-
Common Clarinet Emergencies and How to Fix Them
(Updated April 17, 2024) Picture this: you’re having a productive practice session. Things are going smoothly, you’re feeling great, you’re even having a good reed day, and then… Emergency strikes! Clarinet players are bound to cross certain inevitable problems. Don’t panic! Here are a few common clarinet emergencies and how you can fix them: My swab got stuck inside my…
-
30 Famous French Clarinetists
Happy Bastille Day – vive la France! I will always consider France my adopted country, so to celebrate this French national holiday I’ve listed 30 famous French clarinetists. As always, this list is not intended to be comprehensive. I have tried to include notable clarinetists who spent their formative years in France, but many of these clarinetists later moved to…
-
Questions to Ask Yourself for a More Productive Practice Session
Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you practice, improvement is slow and painstaking? If so, you might not be asking yourself focused questions to help guide your practice routine. Practicing is about committing to consistent and regular sessions, but it’s also making sure you have clear goals in mind. If you’re not sure what kind of questions…
-
The Clarinet ABC Game
Are you bored, looking to pass some time during a long road trip, or just looking for dorky clarinet games? Challenge your clarinet friends to a game of clarinet ABCs, where you take turns coming up with clarinet-related terms for every letter of the alphabet. There are infinite possibilities for every letter, so don’t be afraid to get academic, goofy,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…