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:

• Spend some time with your goals. You have your entire future ahead of you, and it can feel simultaneously exciting and overwhelming! Grab a notebook (or go digital if you prefer), and write down your goals. Think about what your ideal life would be, then work backwards to see how you can achieve this. Write down all your goals big and small, and create different sections for music and general well-being.
• Write a clarinet bucket list. While you’re thinking about your goals, write down everything you want to do as a clarinetist and musician. What pieces do you want to perform? What festivals do you wish to attend? What experiences do you want to have?
• Make a repertoire list. Create a list of all the repertoire you’ve studied and performed. Then, add pieces you want to work on and perform. This will help a lot when it comes time to strategize with your teacher and eventually program degree recitals.
• Consider your strengths and weaknesses. As you are assessing your goals, note your clarinet and musical strengths and weaknesses. What are some skills you want to learn or improve? What are your biggest strengths as a clarinetist?
• Audit your online presence. You should always be conscientious about what you post and how you present yourself online. Take a look at your social media, email addresses, and your online profile to make sure you are presenting yourself the way you wish to be perceived by the world.
• Learn all of your scales (major and minor). If you don’t already have a solid grasp of your major and minor scales, there’s no time like the present to begin! (If you’re looking for a resource to learn these scales, check out my I Love Scales Bundle!)

My biggest piece of advice is to spend time reflecting so you get to know yourself better and what your goals are. These will probably change over time, but it’s a good idea to have a baseline so you can adjust as needed as you continue along your clarinet journey! Beginning university or conservatory clarinet studies is an exciting time, and I want you to make the most of this experience.

Best of luck and continued success!