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How to Start Your Own Classical Music “Book” Club
Although most of my blog posts are tailored towards musicians, I am passionate about spreading the joys of classical music to everyone – musicians and non-musicians alike. Whether you played an instrument as a child, know a musician, or just enjoy classical music, I believe everyone should have a basic understanding and appreciation for classical music. That’s why I’m here – to help you create your own classical music appreciation club. Classical music often gets a bad reputation. My (non-musician) friends still don’t understand how I can sit through such long pieces when they are used to catchy, synthesized tunes in under five minutes. The general population associates classical music…
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Pinterest-Inspired Organization for All Your Music and Accessories
I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve collected quite the amount of clarinet and music-related paraphernalia. I’m sure every musician knows the struggle of accumulating years’ worth of random music, accessories, and other tchotchkes. I used to throw it all in boxes and drawers while suppressing my inner neat freak, but then I turned to Pinterest. I love admiring the artsy snapshots of other people’s DIY organized, fashionable, and life-hacked existences. Not so surprisingly, there was very little tailored to classical musicians on Pinterest. Below, I’ve adapted several Pinteresting ideas to help musicians turn 2016 into the most organized and productive year ever. After all, time spent…
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Quick Fix Friday: Use A Dictionary
You’re working on a new piece of music. Life is good. You know all the right notes. Rhythms? Piece of cake! Accidentals? Got it covered! But what about those extra-musical words? It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll look those up…tomorrow. You’re doing yourself a huge musical disservice by ignoring the text. After all, there’s quite a difference between dolce and con fuoco! Quick fix? Buy and use a musical dictionary. Use your smartphone (which is turned off or in another room, right???). You can even take the lazy way out and use the camera function of the Google translate app to save your precious fingers from typing these unfamiliar words. It…
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12 Days of Clarinet Christmas
Spread the joy of proper fundamentals, great warm-up routines, and good musicianship among clarinetists! Whether you are shopping for a special clarinetist in your life or getting a head-start on your own musical New Year’s resolutions, this list will keep you practicing for many hours into the holiday season and beyond. I hope this list spreads holiday cheer and inspires clarinetists of all ages to enjoy their practicing and music making. Enjoy the 12 Days of Clarinet Christmas! 12 Scale Studies Carl Baermann Complete Method for the Clarinet, Op. 63 (3rd Division) Pares Daily Exercises and Scales for Clarinet Emile Stiévenard Practical Study of the Scales B. Albert 24 Varied…
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Books Every Clarinetist Should Have on Their Bookshelf (Or Kindle)
I have been a bookworm ever since I first started reading. Combine my love of books with my passion for clarinet, and you’ve created nirvana. In the age of the Internet, there are a multitude of resources for recordings, sheet music, and information readily available for any musical queries. Having the world at your fingertips is an amazing thing, but for me, there is nothing quite like the feel of a sturdy book in your hands (it’s even better if accompanied by coffee or tea). For those of you who share these sentiments, I have compiled a list of my favorite books on everything clarinet. Certain items on this list…