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A Very Clarinet Thanksgiving
Today is the day we should all take a moment to reflect on the things that make us grateful. After careful consideration, here are a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving: That Nielsen only wrote one clarinet concerto That the Mendelssohn “Scherzo” is only 92 (…or sometimes 88…) I’m not playing Daphnis & Chloe anytime soon I don’t play contrabass clarinet Or alto clarinet I don’t have to read alto clef (save that nonsense for the violas and bassoons!) I don’t have to worry about double reeds Or make my own reeds, for that matter I don’t have to memorize music (poor pianists!) Clarinets are not as heavy…
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Ways to Upcycle Your Plastic Reed Cases
If you’re a single reed player (here’s looking at you clarinets and saxophones), you’ve probably hoarded enough plastic reed cases to build a small house for your cat. These plastic sleeves are useful in safely delivering reeds straight from the factory to your awaiting mouthpieces, but after you move the reeds from their sleeves to your reed cases (or other preferred method of storage), what can you do with the plastic sleeves? What’s the difference between recycling and upcycling? Basically, recycling is when an object changes forms. For example, a recycled Coke can might become a bicycle or parts for an airplane. This is a great website on recycling and discovering…
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10 Nightmares That Will Terrify Every Clarinetist
In honor of Halloween, here is a devilishly spooky list of things which will cause clarinetists around the world to seek cover under the nearest blanket and scream in terror. Read at your own risk, and don’t say I didn’t warn you! Playing the “Scherzo” from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream…at 100 Being asked to solo the Mozart Concerto…and only having your Bb clarinet Perfecting an orchestral excerpt…before realizing it was written for C clarinet Reading the required audition excerpts list…and seeing the name Ginastera Dropping your mouthpiece…your original 1960s Kaspar Having to perform Peter and the Wolf…transposed half a step higher Being asked to solo with an orchestra…playing the Corigliano Concerto…tomorrow Realizing…
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Overcome Your Practice Plateau With These Practice Hacks
Have you ever walked out of the practice room and wondered what the heck you spent the last few hours doing? Maybe it wasn’t a terrible practice session, but it probably wasn’t that great either, right? Sometimes practicing feels like walking up the down escalator – having to redo passages you’ve already practiced, struggling with the same problems, zoning out or going on autopilot, or not knowing how to take your music to the next level. Congratulations, you’ve reached a practice plateau. Practice plateaus occur when we become complacent with our practice routine. It’s so easy to make practicing just another item on your endless to-do list, but when you’re not dedicating focus…
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How to Cure “Musician’s Block”
Why do only writers get a name for dry spells in creativity (aka writer’s block)? All artists, whether it be painters, dancers, actors, or musicians, are prone to slumps in inspiration. Henceforth, let’s start referring to this as musician’s block (or musician’s Bloch is you like a good composer pun). An unfair advantage writers and other artists have over musicians is that they usually have a tangible stopping and starting point from which to resume. If a writer is stuck on the ending of a novel, their existing work doesn’t vanish. Musicians’ work is dependent on daily practice – a drop in creativity during an important performance or audition can…
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Why All State Auditions are Stunting your Musical Growth
Let me preface this post by saying that I have had nothing besides positive experiences from All State band and orchestra (except for the sporadic bouts of crippling self doubt and heart-palpitating audition anxiety, but that’s for another discussion). It is a great way to fuel competitive spirit among young musicians while fostering friendship and teamwork. I am still close friends with several people I met in All State band and orchestra nearly ten years ago (I even went to prom with a fellow All State clarinetist!). Social aspects aside, All State ensembles are an incredible opportunity for growing musicians. The key word here is “growing” musician. In middle and…
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What Every Parent Should Know about Private Music Lessons for their Child
As we enter the new school year, many students are entering school band or joining community music programs. Several students will begin private music lessons for the first time, and others will resume where they left off before the holidays. Here is some advice and helpful hints for any parent of a student enrolled in private lessons: “Interview” potential teachers. Finding a good teacher/student match is crucial. Take an introductory lesson with any candidates and sit in during your child’s lesson. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Finding the right teacher for your child can make all the difference. Private lessons are not a quick fix. Do not enroll…
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Why You Should Fight for Music
If you’re a classical musician, I’m sure you’re well aware of the dismal funding for music programs in America. If you’re not a musician, maybe you’ve heard of budget cuts in local school systems and later realized the marching band that used to play at halftime shows was no longer doing so. Music is easily overshadowed by STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, and math) in America, with the flawed logic that other disciplines are not as useful or beneficial to the American economy and productivity. Musicians have argued this point relentlessly to save public music programs and fight bankruptcy for orchestras (Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Minnesota Orchestras have all faced financial…
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Ways to “Practice” Without Opening the Case
Hopefully you’re not judging me based on these last two posts. “10 Ways to Become a Better Clarinetist in Under 10 Seconds” and now “Ways to Practice Without Opening the Case” makes it sound like I never practice (not true) or that I’m looking for the lazy way out (I think we’re all guilty of this sometimes). Hear me out – there is much more to practicing than the act of physically playing your instrument. Truthfully, it can be beneficial to take a break from practicing periodically to refresh your mind and body. And let’s be real – there are some days that practicing is just NOT going to happen,…
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10 Ways to Become a Better Clarinetist In Under 10 Seconds
We’ve all seen them – the magazines at checkout counters promising wildly unrealistic results for weight loss (lose twenty pounds in one week!), finances (become a millionaire by next year!), or life in general (be the most popular person in any room!). These are certainly enticing but are based on skewed results, making their promises nearly impossible to reproduce. And for the most part, mastering an instrument is no exception. It is the accumulation of years of dedicated practice, critique, performances, and hard work. There is no substitute for this (and if you find one, please let me know!), but enough tiny changes can add up to make a big…