Free download: New orchestration of the Creston saxophone sonata

Here is a recap of some of my favorite stuff from the blog from 2013. Because hey, I’m on vacation too.

• The Fingering Diagram Builder got a new major release, plus a minor release. Development has slowed down a bit on this, not because I’ve stopped planning and working on improvements to it, but because it’s really working surprisingly well at this point and its popularity is growing in a satisfying way. I expect future releases to be on the deliberate side at least for the foreseeable future. (Don’t let that stop you from sending in your suggestions, feature requests, and bug reports.)
• My Woodwind Doubling in Musicals list got a long-overdue major overhaul. Check it out and share information about the shows you have played.
• I discontinued my “woodwind blogs you should be reading” series in favor of a monthly roundup of my favorite posts. I think it’s more interesting and useful, plus I can give regular shout-outs to woodwind bloggers who are consistently putting out good stuff, or highlight a diamond in the rough.
• I finally got most of my best advice about doing a multiple woodwinds degree all in one place.
• I ranted about why I think music education is important (spoiler: it’s not math skills).
• I gave a presentation and a recital.
• I want my students to show up, to be individuals but also embrace tradition, and to listen critically to themselves.
• I reviewed Butch Hall Native-American-style flutes, Hercules saxophone/woodwind stands, and some innovative new products from Vandoren (note the date on that one). Note to makers/sellers of woodwind products: I get a large amount of traffic to this site for my product reviews, and in more than a few cases my reviews get higher Google placement than the makers’ own websites. Drop me a line if you want to send me cool stuff to check out (even just on loan).
• I wrote about the flutist’s tongue, the clarinet’s break (part 1 and part 2),  the bassoon’s terrifyingly numerous high F-sharp fingerings, and clarinet-to-saxophone doubling or vice versa.
• For electronic-woodwind buffs, you special kind of nerds, you, I did a how-to on playing the Telemann Canonic Sonatas on wind controller with a delay pedal. You, too, can play duets with yourself.
• I gave unsolicited advice to high school and college students on auditioning and on buying new instruments.
• And I did my best to clear up some things for the Twitter generation of musicians.

Thanks for your ongoing support. Best wishes to you and your reeds for 2014.

In my ongoing quest to learn all things woodwind-related in time for my doctoral comprehensive exams, I’ve compiled lists of important woodwind players, makers, teachers, composers, etc., with very brief biographies. Here’s the result. Read More “Important people in woodwind history”