Favorite blog posts, July 2023

See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others!

Interview: Stefanie Harger Gardner, clarinetist and #clarequality activist

Dr. Stefanie Harger Gardner teaches clarinet, chamber music, and music theory at Glendale Community College and Ottawa University. Previously she served on the faculty at Northern Arizona University. Gardner has performed with Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Symphony, Red Rocks Chamber Music Festival, Seventh Roadrunner, the Paradise Winds, and the Égide Duo, whose mission is to … Read more

Favorite blog posts, June 2023

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, June 2023 edition.

Favorite blog posts, May 2023

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, May 2023 edition.

Q&A: Personal reflections

balance blur boulder close up

A couple of weeks ago I put out a call for questions, in honor of today being the fifteenth anniversary of this blog. A few of the questions asked about my own career and approaches to various things. I’ll try to answer the best I can. One reader asked about music education and work/life balance. … Read more

Q&A: Woodwind doubling advice

photograph of flutes near a cup of coffee

A couple of weeks ago I put out a call for questions, in honor of today being the fifteenth anniversary of this blog. A bunch of the questions boiled down to: what advice do you have on woodwind doubling? Here are a few answers: Some other readers asked about the “secrets” to practicing multiple instruments. … Read more

Fifteenth anniversary

assorted colors paper cutouts closeup photo

Today is fifteen years since I started the blog. Thanks for all the comments, social media shares, emails, donations, and other connections. I hope you will continue to read and engage. A few weeks ago I put out a request for questions from my readers. Here are a couple of posts with some answers:

At the 15-year mark: ask me anything

To my own amazement, this blog is rapidly approaching its 15-year anniversary later this month, May 24th. (Some of the content is dated at even older than 15 years, because I wrote it before starting the blog and retroactively turned it into blog posts.) If you like, send me question(s) about whatever you want, about … Read more

Do I really need…

crop man getting dollars from wallet

For woodwind doublers and lots of other musicians, the shopping list can go on and on. Do I need a clarinet in A? In E-flat? Do I need an alto flute? A contrabassoon? A bass saxophone? Clearly there’s no one-size-fits all answer, but here are some things to consider. It’s hard to predict which instrument … Read more