-
What to Pack for Your Audition
Congratulations! You’ve passed the recording round for a competition, made it past a preliminary round, got accepted to an honor band (or All State Band), got your audition time for your college audition, or sent in your application for the latest orchestra audition. You know the obvious next steps – and if you don’t, take a look at my audition…
-
The Prepared Musician’s Guide to Planning for Auditions
Every musician’s favorite time of year is quickly approaching…audition season! Whether you’re preparing for college auditions, conservatory auditions, All State auditions, summer festivals, solo competitions, or some other kind of audition, it can be hard to plan the logistics of getting to and from each place (let alone play well at each audition!) That’s where I can help. You see,…
-
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…
-
Quick Fix Friday: Be Happy
We’ve all been there. A frustrating practice session where nothing seems to go right. Not wanting to even think about your instrument after a long day. Feeling doubt and wondering why you even bother anymore. Losing an audition. And a million other reasons being a musician ain’t for the weak. So why do it? Hopefully, you still enjoy playing your…
-
Quick Fix Friday: Right Pinky
Hello, and happy Friday the 13th! Today’s quick fix will help polish your technique and make technical passages so much easier, all in one fell swoop. The secret? When possible, use your right pinky to play low E, F, F#/Gb, and G#/Ab or middle B, C, C#/Db, and D#/Eb (aka the “pinky notes”). If you’re coming from or going to…
-
Quick Fix Friday: Breath Attacks
What I’m about to tell you is so incredibly simple, you’ll be mad you didn’t think of it on your own (unless you already know, in which case, carry on with your Friday). You don’t have to use your tongue to start a note. Mind blown? In beginning band, most wind instrumentalists are taught to tongue every note, and we…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Quick Fix Friday: Right Hand “Sliver” Key
Call it what you like – sliver key, banana key (as I learned it in middle school), fork key – I’m talking about the key between the second and third tone hole of the right hand. This key is used for high D#/Eb, top line F#/Gb, and low A#/Bb. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but by changing one tiny detail, you can improve your…
-
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…