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The range and registers of the clarinet
Call me biased, but the clarinet is one of the most versatile instrument in terms of range, dynamics, and much more! Here’s an overview of the range and different registers of the clarinet First, let’s discuss the difference between range and registers. An instrument’s range includes the entire span of notes capable of being produced. A register is a smaller subset of these notes, typically sharing timbral characteristics and tendencies. Here is the soprano clarinet’s working range: As demonstrated in the above photo, the clarinet has quite the range! Spanning nearly 3+ octaves, the clarinet can produce rumbling low notes all the way up to sparkling notes in the stratosphere.…
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Tone, Tuning, Timbre – What’s the Difference?
At first glance, these three concepts might seem interchangeable. To add further confusion, they all begin with the same letter! Here’s a quick overview of how I explain these three concepts to my students: I hope this quick overview helps you to distinguish between tone, tuning, and timbre! Leave a comment below with any input or descriptions you use!
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The life span of a clarinet (and its accessories)
You know what they say – nothing lasts forever, and the clarinet is no different. One of the most common questions I’m asked is “How long does a reed/mouthpiece/ligature/clarinet last?” There are a few different factors affecting this answer, so let’s break it down by item: Now, let’s talk about clarinets: How do you know if your clarinet or accessories are wearing out? As you probably gleaned from reading this article, there is no set timeline for replacing your clarinets or its accessories. It depends on several factors and is unique to each musician. Ultimately, clarinets and accessories get blown out, and these are apparent in the following scenarios. If…
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Celebrating 400 Blog Posts on Jenny Clarinet: A Retrospective Musical Journey
My, oh my, how the time flies! When I started Jenny Clarinet back in 2015, I had no idea the journey I was about to undertake. I started Jenny Clarinet right before I moved to Paris as a way to share my musical musings, clarinet pedagogy, and travel updates along my clarinet career. For my 400th blog post, I would like to share 10 musical memories this blog has given me the opportunity to experience. I’m humbled and so grateful for all of the musical connections and memories created via this blog, and here are a few of my favorites: Thank you so much for your support and contributions to…
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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 is commonplace for this work to be asked on auditions because it demonstrates the player’s technical and lyrical abilities. Another unique element of this piece is that it is written for both B-flat and A clarinet in the same piece (the first two movements are “preferably” on A clarinet, while…
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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 my mouthpiece green? Most clarinet mouthpieces are made from either plastic or ebonite (hard rubber). Ebonite can oxidize, and this discoloration can be caused from exposure to sunlight, high temps, and even the type of soap you use to clean the mouthpiece. Read this article from Vandoren for more information.…
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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 of the 19th century, cadenzas were improvised by the performer and typically placed at the end of the movement to demonstrate the performer’s technical dexterity. Over time, composers began creating and writing cadenzas in their works. While some were still placed at the end of movements, this was no longer…
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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 more ways you can become a better clarinetist in under 10 seconds. (If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the first blog post in this series – it was one of my first blog posts ever!) Here are 10 more ways you can become a better clarinetist in…
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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 with you. In this list, I’ve included music for solo clarinet up to five performers. Currently, this list includes 335 pieces! I hope this resource will help to promote the diverse voices and artistic achievements of women in the world of music and the clarinet community. Please note that this…
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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!