I (finally) started playing the clarinet back in my college days after avoiding it for so long. I had the typical middle school band experience of hearing the instrument played by those who really couldn't play it well enough that I could appreciate it.
All that changed at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City!
I heard some of the real beauty of the clarinet! At first, I still sucked as bad as a middle musician on it, but I've learned to befriend the instrument ( and I actually got to take a clarinet lesson with Joe Allard!), and I really fell in love with the bass clarinet!
On this platform, I will be doing my best to provide you, the up and coming doubler, with content to help you master the basics of the clarinet.
Return to this spot frequently and send me an email with your questions and suggestions!
I'm always glad to hear from my visitors and fans!
Many saxophonists assume the bass clarinet will feel natural the first time they pick it up.
After all:
the instrument is large,
the low register feels familiar,
and visually it seems closer to saxophone than clarinet.
But within minutes, reality…
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For many saxophonists, the clarinet is the instrument that humbles them.
On paper, it looks familiar:
similar fingerings, single reed, similar posture.
But the moment you start playing, reality hits.
The tone spreads.
The throat tones choke.
The break feels…
If you’ve ever found yourself tweaking reeds for hours but still not getting the response or tone you want from your clarinet, the culprit might be flying under your radar: your ligature.
For intermediate to advanced clarinetists—and especially for…
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Yesterday I did a recording session on the clarinet. It's not something I do too often but I'm always up for a challenge. :-)
Recording is quite different from live playing. Yes, you'll need the same skills you need when…
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The most important part of becoming a woodwind doubler is establishing a practice routine for all of your instruments. Time is a precious commodity and we have to find the most effective techniques to practice in order to use our…
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