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2020 March Madness Clarinet Concerti Tournament
Back by popular demand – March Madness, Jenny Clarinet style! Last year was the battle of the orchestral excerpts, and this year it’s time to see which one of our beloved clarinet concerti is the champion! The Jenny Clarinet March Madness tournament is a fun and interactive way to discover new clarinet concerti and revisit timeless favorites. Here’s how it works: I’ve modeled this March Madness bracket after the famous basketball brackets (for all you sports fans). I’ve created a bracket with 32 of the most famous concerti for clarinet, and I used a random online generator to randomly pair each clarinet concerto for the first round. Before the tournament…
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10 Lists to Get You Organized and Inspired for the New Decade
Happy New Year! There has always been something magical about the feeling of new years and new beginnings – a chance for newly invigorated ideas and goals. It should come as no surprise to longtime readers of Jenny Clarinet that I’m a huge fan of lists, so I thought I’d share a few of my favourite lists to get you motivated to make this decade your best yet! For each list, make sure you are thorough and detailed to reap the maximum benefits. (Note: the primary focus of each list is the last ten years, but feel free to expand to any timeline you want.) So, grab a pen and…
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How to Maintain Your Practice Schedule During the Holidays
There’s no doubt about it, December is a hectic time of year. Combine the holidays with the general end of year craziness, and it can wreak havoc on your practice schedule. This is especially dangerous for musicians, as many college and festival auditions are at the beginning of the year. While it might feel nice now to take some time off, you probably wouldn’t feel so great as your auditions approach. Here are a few ways you can maintain an effective practice schedule during the end of year crunch time: Practice first thing in the morning. For me, there is nothing worse than the nagging feeling of having to practice…
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Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Clarinetists
Looking for stocking stuffer ideas for the clarinetist in your life this holiday season? Here are a few ideas for some inexpensive gifts any clarinetist will surely appreciate: Reeds Cork grease Lip balm (not to be confused with cork grease!) A new swab Mouthpiece Ligature Mouthpiece pouch Mouthpiece patches Thumb cushion Reed case Small toiletry case (to corral all these cool accessories) Water bottle/coffee mug Music bag Stand accessories (stand light, cupholder, tray, etc) Note: Keep in mind that clarinet equipment is a personal choice, so consider asking them which equipment they want. Better yet, give them a voucher so they can try a few items and choose their favorite.…
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How Musicians Can Avoid Becoming A Grinch This Holiday Season
December is a busy time of year, but it’s especially hectic if you are a musician. It’s easy to become a bit Grinch-like if you’re running from gig to gig, consisting of caffeine and adrenaline, and trying to enjoy your family and friends at the same time. Here are a few ways musicians can avoid turning into a Grinch and regain some holiday cheer: Be selective about which gigs you commit to. Gigs are great, but being so overcommitted that you barely have any time to enjoy your family or friends defeats the purpose of the holidays. Try to be selective and prioritize the most important gigs this season so…
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13 Ways Musicians Can Spread Holiday Cheer
As you’ve probably heard by now, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! You might not be convinced if you’re trying to find last-minute gifts, preparing to host family and friends, or just experiencing the end-of-year craziness, so here are a few ways musicians can spread some holiday cheer this December: Perform at local hospitals, nursing homes, or anywhere music would be appreciated. Leave a complimentary and encouraging comment on another musician’s social media pages. Write a thank you letter to a teacher, mentor, colleague, or any other musician who has made a difference in your life. Donate reeds, cork grease, mouthpieces, or any other equipment or accessories to…
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13 Things That Frighten Even the Bravest Clarinetist
To paraphrase Bette Davis, “playing clarinet ain’t no place for sissies!” The mental fortitude and nerves of steel required for a career as a musician vanquish many a hopeful clarinetist. However, there are some things that terrify even the bravest of clarinetists: chipped reeds transposition altissimo register on the E-flat clarinet bass clef cracks in your clarinet playing reeds after extreme environmental changes Nielsen, Francaix, and/or Corigliano concertos Peter and the Wolf, Ginastera, Bartered Bride, Daphnis, Scherzo, etc d# minor (or the dreaded key signature of your choice) quick clarinet changes in orchestra unexpected appearances of C clarinet in orchestral music with no advance warning moldy reeds alto clarinet (can…
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Exploring the Paris Pet Cemetery to Find the Graves of Saint-Saëns’ Dogs
Longtime readers of Jenny Clarinet should know by now that I’m quite the taphophile (one who enjoys exploring cemeteries). I’ve visited the graves of famous clarinetists and famous composers, and now I can add pet cemeteries of famous composers to the list. Two years ago, I explored the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques in Asnières-sur-Seine, a small suburb of Paris. Built in 1899, this is supposedly the “first zoological necropolis” in the world. When I found out that it was also where Camille Saint-Saëns laid his beloved dogs, Samson and Dalila, to rest, I knew I had to visit. Anyone who has ever had a pet knows that…
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30 Famous French Clarinetists
Happy Bastille Day – vive la France! I will always consider France my adopted country, so to celebrate this French national holiday I’ve listed 30 famous French clarinetists. As always, this list is not intended to be comprehensive. I have tried to include notable clarinetists who spent their formative years in France, but many of these clarinetists later moved to perform in other countries. Michel Arrignon Nicholas Baldeyrou Frédéric Berr Philippe Berrod Daniel Bonade Jacques Jules Boufil Louis Cahuzac Lucien Cailliet Florent Charpentier Philippe Cuper Alain Damiens Guy Dangain Ulysse Delécluse Guy Deplus Pierre Gennison Georges Grisez Gaston Hamelin Florent Héau Paul Jeanjean Hyacinthe Klosé Jacques Lancelot Jean-Xavier Lefèvre Paul…
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50 Famous American Clarinetists
Happy Independence Day, America! To help celebrate and put you in a patriotic state of mind, here are 50 famous American clarinetists, listed alphabetically by last name. (Disclaimer: This list is not intended to be comprehensive – there are so many awesome American clarinetists past, present, and future! I tried to use clarinetists who were born in America, although there are countless talented players who moved here from other countries to perform. Make sure you share any American clarinetists you’d add to your own list in the comments!) Ben Armato Sidney Bechet Kalman Bloch Lawrie Bloom Clark Brody Carmine Campione Frank Cohen Jonathan Cohler Larry Combs Eddie Daniels Buddy DeFranco…