Favorite blog posts, November 2023
Just one post to share this month:
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Favorite blog posts, May 2014
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, June 2026
- New York City Woodwinds, LLC – BLOG (Michael Norsworthy): The Multi-Instrumentalist Moment (arguably commercial in nature but the information is useful)
- Steve Neff Music Blog (saxophone): Morgan Kind of Blue Cannonball Adderley Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review (arguably promotes a product but the history is interesting)
- Aaron Lakota: Oboe Reed Scraping for Beginners: A Three-Line Method
- The Flute View: The Flute Behind The Beatles’ “The Fool on the Hill” Heads to Auction
- Joffe Woodwinds (Ed Joffe): A Tribute to Gary Foster
Favorite blog posts, September 2018
- Heather Roche shares a list of easy/reliable clarinet multiphonics. Useful information here for composers and performers.
- Eric Schultz examines the history of multiple tonguing on single reed instruments.
- Jenny Maclay explores clarinet orchestral excerpts. (Also consider enlisting for the October Uhl Boot Camp.)
- Flutist Kelly Wilson explains the anatomy and function of the arms.
- Jennet Ingle discusses producing a resonant sound on the oboe.
- Oboist Nuria Cabezas demonstrates some stretches for musicians.
- Flutist Jessica Dunnavant deals with performance nerves.
- Ariel Detwiler shares thoughts on fitting into a band or orchestra bassoon section.
- Patty Mitchell spends some time away from her oboe.
- Hannah Haefele offers some suggestions for warming up on the flute on a tight schedule.
Favorite blog posts, August 2026
- Stohrer Music (Matt Stohrer, saxophone): Original Selmer ToneX Resonator Sizes
- Dudukhouse Blog (Armen Matosyan): The Duduk in Film Scores: From Gladiator to Modern Cinema
Favorite blog posts, September 2023
- International Clarinet Association (Samantha Wright): The Jazz Scene
- Rachel Taylor Geier (flute): Fix my Flute, Macgyver! Flute Repair 101
- oboealli (Alli Gessner): How to clean oboe reeds…
- Jenny Maclay (clarinet): How to choose a new clarinet mouthpiece
- Jennet Ingle | Oboist: Freelancer Math
- The Flute View (Julie Stone): Careers in Music for Flutists
- Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever. (Katisse Buckingham): Anchorman “Jazz Flautist” on Avoiding 4 Most Common Flute Pitfalls for Saxophonists
- Joffe Woodwinds (Ed Joffe): Does Equipment Matter?
Favorite blog posts, August 2013
Read these excellent mostly-woodwind-related blog posts from the past month, and thank me later:
- Bassoonist David Wells shares and comments on early 20th-century recordings of the Weber Andante e Rondo Ongarese by William Gruner and Fernand Oubradous.
- Multi-instrumentalist Mark Catoe shares some clear thinking about teaching the concept of time signature. This will benefit even some of my college students, who are still trying to shed the “quarter-note-is-always-one-beat-no-matter-what” misinformation they were fed years ago.
- Viviana Guzman at The Flute View declares the first Canadian Flute Convention a success.
- Sherman Friedland offers some comments about purchasing clarinets. He mentions a couple of specific makes and pulls no punches about his opinions, but regardless of your personal taste in instruments there are some general points worth drawing out: just because “everybody” uses one model doesn’t mean it’s the “best;” a good teacher is crucial to the process of obtaining a fine instrument and making it sing; and it doesn’t hurt anybody to at least consider the advantages of instruments made from non-traditional materials.
- Matt Stohrer explains why getting your saxophone overhauled is good for your playing and for your bottom line. Good advice for any woodwind player, really, though of course some of the instrument-specific details will differ.
- Oboist Christa Garvey gives college music majors some sage advice for the new academic year.
- Saxophonist Craig Buhler suggests that a joyful performance requires joyful practice.
- Clarinetist Meri Dolevski-Lewis gives some tips on reading (and, by extension, on writing) advertisements for private teaching. Also: tips on diversifying your musical income streams (including a strong case for woodwind doubling).
- Patty Mitchell shares a compelling argument, in video form, for learning the play the oboe the right way rather than looking for shortcuts. (Spoiler alert: It’s a demonstration of a single-reed mouthpiece for the oboe.)