• Clarinet Music by Women Composers

    Over the years, I’ve written several articles about women clarinetists and women composers who wrote for the clarinet. (Articles linked below) In the world of classical music, the contributions of women composers have historically been overlooked. For the past few years, I’ve compiled a list of works for clarinet written by women, and I’m excited to finally share this list…

  • The Beginner’s Complete Guide to the Clarinet

    Congratulations for beginning your clarinet journey! ♫ The clarinet is by far the best instrument out there (or at least it is according to me and this small corner of the internet), and I have several resources to help you get started. I’ve written several articles which will help guide you along as you navigate the process of learning clarinet,…

  • Quick Fix Friday: Tune by Trends, Not by Notes

    Happy Friday! Does it seem like you’re always having to adjust by pushing in or pulling out? If so, you’re probably tuning based on individual notes. The quick fix? Tune according to trends, not according to individual notes. What does that mean? When you tune, you should choose a few reliable notes on your clarinet (I like written low C,…

  • Stravinsky’s Secret 4th Piece for Solo Clarinet

    Serious clarinetists are probably all-too familiar with Igor Stravinsky’s devilishly difficult Three Pieces for solo clarinet, written in 1918 and published in 1919. This piece was written as a thank-you present to philanthropist and amateur clarinetist Werner Reinhart (1884-1951) for his support of Stravinsky’s music. This is one of the first true unaccompanied solos in the clarinet repertoire, and it…

  • Why is my mouthpiece green? (And other weird clarinet questions you’re too embarrassed to ask your teacher)

    The clarinet is the coolest instrument around, but it does have some…peculiarities….to it. Here are a few explanations to your most embarrassing clarinet questions: (Disclaimer: These responses are crafted from a clarinetist’s point of view. Always seek advice from a medical professional when dealing with health, germs, and other areas beyond the scope of this classically trained clarinetist/blogger.) Why is…

  • Famous Clarinet Cadenzas

    The clarinet has a wide variety of repertoire written throughout its history, and the collection only continues to grow as more people write for the best instrument around. Among these works, there are many pieces with famous clarinet cadenzas, or extended solo passages to demonstrate the virtuosic ability of the player. A brief history of the cadenza At the turn…

  • 10 More Ways to Become a Better Clarinetist In Under 10 Seconds

    Let me preface this post by saying that the clarinet is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. True progress comes from consistent practice efforts throughout many months, years, and decades. That being said, there are a few quick and easy improvements you can make in under 10 seconds (yes, really!) I’m excited to share even…

  • New Year, New Gear! Clarinet Equipment Information

    Happy New Year! I hope this year brings you health, happiness, and a lot of great music! If new gear is on the horizon for you this year, I’ve rounded up my articles about upgrading clarinet equipment to help you take the next step. Accessories Clarinets Leave a comment below with other articles you’d like to see about clarinet equipment!

  • Quick Fix Friday: Move like molasses

    Happy Friday! Title catch your attention? Hear me out! (Maybe I’m inspired by all the holiday baking 🥣) Oftentimes in technical passages, we tend to rush through the phrase. As a result, the notes become jumbled and indecipherable. I have a mental trick I use that helps me make sure each note is clear and enunciated. The quick fix? Move…

  • How to select a clarinet reed

    Finding the best clarinet reed for you and your setup is a lot like searching for the perfect pair of jeans. There will be a lot of trial and error, but once you’ve found the one, it will be worth the effort. Discovering how to choose the right reed is an important lesson all clarinetists must learn early in their…