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Join my book club!
During a recent episode of my weekly Clarinet Chats Instagram live, I was discussing a shared love of books with my friend Chase Miller when we decided to create a book club. This book club is open to anyone who wants to participate, and we would like to invite you to join! Our first book is Doug Borwick’s Building Communities, Not Audiences: The Future of the Arts in the United States. We think this book is especially relevant during these uncertain times, and we hope it will inspire important discussions in our group. Right now, we are planning to meet every other week via Zoom, and our first meeting will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2020…
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Positive affirmations for clarinetists
I’ve had this blog idea for a while, and while I originally meant it to be light-hearted and humourous, there is a great deal of truth in these affirmations. So, I hope these short affirmations help you continue along your clarinet journey. ||: Repeat as often as necessary : || I am more than my reed. Squeaks do not define me. My musical worth is not tied to what chair I am. There is no shame in slow (practicing). I am the composer of my musical journey. I create my own musical voice – not my equipment. I can’t control the outcome, but I can control my resilience and determination.…
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7 Ways to Step Up Your Practice Game
I know that practicing consistently these last few months is no small feat. Whether you’ve maintained your motivation or you’re just now getting back in the swing of things, here are a few ways you can step up your practice game to optimize improvement: Set your intentions. Not to sound all clickbait-y, but you can step up your entire practice routine with just one simple word – intentionality. Make sure you set definitive goals (aka intentions) for what you hope to accomplish and how you plan to achieve these intentions. Simply practicing with intentionality will make a huge difference in your focus and long-term improvements. Slow down your long tones.…
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How to break in a new clarinet
If you are the proud owner of a new clarinet, congratulations! I wish you and your new clarinet a happy future filled with many wonderful musical memories. To increase the longevity and quality of your clarinet, here are a few tips to help you properly break in your new clarinet: Is it a plastic clarinet? If so, you don’t have to follow any formal break-in process. Break in processes are only necessary for wooden instruments to help the material adjust to its new environment. Is your wooden clarinet used? Hopefully, its previous owner already broke in the clarinet, but it never hurts to break it in if you aren’t sure…
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Home recording and livestream tips for musicians
As livestream concerts and at-home recording sessions become more and more common, I thought I would share a few tips I’ve been using to improve the quality of content I’ve created at home. During the last several months, I’ve performed livestream concerts, recorded YouTube videos, and hosted live sessions on social media. If you’re looking to do the same, here’s some advice: Invest in good equipment to improve audio and video quality. To create the highest quality content, it’s important to use great equipment. Smartphones are a great place to start, but investing in external mics, cameras, and lighting will take any at-home production to the next level. If purchasing…
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Museums clarinetists can virtually visit
Even though your summer travel plans probably look a bit different this year, there are several music museums you can visit virtually this year! Here are a few of my favourites: Le Musée des instruments à vent de La Couture-Boussey. The Woodwind Museum is located in La Couture-Boussey, which many consider to be the “home of wind instruments.” This museum began in 1888 by woodwind instrument makers, and it includes over 300 instruments, machines, and tools. Musée de la Musique. The Paris Music Museum includes over 1,000 items for you to explore. (Fun fact: I was lucky enough to take a course in organology at this museum during my master’s degree,…
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Happy 5th blogiversary to Jenny Clarinet!
Five years ago today, I published my very first blog post on Jenny Clarinet. Little did I know that this would be the start of a wonderful adventure filled with lots of clarinet, tons of pedagogy, and countless beautiful friendships. Since 2015, I’ve written quite a few blog posts (hundreds, in fact); I’ve created several Boot Camps; I’ve learned a lot about web design (thanks to everyone who has helped me!); and I’ve done so much more along the way. This is all fine and good, but the greatest part of creating this community is getting to know so many of you. I love our little clarinet corner of the…
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Should clarinetists use a neck strap?
Chances are, if you’re a clarinetist (especially one who watches videos of other clarinetists on YouTube or social media), you’ve probably seen comments regarding someone’s decision whether or not to use a neck strap. So, should clarinetists be using neck straps? Are neck straps a sign of weakness (as I’ve seen many comments suggesting)? Spoiler alert: Each clarinetist gets to form their personal opinion about whether or not they choose to use a neck strap. Here are a few things to consider before making (or re-evaluating) your choice: Have you ever experienced upper extremity pain while practicing? Many clarinetists have chosen to use a neck strap to alleviate pain resulting…
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Let’s Talk About Ligatures: The Complete Guide to Clarinet Ligatures
For such a simple piece of clarinet equipment, there certainly are quite a few options for clarinet ligatures! Let’s talk about clarinet ligatures for a bit. Sometimes, they’re overshadowed by the almighty mouthpiece (for good reason – I have a lot to say about mouthpieces!). While the humble clarinet ligature may be tiny, it’s absolutely essential for clarinetists, even beyond its primary function of holding the reed on the mouthpiece. Before we get into the specifics, it’s time to dispel a common myth – ligatures absolutely make a difference in your sound and response. Many clarinetists believe that ligatures won’t make a discernible difference in sound, but this isn’t the…
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The Vegan Clarinet
A few years ago, I was talking to someone at a clarinet conference when they began discussing their search for vegan clarinet products. Even though I’ve been a vegetarian since 2004, I had never before considered this subject. According to Forbes, the number of people pursuing a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle is increasing. Even though vegans and vegetarians still comprise just a small percentage of the total population, there is an increased demand for eco-friendly products and transparency for ingredients and manufacturing methods. The clarinet is not naturally vegan, but it’s very easy to switch products and make adjustments to create a vegan clarinet. (And before anyone can beat me…