Favorite blog posts, July 2018

  • Saxophonist Ben Britton offers some hints on overtones. (Related: my review of Ben’s overtone book.)
  • Flutist Nicole Riner provides some bullet points on self-auditing your private studio’s business model, in two parts.
  • Clarinetist Jenny Maclay reminds us about proper head position.
  • Erin Nichols compares available bass flute models. (Sort of a commercial post, but there is useful information.)

How to write boring program notes

Things to include in your program notes for maximum boredom: More than a sentence (two, tops) of general biography on the composer. Unremarkable facts about the piece’s structure (sonata form! key of F!). A blow-by-blow description (first there is a kind of sad theme! it starts out low and soft but then it gets higher … Read more

Reedmaking and choosing your college oboe or bassoon professor

If you’re considering a school where you might study with someone who isn’t a performer on your double reed instrument, it would be worthwhile to find out their plan for teaching you reedmaking.

Problem-specific vs. general solutions

I hinted at this idea in my recent post about clarinet undertones: Many of the ideas shared by the distinguished authors seemed like just descriptions of good basic clarinet technique (“ensure correct, stable embouchure formation,” “establish breath support/air pressure before releasing tongue”). … If you can play with a beautiful, characteristic tone, mostly in tune, … Read more