All-State Orchestra, including the Principal Clarinet.
When you join my studio, you receive access to my personal music library that includes a vast collection of solos, duets, ensembles, etudes, orchestral excerpts, scale studies, altissimo studies, technique studies, recordings, and technology.
I am the Principal Clarinetist in the Loudoun Symphony, and I perform regularly with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington, Washington Sinfonietta, OneWorld Symphonic Festival Camerata, and the Virginia Grand Military Band.
I am a Vandoren Artist-Clinician, so my students benefit greatly by having access to a wide range of high quality yet affordable mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, accessories and instruments that help them achieve their best possible sound .


Why Take Private Clarinet Lessons?
My students range in age from brand new beginners (suggested minimum age 9 or 10) to advanced high school, college and adult students. Home-schooled students and adult beginners are welcome (no prior musical experience is required).
Weekly lessons are either 45 minutes or 60 minutes in duration. Typical lessons consist of warmups, scale studies, technique studies, etudes, duets, and solo repertoire. Lessons are tailored to meet each individual student’s needs and assist them in reaching their performance goals.
CLINICS
As a Vandoren Artist-Clinician, I offer free educational clinics to middle school, high school and undergraduate clarinet students.
Topics include:
• Reed Selection, Care and Adjustment
• Embouchure
• Articulation
• Breath Support
• Finger Technique
• Intonation
• Maximizing Tone Quality
• Crossing the Break
• Sight Reading
• Audition Strategies
• Mouthpiece Trials
• Reed Trials
• Topics of Your Choice
CONTACT
For more information, please contact:
RECORDINGS
Welcome and I hope you enjoy my clips.
Betty Bley Parfums D'Orient Excerpt May 14, 2020
An excerpt from Parfums D'Orient by Jerome Naulais, for solo Bb Clarinet
Ballad in Memory of Shirley Horn by Richard Rodney Bennett
Apr 22, 2017
Sonatina by Malcolm Arnold, 2nd Movement and 1st Movement
Apr 22, 2017
Betty Bley Performing Simon Proctor's Reedevelopment for Clarinet and Piano Feb 26, 2019
Last update: 8/26/2020
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