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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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?…
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The Relationship Between Breathing and Tuning: How to Use Breathing to Improve Clarinet Tuning
Let’s face it – the clarinet can be a bit…pitchy. If you’ve read my Complete Guide to Clarinet Tuning, you know that there are several factors which can affect clarinet tuning. I wanted to take a closer look at one of these which you can use to your advantage to help improve your clarinet tuning: Breathing! Any time you take…
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50 Adjectives to Describe Clarinet Tone
We all know that the clarinet is the best instrument (duh), but how do you describe the clarinet’s tone? Here are some of my favorite adjectives to describe clarinet tone which are more descriptive than “good.” These are great to compliment your friends, students, and colleagues. Note: Musical tone is subjective, and it can be difficult to match sound with…
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Cane vs. Synthetic Clarinet Reeds – What’s the Difference?
Let’s talk about one of the most frequently discussed clarinet topics – reeds. Reeds are an essential component to producing a sound on the clarinet, and there are many different brands, cuts, and varieties available in today’s market. Today, synthetic reeds are becoming more and more popular among all levels of players, from beginners to professionals. Here’s my complete guide…