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The Complete Guide to Getting a Superior at Solo & Ensemble
One of my most popular blog posts ever is my Complete Guide to Making All State, so I thought it’s about time I make a similar guide to help students prepare for Solo & Ensemble. Solo & Ensemble is a great opportunity for young musicians to perform solos and small chamber ensembles in front of judges to receive ratings and…
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The Composer’s Guide to the Clarinet
If you’re a composer wanting to write for the clarinet, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve been very fortunate to have collaborated with some wonderful composers throughout the years, and I wanted to create this post to help anyone who wants to write for the world’s best instrument. ;) I’ve put together this list to help anyone who wants…
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Repertoire Recommendations Based on Standard Repertoire
You all know I love learning about new-to-me repertoire. I enjoy recommending pieces to students and colleagues, and I especially enjoy discovering lesser-known gems. If you’re looking for some new pieces to work on, check out these repertoire recommendations (#reprecs) based on standard clarinet repertoire. Each item includes a standard piece, paired with a lesser-known work I think you would…
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Clarinet Repertoire Requiring Costumes
Did you know that some pieces of clarinet repertoire instruct the performer to wear specific clothing or costumes? These pieces can include costume, staging, lighting, and other theatrical elements, taking your typical clarinet performance and turning it into a real spectacle! Here are a few pieces of clarinet repertoire requiring costumes: Karlheinz Stockhausen – Harlekin for solo clarinetist/dancer – In…
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What do tuning and mind control have in common?
No, this isn’t the opening to some bad music theory joke (but it could be if you leave a good punchline in the comments!). Most musicians are probably familiar with “concert pitch,” A=440Hz. This is the tuning standard in many parts of the world (although some countries and ensembles do tune higher). But have you ever wondered how we settled…
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Jenny Clarinet Halloween 🎃
I’ve gathered all my Halloween articles in one post to help you celebrate my favorite holiday all year long! Clarinet History & Mystery Unsolved mysteries of clarinet history Secret Societies in Clarinet History This former school is haunted by the ghost of a clarinetist Clarinet cryptograms: Are there hidden messages in our repertoire? The Curse of the Yellow Clarinet The…
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Repertoire Recommendations: Autumn-Inspired 🍂
Happy autumn to all my northern hemisphere friends! You all know this is my favorite season, and if you’re looking for new repertoire recommendations (#reprecs) I’ve got you covered! Here are my favorite autumn-themed clarinet pieces: Thea Musgrave – Autumn Sonata – Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra Itaru Sakai – Journey of Leaf for clarinet octet Itamar Danziger –…
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Tips to create a well-rounded recital program
Call me nerdy (I think that ship has long sailed, seeing as I run a clarinet blog!), but I genuinely enjoy planning recital programs. I love coming up with themes, brainstorming repertoire, and thinking of ways to increase audience and community engagement for my performances. Here are a few tips to help you create a well-rounded recital program for your…
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet Étude Books
Happy Friday! The clarinet is lucky to have such an abundance of wonderful music, including countless étude books. Many of these études are so great that they’re even performed as concert pieces and in recitals! Here are a few of my favorite clarinet étude books (listed in no particular order): Cyrille Rose 32 Études Béla Kovács Hommages Ernesto Cavallini 30 Caprices Johann Müller 22 Clarinet…
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet Method Books
Happy Friday! You can’t beat method books. These all-in-one resources usually contain most everything you need, from technical exercises, lyrical studies, and other fundamental resources. There are a plethora of clarinet methods out there, and here are a few of my favorite. (Note that some of these might currently be out of print.) Hyacinthe Klosé Celebrated Method for the Clarinet Leon…