Favorite blog posts Archives | Page 11 of 12

Favorite blog posts, August 2014

January 1, 2018August 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

From the woodwind blogs in August:

Reports on the International Clarinet Society’s 2014 “ClarinetFest” (held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA) by Josh Johnson and, of course, on the ClarinetFest blog. (My own brief general report is here, plus a report on my own presentation on woodwind doubling.)
Reports on the International Double Reed Society conferences (New York City) by Jennet Ingle, Patty Mitchell, and Robin Tropper (parts one and two).
A sort-of-report (sort-of-advertisement) on the National Flute Association conference on the Powell Flutes blog.
“TFox” examines the issue of ivory bassoon bell rings.
Oboist Jennet Ingle comments on the maturity that comes with experience. In, I think, a sort of related vein, she also discusses perfectionism and “mistakes.”
Clarinetist Heather Roche gives some tips on double tonguing.
Saxophonist Jeff Cunningham suggests some guidelines for determining the right reed strength for you. His site is geared toward less-experienced players, but in my opinion a number of “advanced” players could use a refresher on this.
Saxophonist Sam Sadigursky explains an approach to help with mastering scales.
Adam Berkowitz shares and comments on a very cool video of some bleeding-edge electronic bass clarinet playing and technology (most of the playing is by Matthias Müller).
Saxophonist Jody Espina shares his “squeak-be-gone” exercise.
Saxophonist Bill Plake compares routine and process in practicing.

Favorite blog posts, July 2014

January 1, 2018July 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

I am closing out July in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at ClarinetFest. Report forthcoming. For now, enjoy my best-of-the-woodwind-blogs for the past month.

David Wells shares a useful, sortable table of Vivaldi’s 39 bassoon concerti, and discusses their complicated cataloguing.
Heather Roche continues her project of documenting the clarinet’s extended technique possibilities with a chart of close-dyad multiphonics.
Ed Joffe shares a 2006 interview with jazz saxophonist and flutist Lew Tabackin.
John Witt explores some of the acoustical concepts related to oboe reeds.
Jennifer Cluff addresses some questions about neck tension and the flute. (If you have pain, please consider blog posts to be supplementary information to that provided by qualified medical professionals.)
Jennet Ingle exercises patience when returning to the oboe after a short hiatus.
Saxophonist Bill Plake works on “microskill” projects.
Trent Jacobs invents an improved bassoon A-flat/B-flat trill mechanism in the shower, and has one made for his own instrument. (As it turns out, someone else beat him to the idea, but it’s still cool.)
Sam Newsome discusses the ongoing influence of soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy, and shares a who’s-who of current jazz soprano players.
Matt Stohrer comments on the potential viability of a 3D-printed saxophone.

Favorite blog posts, June 2014

January 1, 2018June 30, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

David Wells has updated his excellent bassoon fingering charts.
Oboist Cooper Wright discusses shaper tip widths.
Clarinetist Victoria Soames Samek suggests there are better options than just circling problem notes in your sheet music.
Bassoonist Kristopher King explains the usage of the little finger whisper key. (Warning: auto-plays music. If you have a website, don’t do that.)
John Witt reports on the Carolyn Hove English Horn Masterclasses, days 1 and 2 and days 3 and 4.
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant warns about carrying musical instruments onto airplanes.
Jennifer Cluff offers tips for cleaning a flute (spoiler alert: she suggests letting a professional do it).
On the WindWorks Design blog, J. D. Smith shares a do-it-yourself modification for the Yamaha WX5 wind controller.
Christa Garvey does some facial stretches for a tired oboe embouchure.
Bassoon professor Christin Schillinger offers advice for musicians choosing a college.
Saxophonist Anton Schwartz recommends “back-chaining” as a practice technique.
Oboist Patty Mitchell muses on her choice to be a musician.

Favorite blog posts, May 2014

January 1, 2018May 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Kind of a short list this month, so either all the bloggers are on summer vacation or I am getting pickier.

The eminent Nicholas Daniel gives us the inside scoop on judging a high-level oboe competition.
Saxophonist Ben Britton shares some ideas about overtone practice. (Also: I got a sneak preview of the new overtone book Ben mentions, and it’s excellent. Review to come.)
Flutist Jennifer Cluff reports on an Emmanuel Pahud masterclass.
Saxophonist Matt Otto suggests playing with no tongue.
Trent Jacobs shares an interesting idea about trying new bassoons.

Favorite blog posts, April 2014

January 1, 2018April 30, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Bassoonist Barry Stees continues his in-depth and insightful series on interpretation, with installments on motive and harmony.
Flutist Cindy Ellis offers ten piccolo tips.
Oboist Christa Garvey shares a breathing exercise for quieting performance nerves.
Saxophonist Ben Britton experiments with some improved altissimo fingerings. And of course I would be remiss not to mention his very attractive saxophone fingering diagrams.
Woodwind doubler Steve Moffet considers practicing instrument switches.
Heather Roche catalogs extended clarinet articulation techniques.
Bassonist David Pierce offers six words to inspire performers.
Anna Norris explores some issues with beginners and the bassoon.
Oboist Jill Cathey plays her scales backwards.
Contraforte-ist Kristopher King shares his reed dimensions for this intriguing instrument.
Oboist Patty Mitchell asks a question worth considering about music students and immunizations.
Clarinetist Michael Dean addresses a surprising connection between posture and embouchure.

Favorite blog posts, March 2014

January 1, 2018March 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Recommended reading from the woodwind blogs in March:

“Komuso Lady” at A Shakuhachi Journey blogs about tsu meri difficulties. Even for players of “modern” Western woodwinds, there are good thoughts here on getting to know your instrument and its tendencies intimately.
Betsy Sturdevant offers some commentary and tips on playing bassoon 1 on the Firebird Suite.
Patty Mitchell shares some reed advice for oboe students.
At the “MetOrchestraMusicians” blog, a nice infographic about reeds. (Hat-tip to Patty Mitchell for this one.)
Saxophonist Timothy Owen explains his reed preparation and finishing process.
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz offers some insightful responses and expansions to my recent blog post about uncompensated gigs.
Saxophonist Bill Plake keeps a level head about equipment (suitable for players of all instruments).

Favorite blog posts, February 2014

July 21, 2022March 1, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Here are some of my picks for some excellent woodwind-related blog posts from last month.

Bass clarinetist Michael Lowenstern gives excellent advice on some topics (such as “biting”) that I think are not often taught well.
Mark Catoe gives a workshop on teaching beginning clarinetists to cross the break. (Those are some mighty handsome fingering diagrams.)
Chris Dunning takes us on a historical video tour of the saxophone in jazz [update: link dead].
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz manages the logistical details of a performance. Also: two habits worth having.
Jennet Ingle bemoans the oboe’s caprices. “It’s not that playing the oboe is physically more difficult than any other instrument, it’s that the oboe doesn’t want you to get it.”
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant chases the elusive high F.
Oboist Patty Mitchell explains what it means to “know” a piece of music.
Trent Jacobs gives a primer on amplifiers for woodwind players interested in going electric.
Over at Music Collective, flutist Jessica Dunnavant discovers life beyond the university-teaching-job search.
Timothy Owen offers some observations and advice on playing multiple sizes of saxophone.
Clarinetist Heather Roche gives composers some insights on glissandi and air sounds, with extensive audio clips.
Vanessa Breault Mulvey of the “Flying Flutistas” avoids “muscling up” on the flute. Also on the trapeze. Really [update: link dead].
Cooper Wright gives his oboe a good cleaning.
Woodwind player Ted Nash tells the story of how he nearly got adopted by Quincy Jones. “Part II to follow,” he promises.
Meri Dolevski-Lewis gives some good common-sense tips to those working with a pianist for the first time.

Enjoy!

Favorite blog posts, January 2014

July 21, 2022February 1, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Here’s what’s worth reading from the woodwind blogs in January:

Woodwind doubler Steve Moffett suggests taking a break now and then.
Oboist Patty Mitchell reminds us that playing with a pianist means needing to know your own part and his or hers.
Helen Bledsoe weighs in on the debate about how register changes are made on the flute. I don’t entirely agree with her, but she makes some interesting points, as do the flutists in the videos she shares. (For more on this, see my previous post and accompanying PDF cataloging some of the, er, hot air surrounding this topic.)
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz takes practicing to the next level.
Bassoonist Christin Schillinger shares some ideas about ongoing development as a musician, plus some metronome games.
Woodwind doubler Josh Johnson does a review of the Ridenour Lyrique bass clarinet. I’m sharing this one because I think it’s a well-written and thoughtful review, and because I think high-quality instruments made from alternative materials are a welcome next wave in woodwind manufacture. As a side note, I recently purchased one of these basses for my university clarinet studio and have spent some time playing it, and my experience with the instrument basically matches Josh’s.
Oboist Cooper Wright seeks to raise standards in his teaching studio.
Woodwind doubler Michael Grant concludes(?) a 12-part marathon of long posts describing his experience playing in the pit orchestra for a local musical theater production [update: link dead].

Just when I think I’ve got every single woodwind-related blog in my feed reader, I stumble onto a dozen more. If you’re writing good stuff and think you might have escaped my notice, let me know!

Favorite blog posts, December 2013

January 1, 2018December 31, 2013 by Bret Pimentel

Here are the woodwind-related blog posts that made my “nice” list for December. (One from late November seems to have slipped in here, too.)

On his new blog, Timothy Owen explains how he tunes his saxophone like an M-16 assault rifle.
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant (of the Columbus Symphony) reveals her basic reedmaking method.
Cooper Wright doesn’t just play the oboe, he plays the concert hall.
Theresa Koenig domesticates a wild recorder.
David Freeman experiences a gig frustration common to woodwind doublers.
Jennet Ingle plays the oboe while sick, and learns some things about her playing.
Trent Jacobs shares a good contrabassoon fingering chart.
Saxophonist Bill Plake discusses advanced metronome usage.
Steve Moffett uses a vibrato exercise to develop his flute tone.
Jeff Cunningham has a literary adventure in the saxophone’s upper register.
Matt London asks some important questions about the “classical” tenor saxophone.
Bassoonist Christin Schillinger clears up some misconceptions about practicing.

Enjoy!

Favorite blog posts, November 2013

July 21, 2022November 30, 2013 by Bret Pimentel

Some good stuff from the woodwind blogs in November:

I’m totally stoked that oboist Cooper Wright is blogging again, from a new location. Add this one to your RSS reader to follow his transition into a new job as co-principal oboist of the Thailand Philharmonic, and, of course, his endless reedmaking.
Saxophonist Steve Neff reviews the new John Coltrane Omnibook.
Helen Bledsoe searches for the elusive tin oboe. Spoiler alert: she doesn’t find one, but she tries some interesting things along the way.
Saxophonist Bill Plake warms up body and mind.
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant thoroughly prepares the Beethoven 4 solo.
Matt Otto takes a closer look at the 8th-note “swing” feel of three of the great jazz saxophonists. (Please don’t make the “oh, it’s just triplets” mistake.)
Jennet Ingle reminds us that effective doubling requires more than just being able to play the solos.
Adam at A Classical Journey is studying musical instrument repair and documenting the experience very thoroughly. The class has started its woodwind unit [update: link dead], so if you’re fascinated by this stuff like I am, then now is the time to tune in.