University of New Mexico offers new multiple woodwinds degree

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The University of New Mexico is now offering a masters degree program in multiple woodwinds.

unm-multiple-woodwinds
Click for flyer (PDF)

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 semester each on the secondaries.
  • The audition must include at least two instruments (one of them must be the primary instrument).
  • The single required degree recital appears to be a recital on the primary instrument only. Personally, I’m not a fan of this—to me it doesn’t make much sense to study one instrument for performance and three more just to play in the practice room. But it may be a good option for a doubler who intends to have a single “main” instrument.

I am always glad to see new multiple woodwinds programs. I have added UNM’s to my list of multiple woodwinds degree programs. The list is intended to be comprehensive but likely has some gaps, so please let me know if you are aware of any others. In particular, I have been hearing from doublers outside the US who are looking for programs in their respective parts of the world, so be sure to send those along if you know they exist.

For more information about the program at UNM, please contact them directly using the email addresses in the flyer.

Favorite blog posts, December 2014

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

Purposeful fingering choices

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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

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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

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

Practicing, boredom, and guilt

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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.

Jazz swing notation

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The issue with each of these bad notational approaches is that they try to approximate characteristic jazz rhythms with symbols that are rooted in the rather different rhythms of classical music. But real jazz swing rhythms aren’t dotted or 12/8 or triplets, or least they aren’t necessarily any of those. This leads to problems both for composers and performers.

Videos: Piazzolla Tango Etudes for multiple woodwinds

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Here are some videos from a guest recital I did at the University of Tennessee at Martin a few weeks ago. Among other things, I played Ástor Piazzolla’s Tango Etudes, originally for solo flute, in my own arrangement for multiple woodwinds soloist.

Favorite blog posts, October 2014

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