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50 Famous American Clarinetists
Happy Independence Day, America! To help celebrate and put you in a patriotic state of mind, here are 50 famous American clarinetists, listed alphabetically by last name. (Disclaimer: This list is not intended to be comprehensive – there are so many awesome American clarinetists past, present, and future! I tried to use clarinetists who were born in America, although there…
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Canadian Clarinet Compositions
Happy Canada Day! I’ve enjoyed my first year in this beautiful country as I complete my doctorate in Montreal. I’d like to celebrate this national holiday with a list of some works for clarinet by Canadian composers I’ve discovered during my time up north. By no means is this list comprehensive, so feel free to share your favorite Canadian clarinet…
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9 Museums Every Clarinetist Should Visit
Are you looking for a clarinet-themed getaway this summer? Here are some museums you and all your clarinet friends should check out: Musée des Instruments à Vent (La Couture-Boussey, France) – If you want to see an impressive collection of wind instruments (and who doesn’t?), this is your place. Musical Instruments Museum (Brussels, Belgium) – In addition to a wide assortment of historical…
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Clarinet Holidays We Should Start Celebrating
Every day is a holiday when you play clarinet, but here are a few more clarinet-themed holidays we should start celebrating: International Clarinet Day – August 13 (Johann Denner’s birthday) Mozart Clarinet Concerto Day – June 22 (6/22 = K. 622) Brahms Clarinet Sonatas Day – January 20 (1/20 = Op. 120) Midsummer Night’s Dream Day – June 24 (Midsummer…
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13 Ways Clarinetists Can Become More Eco-Friendly
We live on a wonderful planet filled with awe-inspiring nature, people, and of course…music! Here are a few ways clarinetists and musicians can be more eco-friendly as you share your music with the world: Recycle your reed cases. If you use reeds that come in plastic reed sleeves, make sure you are recycling the cases! One of the reasons I…
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The Musician’s Guide to Studying Abroad: How to Turn Your Dreams Into Reality
Many musicians dream of one day studying abroad – to study with a certain teacher, experience different pedagogy, become fluent in another language, learn more about another culture, or just broaden their musical perspectives. But dreaming about studying abroad is where it ends for most people. I’m here to tell you how to turn your study abroad dreams into a…
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The 7 Most Controversial Clarinet Topics
Etiquette dictates that one should never discuss politics, religion, or money in polite company. For clarinetists, there are a few more topics that are sure to spark heated debate. If you’ve ever visited a clarinet forum or dedicated social media group, you’ve surely seen lively discussions on a variety of topics. Here are a few subjects which seem to frequently…
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Small Equipment Upgrades That Make a Huge Difference
One of the fun parts about being a musician is personalizing your setup to help maximize your potential. One of the not-so-fun parts about being a musician is having to pay for these upgrades. If a new clarinet, mouthpiece, or ligature isn’t in your immediate future, here are some smaller equipment upgrades you can make which will make a big…
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30 Things Every Clarinetist Should Do Before 30
By now, faithful readers should know about my love for lists, so I’ve created the clarinetist’s version of 30 before 30. If you’re looking to create a clarinet-inspired bucket list, here are my suggestions for 30 things every clarinetist should do before 30 (in no particular order): Perform a solo recital Teach someone else how to play the clarinet Attend…
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Baermann Boot Camp, Round Two
A few years ago, I created my famous Baermann Boot Camp for clarinetists to complete the beloved Baermann Division III, Op. 63 scale exercises in just one month. (You can read the original post here and listen to me discuss it with Clarineat host Sean Perrin here.) My Baermann Boot Camp was the first of many boot camps I’ve created…