April 8, 2017
Young clarinetists often begin their instrumental music study with a plastic student clarinet, such as the Buffet Crampon Prodige. As a student grows in ability and musical maturity, however, the need for a wood clarinet arises. Advancing to a wood clarinet presents many, many options for the consumer and it can be confusing as to […]
February 19, 2017
So, you’ve been playing the clarinet for a while and want to start experimenting with its sound? Since a clarinet’s ligature affects how the reed vibrates, most clarinetists match their ligature to the type of music they’re playing. If you’re in the market for a new clarinet ligature, consider the type of clarinet you have, […]
February 7, 2017
Hello fellow Teaching Artists! My name is Mike Casey. I’m a saxophonist, songwriter, and teaching artist currently living in Hartford, CT. I am also the saxophone, flute, and clarinet instructor at the Avon, CT Music & Arts location. My debut album The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door comes out in February and […]
January 28, 2017
If you’re interested in playing the clarinet, whether for the first time or once again, there are a few important clarinet accessories you should purchase before you even think about signing up for lessons. While some are essential to playing, others are essential to comfort and maintenance of your instrument. Provided you don’t lose or […]
October 23, 2016
In the first part of this series, we introduced you to Giardinelli mouthpieces, reeds, and accessories, but did you know Giardinelli sells premium brasswind and woodwind instruments, too? Giardinelli may be a newer brand, but in their short existence they’ve built a name for themselves as a premium instrument manufacturer. If you’re ascending to the […]
August 30, 2016
For many students, picking up the clarinet and joining the school band or orchestra is their first introduction to the world of music. For parents with kids looking to join their school’s band or orchestra, the decision of whether to rent or buy a clarinet can be a difficult one to make- especially if they’ve […]
July 4, 2016
For anyone who is new to playing the clarinet, clarinet reeds may seem like a relatively small piece of the instrument. It may be small, but the reed is one of the most important parts of the clarinet. Clarinets have a single reed which, together with the mouthpiece onto which the reed is fixed, makes […]
May 27, 2016
While the clarinet is a fun and versatile woodwind instrument to play and learn, the process can be challenging and confusing, especially for those who are new to the instrument. Whether you feel out of breath when you play, aren’t sure how to maintain or clean your instrument, or are confused about breaking in reeds, […]
May 15, 2016
A huge part of being a successful clarinet student and performer is choosing the right mouthpiece. Whether you’re replacing a damaged mouthpiece or are looking for an upgrade to improve your sound and playing experience, you’ll quickly find that there are a variety of clarinet mouthpieces to choose from. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong mouthpiece can […]
April 11, 2016
In general, a beautiful clarinet sound is considered to have five different qualities: depth, stability, focus, clarity, and an appropriate balance of “ring” and “darkness” that’s usually referred to as color. Unfortunately, there are a variety of mistakes or bad habits that can have a negative impact on the above qualities, making your clarinet sound […]
