• The Complete Guide to Clarinet Reeds

    Let me begin with an unorthodox yet effective introductory quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” If you prefer something more succinct, allow me to paraphrase Forrest Gump: “Life is like a box of reeds – you never know what you’re going to get!” I’ve created this Complete Guide to Clarinet Reeds as a resource to help clarinetists of…

  • How to choose a new clarinet mouthpiece

    Welcome to the wonderful world of clarinet mouthpieces! If you’re looking for a new clarinet mouthpiece, here’s everything you need to know: How do you know when it’s time to replace a clarinet mouthpiece? While mouthpieces can be played indefinitely (as long as they’re not broken), I recommend replacing your mouthpiece every 5-10 years, although this greatly depends on how much you play. If you notice that your sound seems lackluster, you experience more resistance when you play, or reed selection is more difficult than normal, it could be the mouthpiece. It’s always a good idea to have a back-up mouthpiece, so if you’re undecided about replacing mouthpieces now, you…

  • 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, and I’ve organized these into a sequential step-by-step outline below. 1. First things first – do you own a clarinet? If yes, proceed to the next step. If not, here are some articles which will help you determine the best choice for you: 2. Now that you have a clarinet,…

  • 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 to learn more about what the clarinet can (and can’t) do. Before we dive in, it’s important to mention that these are general guidelines. Each clarinetist has different skills, specialties, and abilities, so when in doubt, ask them! Please keep in mind that this list is specifically targeted towards soprano…

  • The Complete Guide to Scales

    Longtime readers of this blog probably know by now that I’m a scale fanatic. Scales are one of my absolute favorite things to practice, and I think that they are also one of the most beneficial elements of any well-balanced practice routine. I spend a lot of time with my students explaining what scales are and why they’re so important, and I wanted to create this guide to share this information with you, whether you’re a beginner or scale aficionado. First things first – what is a scale? You’ll probably encounter several different definitions, depending on which music theory book you reference. Basically, a scale is a group of notes…

  • The Complete Guide to Crossing the Break on the Clarinet

    One of the most difficult fundamentals on the clarinet is crossing the break (which I abbreviate CTB). For such a small interval, it can certainly pose a multitude of problems. Here’s everything players and teachers should know to cross the break with confidence! What is the break? The break is the transition from the chalumeau (low) register to the clarion (middle) register. (There is also the upper break, when you transition from the clarion to the altissimo register, but we’ll save that for another article.) When clarinetists first cross the break, they are probably moving from a throat tone (open G, G#/Ab, A, or Bb) to the middle of the…

  • Let’s Talk About Ligatures: The Complete Guide to Clarinet Ligatures

    For such a simple piece of clarinet equipment, there certainly are quite a few options for clarinet ligatures! Let’s talk about clarinet ligatures for a bit. Sometimes, they’re overshadowed by the almighty mouthpiece (for good reason – I have a lot to say about mouthpieces!). While the humble clarinet ligature may be tiny, it’s absolutely essential for clarinetists, even beyond its primary function of holding the reed on the mouthpiece. Before we get into the specifics, it’s time to dispel a common myth – ligatures absolutely make a difference in your sound and response. Many clarinetists believe that ligatures won’t make a discernible difference in sound, but this isn’t the…

  • Clarinet Method Books to Help Develop Diverse Musical Genres and Styles

    It’s no secret by now that I love method books (as witnessed by my slowly increasing number of clarinet boot camps). Can’t get enough of ’em! I have a few favorite method books which are never too far from my music stand, but I do like to spice things up occasionally. I’ve worked through most of the standard books at this point – Baermann, Jettel, Klosé, Rose, Kell, Jeanjean, etc – and I thought it would be nice to explore a more diverse range of genres and styles for a change of musical pace. The clarinet is such a versatile instrument and can play music from a diverse repertoire, including…

  • Clarinet Double Lip Embouchure: Overview, History, and Significance

    To double lip, or not to double lip, that is the question (at least for many clarinetists)! There are few topics of debate which spark such spirited discussion among clarinetists as the decision to use a single or double lip embouchure. If you don’t already know, a single lip embouchure is one in which the lower lip covers the lower teeth, and the upper teeth make contact with the top of the mouthpiece. In a double lip embouchure, both lips (upper and lower) are curled over the teeth (again, both upper and lower), and the lips – not the teeth – make contact with the mouthpiece. This embouchure is like…

  • The Complete Guide to Clarinet Articulation

    There are more than a few…controversial…clarinet topics. Once you learn the basics, you learn that nothing is really as basic as it first appears. One of these hot topics? Articulation and tonguing. This is why I’ve waited so long to publish this complete guide. I’ve done guides on tuning, resonance fingerings, long tones, crossing the break, and other clarinet fundamentals, but discussing articulation to an audience of predominantly clarinetists seemed a bit ambitious, to say the least. Please note: Before we dive into this complete guide, I want to make it very clear that there are many different articulation beliefs, philosophies, fundamentals, and concepts in the clarinet world. Ask a…