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9 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for Musicians
Happy New Year! As each year comes to a close, millions of people vow to enter the following year a better person. Here are some ideas for musicians to make 2019 your best year yet: Create a practice routine that sticks. If you struggle with practicing consistently, dedicate the new year to finding a practice plan which is efficient and enjoyable. Do you function best early in the morning, late at night, or sometime in between? Do you like to break your practicing into smaller time chunks or do one larger session? Figure out what works best for you so you can practice more consistently in 2019. Here’s my guide…
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Famous Celebrities Who Played the Clarinet
We all know that the clarinet is the best instrument around, so it’s no surprise that these celebrities played (or still play!) the clarinet: Don’t forget to check out my list of movies, shows, and series which feature the clarinet! Know any other clarinet-playing celebrities? Leave a comment below so I can add them to the list! Maybe we can invite them to the next clarinet convention…?
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The Rumored Lost Masterworks of Clarinet Repertoire
Don’t get me wrong – the clarinet has an incredibly vast collection of repertoire, with masterpieces by some of history’s greatest composers. But there are rumors of great composers who supposedly wrote (or planned to write) a chef d’oeuvre for the clarinet. Maybe they succumbed to the clarinet curse or maybe these are just clarinet urban legends, passed down from generation to generation in hushed whispers. Whatever the case, here are the rumored lost masterworks of clarinet repertoire: Tchaikovsky clarinet quintet – Tchaikovsky is my all-time favorite composer, and I have always bemoaned the fact that he never wrote solo or chamber music for the clarinet. However, it was rumored…
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Movies, Shows, and Series Which Feature the Clarinet
There are few things better than escaping the sub-zero temperatures with a bowl of popcorn and a good movie or series. Netflix has some pretty specific categories and recommendation algorithms, but something tells me that it doesn’t have a section for movies or shows with prominent clarinet solos in the story line or soundtrack. So, I’ve gone ahead and put together a list for your viewing pleasure! Movies Arthème Swallows His Clarinet (1912) – Equally bizarre and funny, this silent film unveils one of clarinetists’ greatest fears! The Cocoanuts (1929) – Harpo Marx plays “When My Dreams Come True” on clarinet about 20 minutes into this film, and he’s also featured…
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2019 Jenny Clarinet French Boot Camp
Are you looking to add a little je ne sais quoi to your practice routine? Maybe you want to practice à la française? Or maybe you just want to learn the Francaix Concerto or the Debussy Première rhapsodie, but don’t know where to begin? Say no more! I’ve created the 2019 Jenny Clarinet French Boot Camp, a 12-month practice plan centered around learning standard French repertoire and etudes! Each month contains a different method book or solo work, which I have organized into daily assignments. (Here is a sample boot camp.) Each month includes instructions and advice for each book or piece. If you follow my boot camp, you’ll complete one book,…