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Small Equipment Upgrades That Make a Huge Difference
One of the fun parts about being a musician is personalizing your setup to help maximize your potential. One of the not-so-fun parts about being a musician is having to pay for these upgrades. If a new clarinet, mouthpiece, or ligature isn’t in your immediate future, here are some smaller equipment upgrades you can make which will make a big difference: A new swab without exposed metal. Many clarinet swabs have a weighted metal pull so that the material doesn’t get stuck in the bore of your clarinet, but any exposed metal can scratch the interior of your clarinet. Find a weighted swab which is encased in fabric, rubber, or…
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Baermann Boot Camp, Round Two
A few years ago, I created my famous Baermann Boot Camp for clarinetists to complete the beloved Baermann Division III, Op. 63 scale exercises in just one month. (You can read the original post here and listen to me discuss it with Clarineat host Sean Perrin here.) My Baermann Boot Camp was the first of many boot camps I’ve created since then (such as Kroepsch, Uhl, and my 2018 and 2019 year-long boot camps), but Baermann will always hold a special place in my heart. It seems I’m not alone, because the majority of my social media friends voted to bring back Baermann for another round this June! Here is…
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7 Ways to Continue Improving Musically During Summer Vacation
Hurrah! You’re nearly done with another year of school, and the freedom of summer is so tantalizingly close! Summer vacation is a time for rest, relaxation, and recharging – but not relearning everything you worked so hard to achieve during the school year! The freedom summer presents is a double-edged sword – it’s great for impromptu decisions, but the lack of a structured schedule can derail event the most valiant motivational efforts. Here are a few ways you can keep your chops up (in proper band director lexicon) and stay musically motivated during the summer: Practice. Sounds obvious, but I’m always surprised to hear how many students want to improve…
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The Complete Guide to Developing Great Technique
Ask any musician one thing they wished they could improve, and chances are most will respond with technique. Whether you’re trying to play faster, lighter, or more comfortably, technique is the vehicle that allows us to more comfortably express our musical voices. The secret to developing great technique is to think of technique-building as musical muscle training. Musicians are athletes, but we train our micro muscles (embouchure, fingers, wrists) instead of our macro muscles. Think of yourself as an athlete in training – listen to your body and don’t push yourself too much too soon. Keep this in mind as you embark on your journey to better technique. Once you’ve…
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Historic High Notes in Clarinet Repertoire
I’ve always loved hitting the high notes on the clarinet, and I consider it one of my musical strengths. I credit this to the friendly competition I had in high school with my best friends to see who could play higher (thanks Patrick and Robby!) and come up with the most fingerings for each note. (This could also be the reason I gravitate towards the E-flat clarinet instead of the bass, but that’s a subject for another day!) I’m currently preparing the Josef Rheinberger Sonata Op. 105a for a recital, and it has some uncharacteristically high notes for the Romantic period. It got me wondering – what are some of…
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2019 March Madness Orchestral Excerpts Tournament
Let’s face it – orchestral excerpts are a necessary part of our clarinet existence. Whether you love them or hate them, they’re required of most serious clarinetists. They teach us valuable fundamentals, ensemble playing skills, and loads of patience throughout the years. Which is why I’ve created the 2019 Jenny Clarinet March Madness – Orchestral Excerpts tournament! This is a combination March Madness bracket (for all you sports fans) and orchestral excerpts boot camp. I’ve created a bracket with 32 standard orchestral excerpts for clarinet, and this bracket will serve as the boot camp and practice guideline for excerpts in March. Here’s how it works: I used a random online…
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My Winter Warm-Up Routine For Cold Days
Move over Black Friday, it’s time for Blue Monday! According to some studies, Blue Monday is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. Even though we made it past Blue Monday 2019 (which fell on January 21), spring still seems so far away amidst this bleak winter. To combat the interminable winter and protect your clarinet from harsh winter environments, here is my winter warm-up routine (both literally and musically) I use to beat the winter blahs: Start early. No, I don’t necessarily mean you should practice early (although I secretly believe morning people rule the world). Arrive to rehearsal in advance so your clarinet has time to…
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9 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for Musicians
Happy New Year! As each year comes to a close, millions of people vow to enter the following year a better person. Here are some ideas for musicians to make 2019 your best year yet: Create a practice routine that sticks. If you struggle with practicing consistently, dedicate the new year to finding a practice plan which is efficient and enjoyable. Do you function best early in the morning, late at night, or sometime in between? Do you like to break your practicing into smaller time chunks or do one larger session? Figure out what works best for you so you can practice more consistently in 2019. Here’s my guide…
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2019 Jenny Clarinet French Boot Camp
Are you looking to add a little je ne sais quoi to your practice routine? Maybe you want to practice à la française? Or maybe you just want to learn the Francaix Concerto or the Debussy Première rhapsodie, but don’t know where to begin? Say no more! I’ve created the 2019 Jenny Clarinet French Boot Camp, a 12-month practice plan centered around learning standard French repertoire and etudes! Each month contains a different method book or solo work, which I have organized into daily assignments. (Here is a sample boot camp.) Each month includes instructions and advice for each book or piece. If you follow my boot camp, you’ll complete one book,…
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Band Roadblocks: Reasons Why You’re Not Improving As Much As You Would Like
I’ll be the first to admit that I can be a bit…impatient. Maybe it’s my sense of millennial instant gratification, or maybe it’s just pent up creative energy – whatever the case, it can be frustrating in music. Improving your musical abilities takes time and effort, and it can be exasperating to feel like you’re putting in more than you’re getting out. This is especially true in band programs, where you’re side-by-side with musicians of all levels and it’s easy to compare yourself to others. Here are a few roadblocks which could be preventing you from reaching your potential: You don’t practice enough. Just like you have homework in math…