• The Clarinet Compositions of Armando Ghidoni

    Over the past two years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to get to know Armando Ghidoni and his music. Ghidoni is vivacious and exudes a genuine joie de vivre, and his music perfectly captures his warm personality – I hear Ghidoni’s laughter and cheer in every single note. I am honored to have written my thesis on the music of such a talented composer and amazing new friend. If you’ve never listened to Armando Ghidoni,’s music before, I strongly suggest you check it out (I’ve included links below)! Ghidoni was born in Italy and later moved to Paris, where he still resides today. He’s written clarinet music for all ability…

  • The Musician’s Practice Quilt

    If you’re a musician, you’ve undoubtedly heard the old adage “practice makes perfect” (or maybe even “perfect practice makes perfect” from your overzealous band director). Maybe you prefer the rhetorical “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!” We get it. There’s lots of practicing involved in this musician thing. But what does effective practice look and sound like? Proper practicing technique is an often neglected (or nonexistent) topic among private teachers and band directors. Most students are usually clear on what to practice, but it’s the how that gives them problems. If any of these sound familiar to you or your student, you are probably practicing ineffectively:…

  • Your One-Week Guide to Sounding Like You Practiced All Summer (Even When You Haven’t)

    I get it. School’s out, and you just need a short break after all the stress of juries, finals, recitals, exams, etc etc. Practice breaks are healthy, right? Then one week turns into two…which turns into a month…which brings us here today. You haven’t touched your instrument all summer (or at least in recent memory), and the impending start of school is causing a constant low-grade anxiety in the back of your mind. I’m not here to lecture or judge. We’ve all taken extended practice breaks, and unless you have the willpower of Beethoven, it’s easy fall off the practice bandwagon. Learn from your mistakes, move on, dust off your…

  • My Second Year in Europe in 25 Photos

    My oh my, how the time does fly! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Paris for two years already! I’m so lucky to call Paris my adopted home, and I’d like to share some of my favorite photo memories of last year in Paris and beyond. Action shot during my performance of the Mozart Quintet, K. 581. This was taken at the pre-overture of La Seine Musicale. Visiting the René Magritte exhibition at the Pompidou Centre. Magritte is my absolute favorite artist, and I spent the better part of a day exploring the museum and exhibition. Performing the Tomasi Clarinet Concerto at the Fondation des Etats-Unis. I’m so happy…