June 8, 2019
You’ve probably spent years admiring those ultra-cool saxophone players. They make the whole process look so effortless, but until you actually pick one up, you never quite know how to hold a saxophone. If you’re just learning to play, there are a few basics to keep in mind when holding a saxophone: Always wear the […]
Filed and Unfiled Reeds Explained Reeds are used in many woodwind instruments, including the clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon. In reed instruments, the sounds or vibrations are made when air is blown across a thin piece of material called a reed. The reed vibrates, making the sound, which is then amplified by the air in the […]
April 11, 2019
While it’s easy to make a sound on a clarinet, it takes the right mix of skill and equipment to truly learn how to play the clarinet the right way. The sound you want might vary a little bit depending on the type of music you’re playing, but there are tips you can apply across […]
April 8, 2019
Flute vs Piccolo You (or your child) want to play an instrument and you have narrowed the choices down to the flute or the piccolo. The following considerations may help you with your decision. The flute and the piccolo are both part of the woodwind family of instruments. They are reedless and sound is produced by the player’s air […]
Playing the piccolo The piccolo may be the instrument that a young musician starts playing, but it’s more likely an additional instrument for a flutist. Playing the piccolo isn’t easy – but it is fun! In high school and college orchestras and marching bands, it offers musicians an opportunity to play and be heard. For professional musicians, […]
April 5, 2019
As a responsible clarinet player, you’re probably already aware how important learning how to clean the clarinet is. When you’re finished playing your clarinet and are ready to store it in its case, there are a few steps you should take to ensure it’s clean and ready for storage. Not only does learning how to […]
March 24, 2019
The mouthpiece and reed combination in clarinets and saxophones is critical to the success or failure of your students. Having the right ones means barely tolerating or not liking to play to absolutely loving playing and joining band. I see it happen all the time and it’s a beautiful thing. After all, mouthpiece and the reed […]
March 14, 2019
“I would teach children music,physics and philosophy;but most importantly music,for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning” -Plato Why Music Education is Under Attack It is a universally held belief that everyone has the right to his or her own views and beliefs. People have been debating and arguing […]
March 12, 2019
As the snow starts to melt away, band and orchestra students have begun to perfect and plan a showcase highlighting their budding talent. Spring concerts dates begin to grow closer, seemingly at a rapid rate! Remember, this is a very exciting time for kids! All of their hard work and practice during the semester is […]
As the gloomy wintry days give way to longer days of bright sunlight, musicians across the country are hard at work preparing for concert season. For musicians, spring is an important time–its the beginning of concert season! So give your muscles a good stretch to shake off the winter slumber, and get ready for concert […]
