Favorite blog posts, May 2019

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Sax Spy – Blog: 3 Low-Note Exercises From the Masters
Trent Jacobs, bassoonist: On forming blanks and cracking cane
ProneOboe (Jennet Ingle): Psychology of the Oboist and Transitions
Jenny Maclay: The Complete Guide to Developing Great Technique
Sam Newsome’s Blogspot: Soprano Sax Talk: Websites: Relevant or Relic?

And, as always, this is an excellent way to get your blog post selected as a favorite:

Joffe Woodwinds: Bret Pimentel

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

Favorite blog posts, November 2018

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Stephen Caplan embraces plastic oboes. Related: Elizabeth Brown lists some signs that your wooden oboe has a crack.
Clarinetist Miranda Dohrman gives advice on building a freelance career.
Jennifer Mackerras provides solutions for recorders slipping and sliding around in your hands.
Peter Westbrook shares a 2003 interview with Herbie Mann, covering aspects of jazz flute playing, woodwind doubling, and more.
Oboist Jennet Ingle offers some suggestions on a good mindset for solo performance.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay lists some reasons you might not be improving as much as you would like.

Favorite blog posts, September 2018

September 30, 2018September 30, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Heather Roche shares a list of easy/reliable clarinet multiphonics. Useful information here for composers and performers.
Eric Schultz examines the history of multiple tonguing on single reed instruments.
Jenny Maclay explores clarinet orchestral excerpts. (Also consider enlisting for the October Uhl Boot Camp.)
Flutist Kelly Wilson explains the anatomy and function of the arms.
Jennet Ingle discusses producing a resonant sound on the oboe.
Oboist Nuria Cabezas demonstrates some stretches for musicians.
Flutist Jessica Dunnavant deals with performance nerves.
Ariel Detwiler shares thoughts on fitting into a band or orchestra bassoon section.
Patty Mitchell spends some time away from her oboe.
Hannah Haefele offers some suggestions for warming up on the flute on a tight schedule.

Favorite blog posts, February 2018

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Flutist Nicole Riner assigns her students repertoire that reinforces skill development (a re-“print” from the 2012 A Flutist’s Handbook: Pedagogy Anthology Vol. 2).
Oboist Stephen Caplan reconsiders concentration in performance.
Bassoonist Barry Stees shares a simple but revealing way to test reeds.
Flutist Jessica Dunnavant discusses her complicated relationship with university teaching.
David Pierce considers a pedagogical order for the Vivaldi bassoon concertos (a re-“print” from a 1987 article in the Journal of the International Double Reed Society).
Oboist Jennet Ingle figures out how to give a good tuning A every time.
Saxophonist Helen Kahlke avoids germs on the gig.

Favorite blog posts, December 2017

December 31, 2017January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Betsy Sturdevant brainstorms some (tongue-in-cheek) reasons not to sharpen her bassoon reed profiler blade.
Woodwind doubler Ed Joffe shares some practical advice about subbing on gigs.
Flutist Nicole Riner explores some lessons about focus learned during an artist retreat.
Joan Martí-Frasquier lists some repertoire for baritone saxophone.
Oboist Jennet Ingle considers some ideas about motivation and doing difficult things.
Clarinetist Michael Dean offers some small but useful performing tips.
Flutist Jessica Quiñones shares some ways to build a private studio.
Saxophonist Larry Weintraub recalls a day spent with Michael Brecker.
Khara Wolf suggests solutions for oboe reeds with too-wide tip openings.

Favorite blog posts, November 2017

November 30, 2017January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Flutist Nicole Riner lists extended techniques with some sample repertoire and practice tips.
Saxophone mouthpiece reviewer extraordinaire Steve Neff explains how to test a mouthpiece thoroughly.
Oboist Patty Mitchell offers a somber reminder that sexual harassment is an issue in the music world, too.
Clarinetist Liz Aleksander outlines a methodical approach to tuning.
Bassoonist Nadina Mackie Jackson gives some perspective on teachers and teaching.
The “Curious Clarinetist” tells a satirical tale of new instruments.
Cynthia Ellis and Cate Hummel provide tips on playing the piccolo.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay shares ideas for mastering a new repertoire piece besides just practicing.
Oboist Jennet Ingle discusses the importance of choosing the right reed for a performance (and which factors are most important).
Ariel Detwiler discusses some of the issues of choosing which students are good prospective bassoonists.

Favorite blog posts, September 2017

September 30, 2017January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Flutist Jennifer Cluff offers advice on (not) playing with pain.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay invites you to enlist for Baermann Boot Camp starting October 1st.
Cate Hummel shares tips on basic flute care.
Flutist Jolene Harju discusses breaking the habit of playing “test notes.”
Rachel Taylor Geier challenges you to test your flute knowledge with a quiz.
Oboist Jennet Ingle finds inspiration in fancy fountain pens regarding “flourish.”

Each of these fine woodwind bloggers has been featured here repeatedly, so be sure to subscribe to their RSS feeds and/or social media streams. And get in touch to let me know who else I should be following! (You, maybe?)

Favorite blog posts, August 2017

August 31, 2017January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Saxophonist Steve Neff explores the “holy grail” mindset with regard to mouthpieces.
Flutist Nicole Riner offers tips on making a living as a freelancer.
John Isley discusses finding a personal voice on wind controller.
Oboist Jennet Ingle discusses integrity in musical interpretation. (Note: also some political content.) Jennet’s new video series on reedmaking is also worth checking out.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay shares a method for transitioning back into serious practicing after summer vacation.
Kristopher King shares an interesting bassoon museum piece.
Erin Nichols shows off acoustic paneling made especially for flute playing.

Favorite blog posts, April 2017

April 30, 2017January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Bassoonist Anna Norris suggests showing up for auditions.
Michael Shults switches between jazz and classical saxophone.
David Freeman transcribes recorder parts for Stairway to Heaven (but plays them on an electric keyboard…).
Michael Lowenstern addresses a bass clarinet reed question.
Flutist Vanessa Breault Mulvey discusses squeezing’s detrimental effect on flute playing.
Saxophonist Bill Plake discusses tone imagination.
Flutist Jolene Harju shares ideas for getting the most out of your lessons. I also liked her “Fundamentals Workout Planner.”
Jennet Ingle learns something about disappointing performances.
Saxophonist Jay Brandford shares an Eric Dolphy anecdote about dedication to detail in practicing.
Matt Stohrer shares his procedure for “setting up” a new saxophone. This is sort of a commercial post, but instructive about what a new instrument might need to play to its best potential.
Flutist Jennifer Cluff explains anchor tonguing.

Favorite blog posts, November 2016

November 30, 2016January 1, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

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.