Friday, May 20, 2011
ClarinetMike Blog
A new blog by Michael Dean is one of our latest discoveries. In the short time span of only a couple of months, he has already written twenty-five posts on his site ClarinetMike Blog. An active performer and clinician, Dean is also the Associate Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone at Southeast Missouri State University. His variety of posts include educational entries, time management tips, posts on clarinetists (including a list of famous people who have played clarinet), and video links. One point of interest is a link to Michael Rusinek's video on developing articulation speed found on the Rico website. Dean also includes entries which direct viewers to various articles by him. Although he mainly writes about the clarinet, he has also included a few saxophone posts. Don't forget additional blog sites can be found on the "Links" button on our home page!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Musical Chairs: Steve Williamson and the Chicago Symphony
The word from Facebook's "Clarinet Jobs" is that Steve Williamson has been offered the position of principal clarinet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This may be the final chapter of a saga that has been ongoing since January of 2008 (!) when preliminary auditions were first held to fill the vacancy left by Larry Combs' retirement at the end of that season. Steve Williamson, trained at Eastman and Juilliard, has been principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera since 2003. He has not yet accepted the position and there has been no official announcement from the CSO.
If you're on Facebook, you can view the discussion here.
This thread on the Clarinet BBoard continues the conversation, including a cameo from Anthony McGill.
The selection of the next CSO principal clarinet has generated much discussion in the three and a half years since the audition process began. Clarinetists at the BBoard and Clarinet Jobs (not to mention late-night ClarinetFest debates) have had plenty to say about those who auditioned, those who didn't, Ricardo Morales declining the position, and the state of orchestral auditions and performing positions in general. For further reading, you might wish to check out this Clarinet BBoard thread from 2008 - an interesting look back at the history of this process.
If you're on Facebook, you can view the discussion here.
This thread on the Clarinet BBoard continues the conversation, including a cameo from Anthony McGill.
The selection of the next CSO principal clarinet has generated much discussion in the three and a half years since the audition process began. Clarinetists at the BBoard and Clarinet Jobs (not to mention late-night ClarinetFest debates) have had plenty to say about those who auditioned, those who didn't, Ricardo Morales declining the position, and the state of orchestral auditions and performing positions in general. For further reading, you might wish to check out this Clarinet BBoard thread from 2008 - an interesting look back at the history of this process.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sean Osborn
We'd like to direct your attention today to the personal website of Sean Osborn. A clarinetist and composer, Osborn was the youngest clarinetist to play with the Metropolitan Opera when he joined the orchestra in 1989. His teachers include Stanley Hasty, Frank Kowalsky and Eric Mandat.
The "Educational" section of Osborn's website features several articles of interest to clarinetists and teachers, such as an article about establishing a daily warm-up routine, and another on tips on fingerings from Stanley Hasty. Especially notable are the instructional articles on individual orchestral excerpts including the Beethoven symphonies and Mendelssohn "Scherzo." Some of the articles have links to videos demonstrating the excerpts -- Osborn's video of himself playing the Mendelssohn excerpt was featured here as one of our top ten videos of 2010.
Video augments several other articles as well; a "legato fingers" article includes videos of incorrect movements that students might make as they try to learn the technique, and an interesting video from inside Osborn's mouth helps to illustrate articulation principles. He has also uploaded his copy of the solo part to Mozart with phrasing markings written in.
And just for fun, Osborn has developed an extensive collection of "Musician Jokes," including gems like the following:
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Enjoy!
The "Educational" section of Osborn's website features several articles of interest to clarinetists and teachers, such as an article about establishing a daily warm-up routine, and another on tips on fingerings from Stanley Hasty. Especially notable are the instructional articles on individual orchestral excerpts including the Beethoven symphonies and Mendelssohn "Scherzo." Some of the articles have links to videos demonstrating the excerpts -- Osborn's video of himself playing the Mendelssohn excerpt was featured here as one of our top ten videos of 2010.
Video augments several other articles as well; a "legato fingers" article includes videos of incorrect movements that students might make as they try to learn the technique, and an interesting video from inside Osborn's mouth helps to illustrate articulation principles. He has also uploaded his copy of the solo part to Mozart with phrasing markings written in.
And just for fun, Osborn has developed an extensive collection of "Musician Jokes," including gems like the following:
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Website Watch (March 2011 column)
We are constantly discovering more website that offer interesting resources for the clarinetist. Here are a few of our favorites we've come across recently.
Richie Hawley
Immediately upon visiting the personal web site of Richie Hawley the ears are treated to the sounds of his beautiful and exquisite tone. Recently appointed professor of clarinet at Rice University, Hawley has been principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony since the age of 23. His site includes not only an impressive biography and calendar of scheduled performances on his site, but also an assortment of audio clips and videos. The selection of audio files highlights various excerpts from the standard orchestral repertory as well as some solo chamber works. Although they are not complete in performance, they nonetheless showcase Hawley’s lush sound and impeccable intonation, and would be a great reference recordings for for use in study of orchestral excerpts.
In his interviews in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra “Prelude Videos,” Hawley discusses the roles and significance given to the clarinet in pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Offering the insight of an accomplished orchestral player, these interviews are enlightening and interesting to listen to. Another component of the web site worthy of mention is his blog -- unfortunately there are only three entries listed for the year but hopefully he will continue to add to the roster with future posts. Check out his posts on an insider’s survey on orchestral etiquette and advice on how to prepare for an audition. His words of wisdom apply to anyone pursuing orchestral positions or taking auditions.
Phil Pedler
Phil Pedler’s Clarinet Pages is a remarkable collection of information about different makes and models of clarinets. Pedler (who holds an M.M. in clarinet performance from the New England Conservatory) repairs and sells clarinets, posting an entry on his website about each new model of clarinet he encounters. The result is a treasure trove of information on about one hundred different makes and models of clarinets, including close-up photos of mechanisms, serial numbers, intonation tendencies, bore measurements, and more. He often gives recommendations on whether certain models would be most appropriate for beginners, intermediate players, professionals, or whether they should be avoided altogether.
Pedler has compiled several other reference pages, such as his “Clarinet Shopping Advice” page instructing parents on which brands of clarinet not to buy for their son or daughter, with advice about Ebay scams. He often makes external references to support and augment his information, linking to resources by Tom Ridenour, Sherman Friedland, and threads at Woodwind.org. These notes, along with the absence of commercial advertising, make Clarinet Pages a clear cut above most websites about buying and selling clarinets. Pedler works on clarinets as a hobby, and so his site focuses on answering questions and educating the public. The only real advertising on this site can be found in his entertaining photo albums of vintage advertisements for mouthpieces and reeds!
John Robert Brown
On the “other side of the pond,” we find the web site of John Robert Brown, chairman of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. John Robert Brown’s site is an extensive resource with a large section of articles devoted solely to the clarinet. With a seemingly endless supply of articles and topics that apply to all types of musicians, an entire day is necessary to browse through all of the content on his site; here, we will take a closer look at some of the clarinet-related materials.
With focus on English clarinetists, the diverse list of articles covers topics ranging from career decisions to the life achievements of Stanley Drucker. Also included are interviews with the likes of Morrie Backun, about the development of his business, and Victoria Soames Samek, about managing the Clarinet Classics recording label. Brown is also familiar with the jazz scene (he wrote the chapter on Jazz Clarinet in The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet), and there are more jewels to be found in the “jazz” section with articles on artists such as Artie Shaw and others top players from the Swing era in Britain.
There is also a good read on the woodwind ensemble London Winds, featuring clarinetist Michael Collins, who gives a candid view on the life of an internationally-travelling musician and recording artist. In the interest of improving and discovering new materials used for pads on woodwind instruments, check out the article on Eddie Ashton’s new type of black plastic pads. Whether you are looking for information on a particular British artist or just looking for a good read, John Robert Brown’s web site is a great source for all single-reed players.
Richie Hawley
Immediately upon visiting the personal web site of Richie Hawley the ears are treated to the sounds of his beautiful and exquisite tone. Recently appointed professor of clarinet at Rice University, Hawley has been principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony since the age of 23. His site includes not only an impressive biography and calendar of scheduled performances on his site, but also an assortment of audio clips and videos. The selection of audio files highlights various excerpts from the standard orchestral repertory as well as some solo chamber works. Although they are not complete in performance, they nonetheless showcase Hawley’s lush sound and impeccable intonation, and would be a great reference recordings for for use in study of orchestral excerpts.
In his interviews in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra “Prelude Videos,” Hawley discusses the roles and significance given to the clarinet in pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Offering the insight of an accomplished orchestral player, these interviews are enlightening and interesting to listen to. Another component of the web site worthy of mention is his blog -- unfortunately there are only three entries listed for the year but hopefully he will continue to add to the roster with future posts. Check out his posts on an insider’s survey on orchestral etiquette and advice on how to prepare for an audition. His words of wisdom apply to anyone pursuing orchestral positions or taking auditions.
Phil Pedler
Phil Pedler’s Clarinet Pages is a remarkable collection of information about different makes and models of clarinets. Pedler (who holds an M.M. in clarinet performance from the New England Conservatory) repairs and sells clarinets, posting an entry on his website about each new model of clarinet he encounters. The result is a treasure trove of information on about one hundred different makes and models of clarinets, including close-up photos of mechanisms, serial numbers, intonation tendencies, bore measurements, and more. He often gives recommendations on whether certain models would be most appropriate for beginners, intermediate players, professionals, or whether they should be avoided altogether.
Pedler has compiled several other reference pages, such as his “Clarinet Shopping Advice” page instructing parents on which brands of clarinet not to buy for their son or daughter, with advice about Ebay scams. He often makes external references to support and augment his information, linking to resources by Tom Ridenour, Sherman Friedland, and threads at Woodwind.org. These notes, along with the absence of commercial advertising, make Clarinet Pages a clear cut above most websites about buying and selling clarinets. Pedler works on clarinets as a hobby, and so his site focuses on answering questions and educating the public. The only real advertising on this site can be found in his entertaining photo albums of vintage advertisements for mouthpieces and reeds!
John Robert Brown
On the “other side of the pond,” we find the web site of John Robert Brown, chairman of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. John Robert Brown’s site is an extensive resource with a large section of articles devoted solely to the clarinet. With a seemingly endless supply of articles and topics that apply to all types of musicians, an entire day is necessary to browse through all of the content on his site; here, we will take a closer look at some of the clarinet-related materials.
With focus on English clarinetists, the diverse list of articles covers topics ranging from career decisions to the life achievements of Stanley Drucker. Also included are interviews with the likes of Morrie Backun, about the development of his business, and Victoria Soames Samek, about managing the Clarinet Classics recording label. Brown is also familiar with the jazz scene (he wrote the chapter on Jazz Clarinet in The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet), and there are more jewels to be found in the “jazz” section with articles on artists such as Artie Shaw and others top players from the Swing era in Britain.
There is also a good read on the woodwind ensemble London Winds, featuring clarinetist Michael Collins, who gives a candid view on the life of an internationally-travelling musician and recording artist. In the interest of improving and discovering new materials used for pads on woodwind instruments, check out the article on Eddie Ashton’s new type of black plastic pads. Whether you are looking for information on a particular British artist or just looking for a good read, John Robert Brown’s web site is a great source for all single-reed players.
As always, we welcome recommendations of others websites we should know about!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
ClarinetFest 2010 YouTube videos
For those of you who missed out on this past year's ClarinetFest 2010 in Austin, Texas, we have complied a playlist of YouTube videos of performances and interviews from the annual festival. With concert and presentation schedules coinciding and overlapping, even those in attendance could not have possibly seen every performance. Fortunately, the selection of videos found on YouTube are a good representation of the types of activities that take place at the ClarinetFest. You can watch an impromptu gathering of a trio performed by Julian Bliss, Larry Combs, and Ricardo Morales in one of the exhibition halls, or you can see a video of one of the nightly concerts featuring Sergio Bosi performing A. Gabucci's Aria and Scherzo for Clarinet and String Orchestra. Below is an interview by Ricardo Morales discussing his experiences as the principal player for the New York Metropolitan Opera and principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and how each position requires different approaches to tone color and sensitivity of volume.
In our playlist you will also find another interview by Morales on his favorite orchestral excerpts and the ones he dreads the most. Due to the multitude of performances and events, not every concert was held on the concert stage. In a video taken in one of the smaller venues, you can listen to Scott McAllister perform one of his own compositions, X Concerto. It is always a treat to have the opportunity to hear a composer perform one of their own works, especially as one as challenging as this three-movement piece.
To check out the videos mentioned above and much more, click on the "ClarinetFest 2010" playlist on our Clarinet Cache channel at YouTube.
This year's festival will be held on California State University-Northridge's campus in the sunny San Fernando Valley on August 3rd-7th, 2011. For more information on the upcoming event visit the ClarinetFest 2011 page on the ICA website.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
West Point Band - Quintette 7
The West Point Band's newest chamber group is Quintette 7, created specifically to perform the music of Raymond Scott. One of the greatest twentieth-century composers you may have never heard of, Scott created some of the most memorable and innovative music of the post-WWII era. His music is perhaps best known for being adapted by Carl Stalling for the Looney Tunes cartoons, but he was also a pioneer in the field of electronic music, credited with creating the first synthesizer, the first polyphonic sequencer, and some of the first electronic music for television commercials.
Of particular interest to clarinetists is the exciting jazz clarinet writing featured in Scott's compositions -- reminiscent of Duke Ellington but with the upbeat, catchy riffs and rhythmic propulsion that bring to mind the more recent composer Danny Elfman (of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure fame). Clarinetist Don Byron recorded many Raymond Scott compositions on his 1996 album Bug Music. Now, the West Point Band is continuing the Raymond Scott revival with Quintette 7, featuring clarinetist Kristen Mather. Go here to learn more about Raymond Scott and Quintette 7. Enjoy!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Excerpts - David H. Thomas
We'd like to pass on this unique video posted recently by David H. Thomas, taken during a performance of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. By placing a camera on the stand, Thomas has captured the feeling of being right there in the pit with the first clarinetist - listening and waiting to play solos, dealing with water in a key, etc. A realistic glimpse into the life of a pit musician, complete with running commentary from Thomas in the form of captions!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Clarinet Videos: Best of 2010
Here we are again with our second annual YouTube video countdown from the past twelve months. We always look forward to compiling our list at the end of the year and presenting you with our favorites. Without further ado, here are our top ten clarinet videos from 2010, organized by category. Hope you enjoy!!
Performances:
1. Linsey Pollak and "Mr. Curly"
Linsey Pollak is best known in the clarinet world for his much-watched "Carrot Clarinet" video, in which he creates a clarinet by drilling holes in a carrot. This year, he introduced "Mr. Curly," an instrument created with two meters of garden hose and a clarinet mouthpiece. This instrument sounds similar to a contrabass clarinet, but with electronic effects and Pollak's signature looping techniques it becomes something quite remarkable. To top it all off, Pollak also solos on a "clarinet" made from a feather duster!
2. Michael Han Kim - Debussy Première Rhapsodie
Once again South Korean clarinet prodigy Han Kim makes our annual list, this time with a January 2010 performance of Debussy's Première Rhapsodie. Only 13 years old in this video, Kim has already made a name for himself in the clarinet community by winning several awards and competitions, not to mention the exposure gained through his numerous videos posted on YouTube. Currently a student at the School of Arts in Singapore on full scholarship, he studying clarinet with professor Marcel Luxen.
Online video can be the perfect way to find out about new, obscure, or rarely performed works for clarinet. This year, the following three performances of little-known chamber works caught our attention:
3. Mark Kuss- Slave Songs and Spirituals for Clarinet and String Quartet
Garrick Zoeter, professor of clarinet at the Shenandoah Conservatory, gives a soulful performance of the piece during the 2010 Monadnock Music Festival in Peterborough, NH. Capturing the rousing spirit and tenderness of the slave songs and spirituals, Zoeter brings to life a genre of music that is an uncommon find on the classical stage.
4. Bartok- Five Pieces in Bulgarian Rhythm for Piano, arranged by Gergely Kiss.
Played by the Con Fuoco Clarinet Quartet, students of professor Garrick Zoeter at Shenandoah Conservatory, this piece is wonderfully adapted for the ensemble's instrumentation, making it a nice addition to the clarinet quartet repertoire. The four students demonstrate their fine ensemble skills and execution of the Bulgarian flavor demanded by the work in this video. Check out more videos of various ensembles made up by the members of the Shenandoah Conservatory clarinet choir at http://www.youtube.com/user/SUclarinets
5. Maurice Emmanuel - Sonata for flute, clarinet, and piano
This charming trio from 1907 is performed here by Barbara Prescott on flute, David Irwin on clarinet, and Cory Hall on piano, from a 2009 concert at St. Petersburg College. If you like the first movement, be sure to check out the other two movements as well!
Instructional:
6. Tom Ridenour - Remembering Kalmen Opperman
In this interesting video, Tom Ridenour reminisces about the teaching of Kalmen Opperman, who passed away in June of 2010 at the age of 93. Ridenour explains the pedagogical philosophy of Opperman, with references to specific instructional materials, practice strategies, and more.
7. Sean Osborn - Mendelssohn, Scherzo from Midsummer's Night Dream
Posted just last week, this video accompanies a link to an article on Sean Osborn's personal website where his discusses how to approach the technical aspects of the piece. His detailed instructions are helpful and clear, highlighting the issues that most clarinetist encounter. Osborn's experience as an orchestral player as well as a teacher are evident in his writings on orchestral excerpts, giving readers a first-hand perspective on how to tackle some of the most commonly asked orchestral audition material.
Manufacturing:
8. "How to Make a Clarinet"
Produced by W. Schreiber, this detailed video documents the manufacturing process beginning from wood harvesting to the finished product. The video is accompanied by an oddly epic soundtrack that contains no clarinet playing! Despite this fact and the lack of narration or subtitles explaining the video, it is still interesting and offers a close-up view of the manufacturing process.
Miscellaneous:
9. Britain's Got Talent- James Shield, accountant and clarinetist
Not only does James Shields work nine to five as an accountant, but he also moonlights as a clarinetist as seen here on a British talent show. Due to protection rights the video is not available for us to post here, but if you follow the link below you can watch the audience's and judges' reaction to Shield's performance. Maybe this contestant will be the next Susan Boyle on clarinet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEjtecy0hNE
10. "Clarinet Jobs" - Xtranormal video
Xtranormal videos were ubiquitous this year, from "The Music Teacher and the Parent" to the new series of Geico commercials. Xtranormal allows users to create animated video quickly by typing in text, resulting in awkward, stilted dialogue that is often humorous in and of itself. This video depicts two clarinetists debating issues and problems that arise when audition results are publicly posted on the Internet, as on forums such as the Clarinet Jobs group on Facebook. (See our 2008 interview with founder James Zimmerman to learn more about Clarinet Jobs.) This video manages to explore the subject of privacy issues faced in the clarinet community in a clever and thought provoking manner.
Have we missed any videos you think deserve top honors of 2010? Let us know by commenting below or sending us an e-mail. Happy New Year!
Performances:
1. Linsey Pollak and "Mr. Curly"
Linsey Pollak is best known in the clarinet world for his much-watched "Carrot Clarinet" video, in which he creates a clarinet by drilling holes in a carrot. This year, he introduced "Mr. Curly," an instrument created with two meters of garden hose and a clarinet mouthpiece. This instrument sounds similar to a contrabass clarinet, but with electronic effects and Pollak's signature looping techniques it becomes something quite remarkable. To top it all off, Pollak also solos on a "clarinet" made from a feather duster!
2. Michael Han Kim - Debussy Première Rhapsodie
Once again South Korean clarinet prodigy Han Kim makes our annual list, this time with a January 2010 performance of Debussy's Première Rhapsodie. Only 13 years old in this video, Kim has already made a name for himself in the clarinet community by winning several awards and competitions, not to mention the exposure gained through his numerous videos posted on YouTube. Currently a student at the School of Arts in Singapore on full scholarship, he studying clarinet with professor Marcel Luxen.
Online video can be the perfect way to find out about new, obscure, or rarely performed works for clarinet. This year, the following three performances of little-known chamber works caught our attention:
3. Mark Kuss- Slave Songs and Spirituals for Clarinet and String Quartet
Garrick Zoeter, professor of clarinet at the Shenandoah Conservatory, gives a soulful performance of the piece during the 2010 Monadnock Music Festival in Peterborough, NH. Capturing the rousing spirit and tenderness of the slave songs and spirituals, Zoeter brings to life a genre of music that is an uncommon find on the classical stage.
4. Bartok- Five Pieces in Bulgarian Rhythm for Piano, arranged by Gergely Kiss.
5. Maurice Emmanuel - Sonata for flute, clarinet, and piano
This charming trio from 1907 is performed here by Barbara Prescott on flute, David Irwin on clarinet, and Cory Hall on piano, from a 2009 concert at St. Petersburg College. If you like the first movement, be sure to check out the other two movements as well!
Instructional:
6. Tom Ridenour - Remembering Kalmen Opperman
In this interesting video, Tom Ridenour reminisces about the teaching of Kalmen Opperman, who passed away in June of 2010 at the age of 93. Ridenour explains the pedagogical philosophy of Opperman, with references to specific instructional materials, practice strategies, and more.
7. Sean Osborn - Mendelssohn, Scherzo from Midsummer's Night Dream
Posted just last week, this video accompanies a link to an article on Sean Osborn's personal website where his discusses how to approach the technical aspects of the piece. His detailed instructions are helpful and clear, highlighting the issues that most clarinetist encounter. Osborn's experience as an orchestral player as well as a teacher are evident in his writings on orchestral excerpts, giving readers a first-hand perspective on how to tackle some of the most commonly asked orchestral audition material.
Manufacturing:
8. "How to Make a Clarinet"
Produced by W. Schreiber, this detailed video documents the manufacturing process beginning from wood harvesting to the finished product. The video is accompanied by an oddly epic soundtrack that contains no clarinet playing! Despite this fact and the lack of narration or subtitles explaining the video, it is still interesting and offers a close-up view of the manufacturing process.
Miscellaneous:
9. Britain's Got Talent- James Shield, accountant and clarinetist
Not only does James Shields work nine to five as an accountant, but he also moonlights as a clarinetist as seen here on a British talent show. Due to protection rights the video is not available for us to post here, but if you follow the link below you can watch the audience's and judges' reaction to Shield's performance. Maybe this contestant will be the next Susan Boyle on clarinet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEjtecy0hNE
10. "Clarinet Jobs" - Xtranormal video
Xtranormal videos were ubiquitous this year, from "The Music Teacher and the Parent" to the new series of Geico commercials. Xtranormal allows users to create animated video quickly by typing in text, resulting in awkward, stilted dialogue that is often humorous in and of itself. This video depicts two clarinetists debating issues and problems that arise when audition results are publicly posted on the Internet, as on forums such as the Clarinet Jobs group on Facebook. (See our 2008 interview with founder James Zimmerman to learn more about Clarinet Jobs.) This video manages to explore the subject of privacy issues faced in the clarinet community in a clever and thought provoking manner.
Have we missed any videos you think deserve top honors of 2010? Let us know by commenting below or sending us an e-mail. Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Clarinet Blogs
Our readers probably recall the clarinet blogs we have written about in the past: David H. Thomas’ The Buzzing Reed, Sherman Friedland’s Clarinet Corner, Marco Mazzini’s ClariPeru. We’d like to mention a few blogs that have caught our attention recently and made it into posts on our Clarinet Cache blog.
Back in August, we posted about Marion Harrington’s Clarinet Blog. Marion Harrington is a clarinetist living in the Spain who began a clarinet performance degree, but before graduating she decided to quit playing and pursue other career options. After over 20 years in a variety of other fields, Harrington decided to return to the clarinet and dedicate herself to returning to practicing and performing at a professional level. Her blog therefore has the fresh perspective of someone who has returned to the clarinet "fold" later in life - passionately and systematically. She posts her thoughts on practicing, interpretation, and clarinet equipment, along with other subjects such as business and marketing, and the future of classical music in general.
Another new addition to our blogroll is the Musician’s Way Blog. Designed as a companion site to the 2009 book The Musician's Way by Gerald Klickstein, MusiciansWay.com stands alone as a great resource for musicians. It is organized into five main subject areas (practice, performance, wellness, creativity, and music careers), each containing a wealth of information and links to primary sources such as scholarly articles, YouTube videos of master teachers, photos, and more. Any instrumentalist or vocalist has much to gain by exploring this site - find employment statistics, memorization strategies, scholarly articles on musician injuries, and everything in between.
Clarinet-Now.com was created by Christopher Jones, a clarinetist in the Greater Hudson Valley area of New York State and student of Kalmen Opperman. The site has many inspirational strategies and tips for sight-reading, scales, crossing the break, and more, with great photos of correct and incorrect embouchure and hand position. Clarinet-Now also offers a selection of items including a Richard Mühlfeld/Brahms T-shirt and clarinet high-top shoes! The numerous ads are somewhat distracting, but the content of the site is useful, especially for beginners (and their parents), and teachers looking for a new way to explain specific aspects of clarinet technique. Keep up with the latest on the Clarinet-Now blog.
Many other clarinetists are blogging about practicing, performing, and their lives as clarinetists, including Anthony McGill, Jean-Francois Charles, Joar Klæboe Henriksen, Margaret Donaghue Flavin, and Bret Pimentel.
Back in August, we posted about Marion Harrington’s Clarinet Blog. Marion Harrington is a clarinetist living in the Spain who began a clarinet performance degree, but before graduating she decided to quit playing and pursue other career options. After over 20 years in a variety of other fields, Harrington decided to return to the clarinet and dedicate herself to returning to practicing and performing at a professional level. Her blog therefore has the fresh perspective of someone who has returned to the clarinet "fold" later in life - passionately and systematically. She posts her thoughts on practicing, interpretation, and clarinet equipment, along with other subjects such as business and marketing, and the future of classical music in general.
Another new addition to our blogroll is the Musician’s Way Blog. Designed as a companion site to the 2009 book The Musician's Way by Gerald Klickstein, MusiciansWay.com stands alone as a great resource for musicians. It is organized into five main subject areas (practice, performance, wellness, creativity, and music careers), each containing a wealth of information and links to primary sources such as scholarly articles, YouTube videos of master teachers, photos, and more. Any instrumentalist or vocalist has much to gain by exploring this site - find employment statistics, memorization strategies, scholarly articles on musician injuries, and everything in between.
Clarinet-Now.com was created by Christopher Jones, a clarinetist in the Greater Hudson Valley area of New York State and student of Kalmen Opperman. The site has many inspirational strategies and tips for sight-reading, scales, crossing the break, and more, with great photos of correct and incorrect embouchure and hand position. Clarinet-Now also offers a selection of items including a Richard Mühlfeld/Brahms T-shirt and clarinet high-top shoes! The numerous ads are somewhat distracting, but the content of the site is useful, especially for beginners (and their parents), and teachers looking for a new way to explain specific aspects of clarinet technique. Keep up with the latest on the Clarinet-Now blog.
Many other clarinetists are blogging about practicing, performing, and their lives as clarinetists, including Anthony McGill, Jean-Francois Charles, Joar Klæboe Henriksen, Margaret Donaghue Flavin, and Bret Pimentel.
YouTube Clarinet Commercials (Dec 2010 column)
Television plays a major part in the American lifestyle, and before the era of TiVo, audiences had to sit through countless commercials. Now, many of those commercials are posted on YouTube for people to watch voluntarily! We were curious to find out how many of those commercials feature the clarinet. After an exhaustive search, we compiled a list of commercials--some of which you may remember seeing. Ranging from large corporation productions to local advertisements, our list includes new and out-dated commercials, with some that are sure to make you laugh. Our top four favorites begin with a Doritos commercial, mis-appropriately titled “Clarinet Virtuoso.” I guess that goes with the saying that eating and playing don’t mix.
Next on the list is one of the most recognizable videos produced by MasterCard. Their catchy slogan of comparing the costs of objects to what is priceless could not be better portrayed than with a beginner’s first attempt at the clarinet. MasterCard suggests that parents could avoid headaches caused by the inevitable honks and squeaks by purchasing their child a tambourine instead!
A video featuring a local advertisement by Ray’s Midbell Music is funny not only because of the actors (they must have been store employees), but also because of the rap song they sing to encourage kids to play in the band.
Last but not least, Benny Goodman is featured in a Geico commercial. This vintage footage shows the legendary Goodman endorsing the insurance company with clarinet in hand.
Check out our YouTube Clarinet Commercials playlist for more. The remaining commercials were chosen for their accompanying clarinet music, and the products advertised make us wonder about the associations the general public has with the clarinet. The videos include promotion of cat litter and anti-depressant drugs--as most of us clarinetists know, playing makes us happy and has natural mood-lifting abilities. One related commercial has nothing to do with the clarinet, but fits in the woodwind category. A Super Bowl commercial featuring NFL player Chester Pitts shows that one doesn’t always have to choose between music and athletics. This large linebacker also plays the oboe off the field--even in the locker room.
Next on the list is one of the most recognizable videos produced by MasterCard. Their catchy slogan of comparing the costs of objects to what is priceless could not be better portrayed than with a beginner’s first attempt at the clarinet. MasterCard suggests that parents could avoid headaches caused by the inevitable honks and squeaks by purchasing their child a tambourine instead!
A video featuring a local advertisement by Ray’s Midbell Music is funny not only because of the actors (they must have been store employees), but also because of the rap song they sing to encourage kids to play in the band.
Last but not least, Benny Goodman is featured in a Geico commercial. This vintage footage shows the legendary Goodman endorsing the insurance company with clarinet in hand.
Check out our YouTube Clarinet Commercials playlist for more. The remaining commercials were chosen for their accompanying clarinet music, and the products advertised make us wonder about the associations the general public has with the clarinet. The videos include promotion of cat litter and anti-depressant drugs--as most of us clarinetists know, playing makes us happy and has natural mood-lifting abilities. One related commercial has nothing to do with the clarinet, but fits in the woodwind category. A Super Bowl commercial featuring NFL player Chester Pitts shows that one doesn’t always have to choose between music and athletics. This large linebacker also plays the oboe off the field--even in the locker room.
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