Ben Britton Archives | Bret Pimentel, woodwinds

Saxophonist Ben Britton offers some hints on overtones. (Related: my review of Ben’s overtone book.)
Flutist Nicole Riner provides some bullet points on self-auditing your private studio’s business model, in two parts.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay reminds us about proper head position.
Erin Nichols compares available bass flute models. (Sort of a commercial post, but there is useful information.)

Favorite blog posts, June 2018

June 30, 2018 by Bret Pimentel

Saxophonist Ben Britton explores the connection between tone and intonation. He also gives a nice introduction to the desperately under-taught art of swing articulation.
Woodwind doubler Ed Joffe compares “part” players and true musical artists.
John Reeks examines the history surrounding the use of clarinets in the Beatles song “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
Oboist Stephen Caplan discusses staying comfortable and healthy while sitting for extended periods of playing music.
Tammy Evans Yonce and Misty Theisen provide suggestions on planning a small flute festival or “flute day.”
Jenny Maclay gives thorough advice on the clarinet’s altissimo register.

January 1, 2018July 31, 2017 by Bret Pimentel

Check out posts by a small army of bloggers documenting ClarinetFest® 2017.
David Wells is working on collecting the Paris Conservatoire bassoon contest pieces.
Woodwind doubler Ed Joffe encourages continuing your musical studies beyond school
Saxophonist Roxy Coss discusses women as an under-represented group in jazz music.
David Mankin shares a fascinating story about oboists Robert Bloom and Engelbert Brenner in a remarkable recording session.
Clarinetist Jeremy Wohletz explains the importance of aural training.
Saxophonist Sam Newsome identifies some issues that lead to rhythm problems (particularly in improvised music).
Flutist Tammy Evans Yonce explains how she approaches a new repertoire piece.
Saxophonist Ben Britton catalogs some methods of dealing with sticky G-sharp keys.
Eryn Oft outlines the history of Heckel bassoons.
Nicole Riner offers suggestions on making first contact with a potential college flute teacher. (Applicable to other instruments, too.)
Jenny Maclay dives deep on clarinet resonance fingerings.

January 1, 2018November 30, 2016 by Bret Pimentel

Ben Britton looks at some common saxophone tone production issues.
Flutist Deanna Mathews Kilbourne reminds us to play in tune, even alone.
Oboist Jennet Ingle provides a peek into a “portfolio” career.
I mentioned previously this post by clarinetist Jenny Maclay on cueing (and attempted to expand upon it). Jenny also takes a look at the A-flat clarinet.
Cate Hummel gives advice on what order to teach new notes to beginning flutists.
Saxophonist Steve Neff explores the question of how much the mouthpiece matters.
I’m still enjoying Rachel Taylor Geier’s “practice blueprints” for flute repertoire. Here is Bach sonata #4.
“Ericdano” at jazz-sax.com suggests some essential gig gear.
Cynthia Ellis offers a brief thought on dynamics and the piccolo.

July 19, 2022October 31, 2016 by Bret Pimentel

Rachel Taylor Geier offers a “practice blueprint” for the Poulenc flute sonata. I also liked her post on playing second flute (applicable to players of other instruments, too).
Meri Dolevski-Lewis makes a case for not hiring woodwind doublers for performing or teaching gigs [update: link dead].
Flutist Deanna Mathews Kilbourne discusses what an electronic tuner (or tuner app) is and isn’t good for.
Saxophonist Ben Britton explains his theory about ligature position.
Chris Hankin lists and comments on classical-period flute concerti by composers who aren’t Mozart.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay shares warm-up routines in small, medium, and large sizes.
Cate Hummel offers suggestions on teaching the flute’s third octave.
“Quinn the Eskimo”(?) expounds the history of the Mazzeo-system clarinet, with references.
Eryn Oft discusses bassoons in the less-than-$5000 category. (Fair warning: she appears to have some kind of financial arrangement with one of the makers in question.)
Bassoonist and historical-woodwinds player Theresa Koenig shares her experience with practicing and Alexander Technique.
Saxophonist Bill Plake recommends practicing with vision.

July 19, 2022August 31, 2016 by Bret Pimentel

The Clarinet Online, the International Clarinet Association’s blog, gives reports on many of their August conference events. Jessica Harrie also makes a report [update: link dead], as does Chastine Hofmeister (two posts).
Cynthia Ellis shares a couple of third-octave piccolo trill fingerings.
The “Clarinet Things” blog outlines a method for practicing scales. Saxophonist Ben Britton shares some tips for polishing them.
Oboist Aaron Lakota gives some advice on breaking out of a “reed rut.”
Sandy Herrera is running a clarinet audition-prep challenge.
Woodwind player David Freeman relates an experience playing for a musical.
Eric Seddon comments on some jazz clarinet history [update: link dead].
Simon Barker offers advice on how to record a saxophone.
Oboist Jennet Ingle discusses her experience recording an album.
“Ericdano” reveals some saxophonists’ favorite electronic effects pedals.
Saxophonist Bill Plake explores “compression” and wind playing.