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Clarinet Curiosities: Unusual Systems and Inventions
The pioneering and curious spirit of clarinetists and manufacturers has led to the development of unique and innovative instruments throughout clarinet history. Here are a few clarinet curiosities, including unusual clarinets, clarinet systems, and inventions to intrigue you: Clarinet-adjacent instruments These instruments might not technically fall under the clarinet family tree, but I wanted to share some distant cousins of the clarinet family. Here are some other websites you might find interesting to learn more about clarinet systems and inventions: I hope you enjoyed this foray into the curious world of clarinet history! What other unusual clarinets do you know? Leave a comment below!
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Classical Music Warped Timeline: Facts that alter your perception of time
Classical music history is typically taught separately from general history, which is why these comparisons can warp your perception of time. Here are some events from classical music history as they relate to details from general history: What other events in classical music history will warp your perception of time? Leave a comment below!
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How to choose a new clarinet mouthpiece
Welcome to the wonderful world of clarinet mouthpieces! If you’re looking for a new clarinet mouthpiece, here’s everything you need to know: How do you know when it’s time to replace a clarinet mouthpiece? While mouthpieces can be played indefinitely (as long as they’re not broken), I recommend replacing your mouthpiece every 5-10 years, although this greatly depends on how much you play. If you notice that your sound seems lackluster, you experience more resistance when you play, or reed selection is more difficult than normal, it could be the mouthpiece. It’s always a good idea to have a back-up mouthpiece, so if you’re undecided about replacing mouthpieces now, you…
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Quick Fix Friday: Steady Air = Steady Sound
Happy Friday! I wanted to share a quick tip to help you improve your sound. We all know that air is all-important (that’s why it’s called a “wind” instrument), and the connection between air and sound is closely related. The quick tip? If you’re looking to improve your sound, focus on the air you’re using. A steady sound is a reflection of steady air. If your tone is wobbly, your air is probably wobbly. If there are spikes in your sound, there are spikes in your air flow. Take a moment to analyze your sound. Be detailed in what you’d like to improve – smoother sound (smoother air); louder sound…
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How to customize and set up a new clarinet
If you’re the proud owner of a new clarinet, congratulations! (Don’t worry if you’re still trying to choose a new clarinet – I’ve got you covered with some of my pro tips to help you select a new clarinet.) As you break in your new clarinet and familiarize yourself with the sound, feel, and tuning, I recommend having it set up and customized by a qualified repair tech. (If you’re looking how to assemble your clarinet, click here.) What does it mean to customize or set up your clarinet? Professional clarinets have remarkable consistency from one instrument to the next, but this also means that they will have to be…
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Pro tips to select a new clarinet
Buying a new clarinet is an exciting event, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many different options available today, which is why I’m here to help! (This article is intended to help current clarinetists upgrade and select a new clarinet. If you’re buying your first clarinet, check out my complete guide to buying your first clarinet.) Here are my pro tips to help you select a new clarinet: Narrow it down Play-testing clarinets Making a decision Next steps Congratulations, you’ve selected a new clarinet! Here are a few more things you should do next: I hope this article helps you select a new clarinet!
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Better Breathing Guide for Clarinetists – Tips to Take Fewer, Better Breaths
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I believe that air is the cause of the majority of issues clarinetists experience. Learning how to properly use our air is crucial to developing better sound, technique, phrasing and more on the clarinet. An essential part of using our air is learning how to take effective breaths when we are playing a piece of music. Here’s my advice to help you narrow it down so you can take fewer, better breaths: Where should I breathe? Please note that these are general breathing suggestions. Each piece of music is different and will benefit from different approaches to breathing. Be open-minded…
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Clarinet HERstory: Eileen Tranmer
Clarinet HERstory is a new retrospective series on Jenny Clarinet which celebrates women throughout clarinet history (aka HERstory). Do you have a recommendation for a clarinetist to feature in an upcoming post in Clarinet HERstory? Contact me here. English musician Eileen Betsy Tranmer (1910-1983) was an accomplished clarinetist and chess player who held the title of Woman International Master. Eileen was a leading figure in the British chess scene during the mid-20th century, and she won the British Women’s Chess Championship four times. Additionally, she won and shared 5th-7th place in the Women’s World Chess Championship in Moscow in 1950. In 1952, she was ranked 7th at the Women’s World…
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Clarinet HERstory: Caroline Schleicher-Krähmer
Clarinet HERstory is a new retrospective series on Jenny Clarinet which celebrates women throughout clarinet history (aka HERstory). Do you have a recommendation for a clarinetist to feature in an upcoming post in Clarinet HERstory? Contact me here. Caroline Krähmer (née Schleicher, 1794-c. 1873) was an international soloist and toured all throughout Europe, performing works by Weber, Tausch, Mozart, and more. Born to musical parents who also performed concert tours, Caroline and her two surviving sisters (there were 13 children in total, only 3 of which survived infancy) were taught violin, singing, piano, and clarinet. Caroline began studying the clarinet with her father at the age of nine. Being a part…
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Quick Fix Friday: When in doubt, play it out
Happy Friday! This week, I wanted to share one of my most-used practice techniques – using your air! Granted, this isn’t some big secret (after all, we do play a woodWIND instrument!). However, I’ve found that oftentimes when we’re working on a passage, we’re so focused on the technique/rhythm/articulation/other that we neglect to use our best air. The quick fix? When in doubt, play it out! Simply put, play louder. By playing at a louder dynamic, this increases both your air quantity and speed, resulting in better air usage. Using good air can solve (or at least improve) a multitude of issues in the practice room. This is especially useful…