Adam Berkowitz Archives | Bret Pimentel, woodwinds

Favorite blog posts, August 2014

January 1, 2018August 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

From the woodwind blogs in August:

Reports on the International Clarinet Society’s 2014 “ClarinetFest” (held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA) by Josh Johnson and, of course, on the ClarinetFest blog. (My own brief general report is here, plus a report on my own presentation on woodwind doubling.)
Reports on the International Double Reed Society conferences (New York City) by Jennet Ingle, Patty Mitchell, and Robin Tropper (parts one and two).
A sort-of-report (sort-of-advertisement) on the National Flute Association conference on the Powell Flutes blog.
“TFox” examines the issue of ivory bassoon bell rings.
Oboist Jennet Ingle comments on the maturity that comes with experience. In, I think, a sort of related vein, she also discusses perfectionism and “mistakes.”
Clarinetist Heather Roche gives some tips on double tonguing.
Saxophonist Jeff Cunningham suggests some guidelines for determining the right reed strength for you. His site is geared toward less-experienced players, but in my opinion a number of “advanced” players could use a refresher on this.
Saxophonist Sam Sadigursky explains an approach to help with mastering scales.
Adam Berkowitz shares and comments on a very cool video of some bleeding-edge electronic bass clarinet playing and technology (most of the playing is by Matthias Müller).
Saxophonist Jody Espina shares his “squeak-be-gone” exercise.
Saxophonist Bill Plake compares routine and process in practicing.

Favorite blog posts, March 2014

January 1, 2018March 31, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Recommended reading from the woodwind blogs in March:

“Komuso Lady” at A Shakuhachi Journey blogs about tsu meri difficulties. Even for players of “modern” Western woodwinds, there are good thoughts here on getting to know your instrument and its tendencies intimately.
Betsy Sturdevant offers some commentary and tips on playing bassoon 1 on the Firebird Suite.
Patty Mitchell shares some reed advice for oboe students.
At the “MetOrchestraMusicians” blog, a nice infographic about reeds. (Hat-tip to Patty Mitchell for this one.)
Saxophonist Timothy Owen explains his reed preparation and finishing process.
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz offers some insightful responses and expansions to my recent blog post about uncompensated gigs.
Saxophonist Bill Plake keeps a level head about equipment (suitable for players of all instruments).

Favorite blog posts, February 2014

July 21, 2022March 1, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Here are some of my picks for some excellent woodwind-related blog posts from last month.

Bass clarinetist Michael Lowenstern gives excellent advice on some topics (such as “biting”) that I think are not often taught well.
Mark Catoe gives a workshop on teaching beginning clarinetists to cross the break. (Those are some mighty handsome fingering diagrams.)
Chris Dunning takes us on a historical video tour of the saxophone in jazz [update: link dead].
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz manages the logistical details of a performance. Also: two habits worth having.
Jennet Ingle bemoans the oboe’s caprices. “It’s not that playing the oboe is physically more difficult than any other instrument, it’s that the oboe doesn’t want you to get it.”
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant chases the elusive high F.
Oboist Patty Mitchell explains what it means to “know” a piece of music.
Trent Jacobs gives a primer on amplifiers for woodwind players interested in going electric.
Over at Music Collective, flutist Jessica Dunnavant discovers life beyond the university-teaching-job search.
Timothy Owen offers some observations and advice on playing multiple sizes of saxophone.
Clarinetist Heather Roche gives composers some insights on glissandi and air sounds, with extensive audio clips.
Vanessa Breault Mulvey of the “Flying Flutistas” avoids “muscling up” on the flute. Also on the trapeze. Really [update: link dead].
Cooper Wright gives his oboe a good cleaning.
Woodwind player Ted Nash tells the story of how he nearly got adopted by Quincy Jones. “Part II to follow,” he promises.
Meri Dolevski-Lewis gives some good common-sense tips to those working with a pianist for the first time.

Enjoy!

Favorite blog posts, January 2014

July 21, 2022February 1, 2014 by Bret Pimentel

Here’s what’s worth reading from the woodwind blogs in January:

Woodwind doubler Steve Moffett suggests taking a break now and then.
Oboist Patty Mitchell reminds us that playing with a pianist means needing to know your own part and his or hers.
Helen Bledsoe weighs in on the debate about how register changes are made on the flute. I don’t entirely agree with her, but she makes some interesting points, as do the flutists in the videos she shares. (For more on this, see my previous post and accompanying PDF cataloging some of the, er, hot air surrounding this topic.)
Clarinetist Adam Berkowitz takes practicing to the next level.
Bassoonist Christin Schillinger shares some ideas about ongoing development as a musician, plus some metronome games.
Woodwind doubler Josh Johnson does a review of the Ridenour Lyrique bass clarinet. I’m sharing this one because I think it’s a well-written and thoughtful review, and because I think high-quality instruments made from alternative materials are a welcome next wave in woodwind manufacture. As a side note, I recently purchased one of these basses for my university clarinet studio and have spent some time playing it, and my experience with the instrument basically matches Josh’s.
Oboist Cooper Wright seeks to raise standards in his teaching studio.
Woodwind doubler Michael Grant concludes(?) a 12-part marathon of long posts describing his experience playing in the pit orchestra for a local musical theater production [update: link dead].

Just when I think I’ve got every single woodwind-related blog in my feed reader, I stumble onto a dozen more. If you’re writing good stuff and think you might have escaped my notice, let me know!

A few more woodwind blogs you should be reading

March 14, 2017March 19, 2011 by Bret Pimentel

A few months ago I posted some of my recommendations for good woodwind-related blogs, and shared a couple of tips on getting the most out of your blog reading. I’ve got a few more favorite blogs I’d like to share today, and another blog-reading tip, too.

This time I came up with a blog each for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone, plus a bonus one. Here they are in no particular order:

Barrick Stees (Barry Blogs)

Barrick Stees is the assistant principal bassoonist in the Cleveland Orchestra, and a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Akron. His blog is fairly new (started earlier this year) but is already full of good stuff. Professor Stees shares some insights on playing excerpts at a level suitable to one of the great American orchestras:

He also keeps a travelogue of his tours with the orchestra, and comments on other items of interest to professional or developing musicians, such as: