If you follow me on Twitter (@woodwindninja) you know I have not been a terribly active tweeter, mostly just auto-tweets of my newest blog posts. But I have started up an additional account, @woodwindtips, which I encourage you to check out for several-times-per-day tips on woodwind playing. Enjoy!
Favorite blog posts, March 2016
Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, March 2016 edition.
Woodwind doubling for flutists
Here is a cleaned-up version of my lecture notes from a presentation on woodwind doubling I gave last week at the Mid-South Flute Festival: Woodwind doubling for flutists What is doubling? Primary-to-secondary doubling: Playing multiple instruments within a family, such as flute (primary), piccolo (secondary), and alto flute (secondary) Primary-to-primary doubling: Playing instruments from different families, … Read more
Repair or buy new?
Should you have your old (woodwind) instrument repaired, or put the money toward a new one? Here are a few things to consider. First, you should understand the difference between having “playing condition” repairs done and having a full overhaul done. The overhaul is an expensive service, often costing a significant percentage of what you would spend … Read more
Thoughts on musicians’ websites
I first set up a personal website in about 2000 or 2001. There wasn’t much reason for me to do so—I was a college undergraduate, with virtually no worthwhile content to share. But it was a start, and fifteen or sixteen years later I have a few hundred blog posts and some other resources, plus a … Read more
Favorite blog posts, February 2016
Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, February 2016 edition.
Trevor Wye’s “Flexibility I” flute exercise
One of my favorite flute warmups is “Flexibility–I (after Sousseman)” from Trevor Wye’s Tone book. This exercise is value-packed and meticulously thought out, and leads inevitably to some fundamental truths about flute playing.
Beginners, parents, and making double reeds
If you are a parent or band director of a young oboist or bassoonist, here is what you need to know about reedmaking.
Practice slump checklist
Sometimes my students complain that they have had bad practicing days or weeks. Here are a few ideas for breaking out of a practicing slump.
Favorite blog posts, January 2016
Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, January 2016 edition.