Favorite blog posts, May 2022

See the woodwind blogs I’m following, and suggest others!

What to expect in your first semester studying music in college

books file on shelf

Jumping in the deep end. In some college majors, you will spend your first couple of years doing “general education” courses (like writing, math, history, and science), and not take many “major” classes until later on. But with music, you usually start on day one with a lot of music classes. A thorough and varied … Read more

Doubling up pinky fingers on the clarinet

There are two basic fingerings a clarinetist can use for B4: option 1 option 2 But there are some other possibilities, such as adding either of the pinky C keys. Doing this doesn’t open or close any additional toneholes, so the note isn’t affected at all: option 3 option 4 While the extra pinky finger … Read more

Why you should use a scale sheet

My university students take a scale exam covering all the major and 3-forms-of-minor scales, plus arpeggios, in all 12 keys, memorized. In preparation, I provide them with a scale “sheet,” with all of the scales and arpeggios written out note by note. There’s a part of my brain that objects to this, since I don’t … Read more

Favorite blog posts, April 2022

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, April 2022 edition.

Creating “lightness”

a white feather pen

Composers (or a performer’s interpretation) often call for “lightness” in music. How do you play a wind instrument “lightly?” When I discuss this with my students, they often suggest that the way to play lightly is to be lighter with their tongue. When I turn that around on them—”is there a situation where you should … Read more

What really went wrong? Leaning into problem spots

photo of man touching his head

I have a recurring teaching challenge with my saxophone students who are tackling the altissimo register for the first time. They play a passage, and when they get to the altissimo note, if it doesn’t respond perfectly, they immediately stop playing. When I ask why, they look puzzled. “The note didn’t come out.” “Well, what … Read more

Favorite blog posts, March 2022

Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, March 2022 edition.

Woodwind trill technique

Ideally, a trill is done with one finger, and preferably a finger that is nimble and independent, like an index or middle finger: flute bassoon clarinet In many cases that isn’t possible. When two fingers (or more!) are needed, it’s best if they can be fingers of the same hand, moving in the same direction … Read more

Making every marking audible

music notes

When my students work on études (musical pieces intended for study but not performance) I stress with them the idea of making everything on the page audible. That means that if I were unfamiliar with the étude but a skilled transcriber, I could listen to my student play, and write down with confidence every: Pitch … Read more