Rachel Taylor Geier – Bret Pimentel, woodwinds

Flutist Nicole Riner shares some research-based recommendations (from 2004) about gender stereotypes and school band programs.
Jolene Harju Madewell prioritizes aspects of flute tone production.
Michelle Barraclough discusses orchestra pit playing for flutists.
Roderick Seed gives tips on improving flute resonance.
Flutist Rachel Taylor Geier offers advice on recital preparation.
Bassoonist Betsy Sturdevant continues her series of orchestral excerpt blog-masterclasses with the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique.
Woodwind player Larry Weintraub explores musical careers on cruise ships and in European publicly-funded ensembles.

Favorite blog posts, September 2017

January 1, 2018September 30, 2017 by Bret Pimentel

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, February 2017

January 1, 2018February 28, 2017 by Bret Pimentel

Another month dominated by flute bloggers. Leave me a comment if there are excellent blogs by reed players that I should be reading.

Jolene Harju shares a calendar of flute practice ideas. (It’s for February, but easily adaptable to other months.)
Heather Roche continues her massive and thorough project documenting extended clarinet techniques with a chart of quarter-tone tremolo fingerings for bass clarinet.
Flutist Nicole Riner shares resources for commissioning new music.
Flutist Tammy Evans Yonce requires her woodwind pedagogy students to teach private mini-lessons.
Flutist Rachel Taylor Geier offers suggestions on making a recording for a job application or audition.
Cate Hummel explains playing the flute softly.

Favorite blog posts, November 2016

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.

Favorite blog posts, October 2016

January 1, 2018October 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.
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.