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Baermann Boot Camp, Round Two
A few years ago, I created my famous Baermann Boot Camp for clarinetists to complete the beloved Baermann Division III, Op. 63 scale exercises in just one month. (You can read the original post here and listen to me discuss it with Clarineat host Sean Perrin here.) My Baermann Boot Camp was the first of many boot camps I’ve created since then (such as Kroepsch, Uhl, and my 2018 and 2019 year-long boot camps), but Baermann will always hold a special place in my heart. It seems I’m not alone, because the majority of my social media friends voted to bring back Baermann for another round this June! Here is…
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7 Ways to Continue Improving Musically During Summer Vacation
Hurrah! You’re nearly done with another year of school, and the freedom of summer is so tantalizingly close! Summer vacation is a time for rest, relaxation, and recharging – but not relearning everything you worked so hard to achieve during the school year! The freedom summer presents is a double-edged sword – it’s great for impromptu decisions, but the lack of a structured schedule can derail event the most valiant motivational efforts. Here are a few ways you can keep your chops up (in proper band director lexicon) and stay musically motivated during the summer: Practice. Sounds obvious, but I’m always surprised to hear how many students want to improve…
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The Complete Guide to Developing Great Technique
Ask any musician one thing they wished they could improve, and chances are most will respond with technique. Whether you’re trying to play faster, lighter, or more comfortably, technique is the vehicle that allows us to more comfortably express our musical voices. The secret to developing great technique is to think of technique-building as musical muscle training. Musicians are athletes, but we train our micro muscles (embouchure, fingers, wrists) instead of our macro muscles. Think of yourself as an athlete in training – listen to your body and don’t push yourself too much too soon. Keep this in mind as you embark on your journey to better technique. Once you’ve…
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Graduation Gift Ideas for the Clarinetist in Your Life
Congratulations! A special clarinetist in your life is graduating high school, college, or beyond, and you would like to celebrate all their accomplishments and hard work! Here are some graduation presents any clarinetist would be happy to receive: Clarinet care package. Get creative and put together a care package. You can include anything you think they’ll like, such as a cute practice journal, comfy practice socks, travel toothbrush (oral hygiene is important for clarinetists!), lip balm, small toiletry/makeup bag to corral accessories, water bottle, and whatever else you find. A quality music stand. Confession time: I used a portable metal music stand for way too long, and one of the…