Home / Web reviews / Favorite blog posts / Favorite blog posts, May 2022 ByBret Pimentel May 31, 2022May 31, 2022 The Flute Examiner (Jessica Dunnavant): I Can Hear Clearly Now Northwoods Oboe (“Kaitlyn”): Oboe Reed Care and Maintenance See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others! Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, November 2015 ByBret Pimentel November 30, 2015January 1, 2018 Lots of interesting woodwind blog posts this month. Here are some favorites: Flutist Roderick Seed is doing a nice series offering commentary on the Andersen Op. 15 etudes. Michael Lowenstern addresses the idea of bass clarinet as a college major. (This one is from very late October but I didn’t catch it in time.) Saxophonists Sam Newsome and Ben Britton each offer exercises for improving low register tone production. College freshman flute major Hannah Haefele shares what she is learning in her transition from high school practicing to college-level practicing. Clarinetist Michael Dean shares his pre-performance checklist. Oboist Patty Mitchell distinguishes between knowing your music and knowing your music. Flutist Rachel Taylor Geier explains the practicing technique of chunking. Cate Hummel recommends against the old flute “kiss and roll” trick. Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, March 2020 ByBret Pimentel March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 Practice Monster (David Pope, saxophone): Circular Breathing Sax ProShop: #WednesdayWisdom: Sanitizing Your Mouthpiece & Instrument Trent Jacobs, bassoonist: Bassoon fingering chart and On communicable diseases and buying reeds heather roche: “Ultra-Underblow Mutiphonics”: Part 2 of the recategorisation of Philip Rehfeldt’s chart Rachel Taylor Geier (flute): Imperfect Balance – Hand Position Correctors The Bassic Sax Blog » (Helen Kahlke): Is a vintage sax right for me? The Vintage Clarinet Doctor – Blog (Jeremy Soule): mouthpiece porn vs Mouthpiece Monogamy The Flute View (Lauren Monteiro): 4 Rules for Recording Your Practice International Clarinet Association (Wesley Ferreira): Master Class: Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces), Op. 43 by Niels Gade Jenny Maclay (clarinet): 31 Clarinet Compositions Written by Female Composers Music Major – Majoring in Music: Music School Decisions When You Can’t Visit See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others! Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, July 2020 ByBret Pimentel July 31, 2020July 31, 2020 Steve Neff Music Blog: The Best Saxophone Embouchure: Where’s that Bottom Lip? Jazz-Sax.Com: Pedalboard 4.0 ProneOboe (Jennet Ingle): When to Cheat Jenny Maclay (clarinet): Should you take a practice break? and 21 Clarinet Compositions from the 21st Century See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others! Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, January 2023 ByBret Pimentel January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 bassoon blog (Betsy Sturdevant): Guidance for High School Orchestral Bassoon (and Woodwind) Playing Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever. (Zach Sollitto): The Art of Mouthpiece Refacing with Thomas Occhiuto Dudukhouse Blog: Mastering the Duduk: Understanding Key and Pitch Options for the Traditional Armenian Instrument [note: commercial site, but good info] Jennifer Cluff (flute): A very quiet whistle Everything Saxophone (Ben Britton): Achieving Your Best Sound from Low B♭ Through Altissimo The Flute View (Morgan Pappas): How To Be Your Own Agent: 5 Tips for Booking Your Own Concerts See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others! Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, June 2021 ByBret Pimentel June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 How To Make Oboe Reeds (Tim Feil): Reed Making Technique International Clarinet Association (Rebecca Rischin): The Clarinetist’s Enemy: Tendinitis: Part 2 The Flute Examiner (Kelly Wilson): Recovering…Again Bill Plake Music (saxophone): The Way I Wish I Had Learned To Play Music (Lessons From My Daughter) Josh On That Sax (Joshua Mlodzianowski): 5 Things to Consider When Building Your Saxophone Warm-up See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others! Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Favorite blog posts Favorite blog posts, May 2017 ByBret Pimentel May 31, 2017July 19, 2022 Flutist Terri Sánchez blogged like crazy this month, with many downloadable exercises and practice ideas. A few I liked included this one-minute warmup, these harmonics exercises, these 100 ideas for getting “unstuck,” and this advice on creating your own warmups. Heather Roche shares some clarinet works by female composers. (Check the comments section for more.) Flutist Jolene Harju does an interesting video experiment with expressive body movements. Clarinetist Jenny Maclay suggests practicing recovery from mistakes. Ed Joffe shares his experience with developing a multiple woodwinds graduate degree program. Flutist Andrée Martin discusses priority scheduling for practicing and for life. Barry Stees offers some tips and tricks for playing low, soft orchestral bassoon parts. Flutist Vanessa Breault Mulvey shares ideas on being observant of your own playing [update: link dead]. Saxophonist Sam Newsome recommends slow progress. He also shares some interesting experiments in “prepared” soprano saxophone. Cate Hummel warns against some small but problematic flute habits. Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email