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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…
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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,…
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The Japanese philosophy that can help you in the practice room
This past summer, I visited Asia for the first time. I am still absorbing all of the amazing musical, cultural, and life experiences I had during this tour. During my time in Japan, I learned about the Japanese philosophy called kaizen, which means continuous improvement or small changes for the better. This can be applied to business, society, or individual…
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Tomplay Review: Why I love this interactive sheet music app!
Note: This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a percentage of any sales made through these links. I only recommend products I personally use and love, and I hope you’ll love Tomplay as much as I do! Tomplay is an interactive sheet music app I’ve been using for several months (as have several of my online students!), and…
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Plan better breaths in clarinet music
Breathing – it’s something we do naturally our entire lives…until we pick up a clarinet! Of course, breathing is essential for living (obviously), and it’s also an important tool for musical phrasing and interpretation. That being said, clarinetists and wind players in general sometimes face challenges when deciding the best moments to take a breath. Ideally, a breath shouldn’t interrupt…
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Quick Fix Friday: Bring the clarinet to you
Happy Friday! Today’s Quick Fix will help you play with better posture, which means you’ll be able to play with better air support. The secret to sounding great on clarinet is in the air ;) The quick fix? Prepare your playing position. Whether you’re seated or standing, don’t slump your shoulders. Keep the bottom of your chin parallel to the…
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Clarinet Creative Reset
If you’re feeling uninspired (or possibly even burnt out), it’s important to take time to reset so you can re-emerge with a healthier mindset. This is especially true this time of year, when many students, teachers, and professionals are reaching the end of an academic year. After final concerts and projects, the built-up stress can easily lead to burnout or…
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Advice for soon-to-be clarinet majors
Congratulations on your recent graduation from high school (or your country’s equivalent)! If you are planning to pursue a university or conservatory program in clarinet performance, here are my recommendations for things to do this summer before the semester starts to get the most out of your studies: My biggest piece of advice is to spend time reflecting so you…
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19 Solos for A Clarinet Perfect for Your Next Recital
There’s something so warm and inviting about the rich tone of the A clarinet, which is why I love performing pieces for this beautiful instrument. Here are 19 of my favorite solos written for A clarinet, which are perfect for your next recital (arranged alphabetically by composer’s last name): Leave a comment with your favorite works for clarinet in A!
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How to choose the best clarinet fingerings
Over the last several months, I’ve enjoyed sharing Clarinet Cheat Code Fingerings on my Instagram page. This series has given me a new appreciation for the art of selecting the “best” clarinet fingerings in any musical passage, and I wanted to share my top tips to help you choose options that work for you. Here are my top tips to…
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Quick Fix Friday: Altissimo Ear Training Tip
Happy Friday! Have you ever played a high note on the clarinet…but weren’t sure which one it was? Due to the clarinet’s overtone series, it can be easy to overshoot (or even sometimes undershoot) high notes on the clarinet. If you’re practicing to hit a specific note and can’t tell if it’s correct, here’s the quick fix: Play the same…
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Clarinet Spring Cleaning: 25 Things to Organize and Declutter
Happy spring! Is it just me, or does anyone else feel the urge to declutter your entire life as the weather starts to warm? If you’ve been reading my articles for some time, it should come as no surprise that I’m a neat freak and love to organize and declutter. I’ve just spent the past month doing this for all…