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Clarinet embouchure: How much mouthpiece should you take in?
Believe it or not, how much mouthpiece you take in when playing clarinet can make a big difference in your sound! Whether you’re new to the clarinet or have been playing for years, it’s never a bad idea to examine (or re-examine) your embouchure to make sure you’re producing a top-quality sound. One aspect of this is how much of the mouthpiece is in your mouth when this plays. Why does this matter? If you take in less mouthpiece, this only allows a small portion of the reed to vibrate. This means your sound will most likely be thin and brittle. Conversely, if you take in too much mouthpiece, the…
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2025 March Madness – Clarinet Sonatas
Who will be crowned the ultimate clarinet sonata? Let’s find out in the Jenny Clarinet March Madness Sonatas tournament! Back by popular demand, this clarinet-specific March Madness-style tournament was created as a fun and interactive way to discover new clarinet sonatas and revisit timeless favorites. Here’s how it works: I’ve modeled this March Madness bracket after the famous American basketball tournament brackets (for all you sports fans). I selected 32 clarinet sonatas, including both standards and lesser-known favorites of mine. Using an online randomizer, these 32 sonatas were listed in a random order to create the “matches” for the first round lineup. Each day in March, I will post a…
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What do the Weber concerti and Brahms sonatas have in common?
There’s an interesting connection between Carl Maria von Weber’s two clarinet concerti and Brahms two clarinet sonatas. Any guesses what it is? Notice any similarities? They share the same key signatures! So, is this pure coincidence, or was this intentional on Brahms’ part? Weber composed his two clarinet concerti in 1811 for the German clarinetist Heinrich Baermann. Eighty years later in March 1891, Brahms heard German clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld perform Weber’s Concerto No. 1 in f minor with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. Brahms was captivated by Mühlfeld’s playing and subsequently wrote a clarinet trio, quintet, and the two aforementioned sonatas for Mühlfeld. In addition to sharing the same key signatures…
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Did Rossini really compose his Introduction, Theme and Variations?
Longtime readers of this blog know that there are countless unsolved mysteries of clarinet history, and I’m fascinated by these! Today, we’re delving into a work which I consider to be one of the top 50 standard works for clarinet – Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations! Background Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) composed Introduction, Theme and Variations around 1819, and it was dedicated to clarinetist Allesandro Abate. Abate was a clarinet professor in Naples, Italy, and he performed as principal clarinet at the Teatro La Munizione in Messina from 1815-1816. The Introduction features lyrically florid clarinet passages, demonstrating the instrument’s expressive capabilities. The music is from Rossini’s opera Mosè in Egitto…
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Clarinet history: Who invented the metal ligature?
When I’m not practicing the clarinet, one of my favorite things to do is delve into the vast world of clarinet history. There are so many subjects and areas to explore, one of which is the clarinet’s development to its modern form. Today, clarinetists probably take several things for granted. Reeds, although quite a can of worms, can be mass-produced and are easily available. Mouthpieces are varied and plentiful, and you can even work with mouthpiece makers for customized setups. Ligatures also come in several materials and variations. Most of us likely started out with a simple metal ligature – something we probably haven’t paid much attention to outside of…
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Did Weber write a third clarinet concerto?
Longtime readers of this blog know that there are several unsolved mysteries throughout clarinet history. One that I find particularly interesting is the possibility of Weber’s third clarinet concerto. Most clarinetists are undoubtedly familiar with the clarinet works of Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). His famous Concertino, Op. 26, Concerto No. 1 in f minor, Op. 73, and Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 74 were written in 1811 for German clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (1784-1847).These works have become standard clarinet repertoire and demonstrate the clarinet’s lyrical and technical capabilities. If only Weber had composed another clarinet concerto… According to Weber’s diary, he was working on a clarinet concerto…
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25 Practice tips to level up your playing in 2025
Happy New Year! There’s something extra motivating about the change of calendars, and it’s a great time to evaluate ways you can improve and set goals for your future. One of the most impactful areas where you can unlock greater improvement is by examining your practice routine. I’ve written several articles about practice tips throughout the years, and here are 25 practice tips that will help you level up your playing in 2025 and beyond: What are your favorite practice tips? Leave a comment below! Happy practicing!
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The Music Critic Known as Corno di Bassetto
Love ’em or hate ’em, music critics have been around for most of music history. However, not all music critics use a pseudonym inspired by a member of the clarinet family! Irish music critic and multi-hyphenate George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was a music critic in London for several years, where he used the pen name Corno di Bassetto. Bernard Shaw (his preferred name when he wasn’t using pen names) wrote for the Hornet and Star in London, where he attended musical performances and shared his opinions as Corno di Bassetto. According to this article, “…readers unversed in the language [of music] immediately assumed that the Star had acquired a sophisticated…
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25 Clarinet repertoire hidden gems to perform in 2025
Happy New Year! I hope 2025 brings you health, happiness, and lots of great music! Speaking of great music, the clarinet community is #blessed to have such a wide variety of repertoire. It’s no secret that I enjoy “collecting” lesser-known repertoire, so I wanted to share 25 of my favorite hidden gems in the clarinet repertoire. Here are 25 hidden gem clarinet pieces you should learn/perform in 2025: (pieces listed alphabetically by composer’s last name) These are some of my favorite hidden gems of the clarinet repertoire, and I’ve performed several of these. Leave a comment below with your favorites or recommendations!
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Quick Fix Friday: Use your planner to update your CV
Happy Friday (the first one of 2025!)! Is it just me, or does anyone else find themselves tidying and organizing at the first of the year? If so, don’t throw out your 2024 planner yet! The quick fix? Go back through your 2024 planner to add any concerts, auditions, projects, or events to your CV. It’s easy to forget all you’ve done in a year, and reviewing your planner is a great way to keep stock of your professional life! Happy practicing/organizing!
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