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The Musician’s Urban Dictionary
You probably know all of your typical music lingo – adagio, cantabile, dolce, sostenuto. Here are all the musical terms you didn’t know you needed! Restimate: to not accurately count during a rest, thus having to guess your next entrance “I got lost in that 33-measure rest, so I had to restimate.” Stage frightmare: a unique nightmare specific to musicians; usually involves being late to recitals, last-minute repertoire changes, or other anxiety-inducing musical situations “I had a stage frightmare that I had to play the Nielsen concerto from memory tonight!” Subzoned: when you are vying for a permanent position with a group but cannot escape the sub list “I’ve performed all…
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9 Secrets Classical Musicians Won’t Tell You
You probably have some preconceived notions about classical musicians. Maybe you’re thinking of that one annoying flute player that sat behind you in high school. Maybe you’re thinking of that one episode of Bugs Bunny (or if you’re a millennial, that episode of Hey Arnold! where they go to the opera). Whatever stereotypes you have about classical musicians, they’re probably untrue. Here are some secrets you may not know about classical musicians: 1) Classical music is not a 9-5 job. Most orchestras don’t have rehearsals or concerts every day. Non-musicians look at our schedules and think, “They only have 8 hours of rehearsals this week? That’s nothing – I work 50 hours every…
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The Musician’s Practice Pyramid
Have you ever walked (or dejectedly shuffled) into the practice room, begrudgingly opened your case, assembled your instrument….and wondered what the heck you have to practice? Maybe you’re overwhelmed with excerpts. Maybe you have to learn your scales for All State auditions. Or maybe you don’t even know what you should practice. Not to fear, my trusty Practice Pyramid is here! You’re probably familiar with the food pyramid from health classes past. It’s undergone a few makeovers recently, but the basic idea is essentially the same. A daily diet with the right proportions of certain foods will increase your overall health. Like the food pyramid, your practice routine should also…
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10 Mildly Irritating Moments in Clarinet Repertoire
You know those times when you’re playing through your clarinet music (the classics, if you will) and it’s all smooth sailing? You’re getting all the accidentals, tricky rhythms, and life is good…until you reach one of these infamously annoying sections. Nothing impossible, but gosh darn it, why did the composer have to do that? Kudos to you if you can name each piece! What other mildly irritating moments in clarinet repertoire can you think of?
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Why Distractions Make You a Better Performer
The crisp snap of the opening Coke can was followed by the rude guzzling of the ice-cold refreshment. The fizz of carbonation gradually lessened after its owner noisily placed the soda on the folding table in the makeshift band room. The entrance of a second soda-wielding woman was announced by a slamming door, causing the snare drums to sizzle. As the two soda-slurping women discussed their lunch options, I focused on the manipulated sound of the electric keyboard playing the accompaniment to the lyrical movement of Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 73. This wasn’t a casual practice session – this was the final…
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How to Start Your Own Classical Music “Book” Club
Although most of my blog posts are tailored towards musicians, I am passionate about spreading the joys of classical music to everyone – musicians and non-musicians alike. Whether you played an instrument as a child, know a musician, or just enjoy classical music, I believe everyone should have a basic understanding and appreciation for classical music. That’s why I’m here – to help you create your own classical music appreciation club. Classical music often gets a bad reputation. My (non-musician) friends still don’t understand how I can sit through such long pieces when they are used to catchy, synthesized tunes in under five minutes. The general population associates classical music…
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How to Become a Master Sight Reader
Sight reading – the thought itself invokes terror among students and professionals alike. This is a crucial skill for musicians to master, yet many are unsure how to approach it. How do you prepare for the unknown? It can be anything – altissimo, complicated rhythms, ornaments, complex fingerings, or all of these combined! The secret to practicing sight-reading is three simple words: Are you ready for the secret? Just do it! (Thanks, Nike!) I am always shocked at how many of my students do not even attempt to practice sight-reading. Like everything else in life, the hardest part is facing your fear. I like to remind my students that sight…
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52 Ways to Practice Your Scales
One New Year’s resolution for musicians that never goes out of style? Scales. Think you already know your scales? Think again. Learning the notes to each scale is just the beginning. Below are several patterns and sequences to build technique and mastery of scales. I’ve included 52 different ideas so you can have something new to practice every week this year. Happy practicing! 1. Written “normal” scale 2. Natural minor 3. Harmonic minor 4. Melodic minor 5. Major pentatonic scales 6. Minor pentatonic scales 7. Octatonic scales 8. Whole tone scales 9. Blues scales 10. Chromatic scales 11. Ionian mode (aka major scale) 12. Dorian mode 13. Phrygian mode 14.…
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Gross Habits Every Musician Should Break
Let’s get real for a second. Being a musician can be gross sometimes. Using the same mouthpieces and equipment for hours every day is germ-a-palooza, and let’s not even get started on spit valves. Here are a few suggestions to make 2016 a cleaner and more sterilized year for musicians. Wash your hands. Not only will this keep you from getting sick, but it’s also a good way to protect the spread of grime from your hands to your instrument. Brush your teeth. You know what’s worse than dirty hands? Blowing half-eaten food particles from your mouth into your horn. Clean your swab. When was the last time you laundered…
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Pinterest-Inspired Organization for All Your Music and Accessories
I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve collected quite the amount of clarinet and music-related paraphernalia. I’m sure every musician knows the struggle of accumulating years’ worth of random music, accessories, and other tchotchkes. I used to throw it all in boxes and drawers while suppressing my inner neat freak, but then I turned to Pinterest. I love admiring the artsy snapshots of other people’s DIY organized, fashionable, and life-hacked existences. Not so surprisingly, there was very little tailored to classical musicians on Pinterest. Below, I’ve adapted several Pinteresting ideas to help musicians turn 2016 into the most organized and productive year ever. After all, time spent…