Bret Pimentel, woodwinds

Favorite blog posts, January 2015

July 20, 2022January 31, 2015 by Bret Pimentel

Interesting and useful woodwindy blog posts from January:

Saxophonist Connie Frigo discusses fearless performance, and also teaching outside the studio [update: link dead]. (This one is technically from the very end of December.)
Flutist Rachel Taylor Geier shares a thorough, holistic approach to New Year’s resolutions for musicians (it’s not too late).
Jennet Ingle bravely shares an experience with forgetting her oboe reeds, and because of this experience questions her usual pre-performance rituals.
Saxophonist Bill Plake discusses how we sit and stand when we play, and how we could do it better.
Cate Hummel shares some nice fingering tips for the third octave.
Woodwind doubler David Erato reminds us to keep our instruments well maintained.
Flutist Naomi Seidman discusses ways to improve breathing (on the Powell Teach Flute blog).
Jeff Cunningham gives advice to beginning saxophonists (or other musicians) who are struggling with motivation to practice.

Counting rhythms with a non-quarter-note pulse

March 14, 2017January 28, 2015 by Bret Pimentel

Sometimes my students are stymied by rhythms like this: These rhythms are really not at all difficult to play—to actually execute—for an intermediate-level student. The problem is just one of unfamiliar notation. It is usually related to the all-too-common misconception that the rhythmic pulse is always equal to a quarter note. If you approach this … Read more

Interview: Sal Lozano, saxophone and woodwind artist

July 20, 2022January 18, 2015 by Bret Pimentel

Lately I have been enjoying Sal Lozano‘s recent CD, Everything’s Gonna Be Great (available from CD Baby and iTunes). The album is 13 charts by Tom Kubis for 5-piece saxophone section with rhythm section, and Sal plays all five of the saxophone parts. It’s a lot of fun, Sal sounds great, and there’s an all-star … Read more

University of New Mexico offers new multiple woodwinds degree

March 14, 2017January 5, 2015 by Bret Pimentel

The University of New Mexico is now offering a masters degree program in multiple woodwinds. A few items of interest from the degree requirements (also see an update in the comments): It is a 4-instrument degree, with one “primary” and three “secondary” instruments. Two semesters of study are required on the primary instrument, and one … Read more

2014 in review

January 1, 2018December 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Here are some of the things that went on here at your favorite woodwind blog during 2014.

Favorite blog posts, December 2014

January 1, 2018December 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, December 2014 edition.

Purposeful fingering choices

July 20, 2022December 15, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

I have gotten into the habit of grilling my students about their fingering choices: “Can you tell me which fingering you used for the last note in that phrase, and why you chose it?” Often they take this (and often correctly so) as an indication that I disapprove of their choices: “Oh, I guess I … Read more

Woodwind t-shirts now available

December 10, 2014December 10, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

I won’t make a habit of posting advertisements here, but I wanted to make you all aware of a new way you can support what I do here at bretpimentel.com while also increasing your own cool factor. Behold the woodwind doubler t-shirt: It’s a nice quality American Apparel tee available in a variety of attractive … Read more

Favorite blog posts, November 2014

January 1, 2018November 30, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, November 2014 edition.

Practicing, boredom, and guilt

July 20, 2022November 25, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

I find that my students who struggle with practicing are sometimes afraid to talk to me about it, and want to brush aside talk of their declining practice hours with thin excuses about having a “busy week.” But if we can address the problem honestly and openly, I can offer some suggestions to help them enjoy their practice time more and get more out of it.