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, January 2019

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

Joffe Woodwinds: Practicing on the Gig
JQ Flute: Rough times happening? Oh look, there you are making gold out of it. Here’s 3 heartfelt observations about your playing to get you through the storm
Oboemotions: Promising Research
Kristopher King (bassoon): Low A
The Flute View: Creating and Refining Better Habits in Your Practice Room by Rena Urso
Wayne Leechford: Auditioning for All-District
Jenny Maclay (clarinet): My Winter Warm-Up Routine For Cold Days

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, July 2018

July 31, 2018July 30, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

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 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

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.

Favorite blog posts, May 2018

May 31, 2018May 26, 2018 ~ Bret Pimentel ~ Leave a comment

Flutist Jolene Madewell improves her articulation with understanding of how the tongue moves.
Patty Mitchell discusses the oboe and getting into college.
David Pierce gives brief summaries of some books on bassoon reedmaking.
Saxophonist James Barger explains a method of vibrato development using a mobile app.
Clarinetist Jenny Maclay is organizing a Kroepsch studies boot camp for June.
Nicole Riner gives piccolo advice.

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.