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All About the Clarinet d’Amore?
Happy Valentine’s Day! What better way to celebrate than by taking a look at this historical clarinet which has been making a recent comeback? Throughout the clarinet’s existence, the clarinet family tree has seen several additions in nearly every key, from the tiny A-flat clarinet to the mighty octo-contrabass clarinet. One peculiar member of the clarinet family is the clarinet…
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The Best Clarinet Romances to Perform this Valentine’s Day
What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with one of these beautiful Romances written for the clarinet? These lyrical pieces were written to evoke tenderness and heartfelt emotion, so whether you perform them on February 14 or year-round, both you and your audience will surely love them. ❤️ Here are some of my favorite Romances for clarinet: Happy Valentine’s…
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The Beginner’s Complete Guide to the Clarinet
Congratulations for beginning your clarinet journey! ♫ The clarinet is by far the best instrument out there (or at least it is according to me and this small corner of the internet), and I have several resources to help you get started. I’ve written several articles which will help guide you along as you navigate the process of learning clarinet,…
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Quick Fix Friday: Check Your Pivot Points
Happy Friday! What if I told you that I had a simple solution to pesky technical problems? Good news – I do! Let’s talk about pivot points. Pivot points are when the musical contour changes directions, or “pivots” (hence the name). For example, a technical passage can move upwards before descending or vice versa. I’ve found that a large number…
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AI Generated Clarinet Pedagogy
If you’ve been reading the news lately, you probably know that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming much more prevalent. As I learn more about AI, I was curious to see what it had to say about clarinet pedagogy, so I fed it a few prompts to see what responses it has. Disclaimer: The responses below were generated by AI and…
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13 New Year’s Resolutions Ideas for Clarinetists
Happy New Year! I’d like to take a moment to send you wonderful wishes for a happy, healthy, and musical year! If you’re thinking about making any clarinet-related New Year’s Resolutions, here are 13 ideas to get you started: What are your clarinet New Year’s Resolutions this year? Leave a comment to share yours!
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Clarinetists’ New Year Refresh
New Year, new you! (at least that’s what every post this time of year seems to say!) I love a good refresh, and New Year’s Day is always a great time to revisit your goals and start exploring new ideas. Here are a few quick tips and updates you can make so you can set yourself up for success in…
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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…