Dan @ FWE

Intermediate to advanced clarinet students: If you don't have a copy of Paul Jeanjean's Vade Mecum du Clarinettiste, you should get one. If you think your finger technique is on point, work out of this book and learn that you have a lot of work yet to do.

It's fantastic!

Be consistent in your work so you can deepen the understanding of what you are ACTUALLY doing. Then, work to address the "new" challenges you face.

Happy Practicing.

Also, like the tonal example above, this is good. You CAN'T fix problems if you don't know, or can't feel or hear, what you need to work on. So, ALWAYS practice with intention. Always pay attention, when working on tone and technique, to as much of your playing as you are currently able to.

After a few days working technique at that tempo conscientiously, and intentionally, you will notice LESS evenness than before. Just like the tonal example above, this is because your brain is able to notice the unevenness more easily now that it has gotten used to the faster speeds.

Note, that this is not unique to tonal practice. It also includes finger technique as well. If you are practicing your any technique consistently, and attempting to increase your speed, you may, for a time, feel like you are able to go quite fast with what you consider even fingers.

This is not a bad thing. This is the type of thing that will allow you to actually grow. Now that you can hear with more depth, you can adjust your work to include the new things that you are hearing.

The thing is, you aren't actually getting worse. What is happening is that through intentional, conscientious practice, you are starting to be able to hear more in your sound that you couldn't hear before. The depth of your understanding is increasing, your "palate" is maturing.

Not a new idea. Trevor Wye talks about this in "A Practice Book for the Flute" Vol. 1. He says that once you start consistently working tone, you will, briefly, feel like you are making progress. Then, you will feel like you sound worse, even though you are spending more time working on your tone.

Thought of the day: A long thread

No, you AREN'T getting "worse," your ears are able to hear more now.

Holy buckets. I had forgotten how fun the Bassi Rigoletto Fantasia was once you start getting it (back) under your fingers.

Now, if I can just match Corrado Giufreddi's tempo at the end (quarter note=172), I'll be ready to go for my next recital!

Today's warmup was so bad, I feel like I need to do nothing but spend my life working out of the Vade-Mecum for the next week without allowing myself to touch actual music. Does my brain even remember that I have fingers that are supposed to work independently? It doesn't seem like it.

Bizarre freak accident:

Scanning REED 1 for "A Connecticut Yankee".
I removed the binding to use ADF.
Scanner is directly next to paper shredder.
Table of contents fell PERFECTLY in the shredder slot!
Bye bye, page.
WHEW! these books are all copies.

Scanner got turned off after that!

Oregon Mozart Players

This week, I'm with the Oregon Mozart Players! I am honored to be included. This concert will present the winners of the young artist competition. OMP will also join with the Eugene Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras! So, I get to play with an old student as well!
www.oregonmozartplayers.org

Question time! Give me your clarinet or saxophone questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. Have a playing problem you'd like help with? Let me know! Has there always been something bugging you about these instruments? I can help! Need advice as far as equipment? Ask!

Give me your questions!

Holy cow. I've got to find a better way to record my audio on my phone. My old Zoom H4n is actually WORSE than this when I tried to record with it via USB.

Here's the link to the Eugene Concert Choir Website. Get your tickets now!
eugeneconcertchoir.org/2024-2025-se...
#Mozart #Bach

Listening to Jimmy Bosch and his Salsa band was the absolute best choice I have made to maintain my sanity at my brainless day job today.
#salsamusic

Today was one of those days, as an adult with a family and a part time job, that I never did get to do any practicing. It hurts me physically every time that happens.
If you have the opportunity, get some time practicing. Don't take a second of that time for granted.

The vast majority of cane is grown in France and Argentina That means if you use reeds, they will be subject to those idiotic tarrifs in less than 90 days.

Yes, that includes synthetic reeds like Légère, and Forestone. Venn, and the Silverstein synthetics are made in the US.

Hey! Reed players! Listen up!

I highly recommend that you all purchase your year's worth of reeds NOW. Most reeds are not made in this country, and even if they are, like D'Addario, the cane they are made from is not grown here.

The vast majority of cane is grown in France and Argentina That means if you use reeds, they will be subject to those idiotic tarrifs in less than 90 days.

Yes, that includes synthetic reeds like Légère, and Forestone. Venn, and the Silverstein synthetics are made in the US.

Hey! Reed players! Listen up!

I highly recommend that you all purchase your year's worth of reeds NOW. Most reeds are not made in this country, and even if they are, like D'Addario, the cane they are made from is not grown here.

Shadow and Light; An Alzheimer's Journey - Eugene Concert Choir Shadow and Light; An Alzheimer’s Journey Purchase Tickets   Soloists: We are so excited to introduce the four increadible guest soloists that will be peforming with us for these two great masterworks!...

Check out this upcoming concert by the Eugene Concert Choir. It is Joan Szymko's Shadow and Light. This piece explores Alzheimer's. It is one of the top 5 most important works of my life. Please click on the link below and purchase your tickets now:
eugeneconcertchoir.org/2024-2025-se...

www.swingshiftjazzorchestra.com

One of my jobs is as lead alto with the Swing Shift Jazz Orchestra.

We have a performance with Pete Olstad coming up next Saturday, March 8th. More info in the link. I highly recommend this show!

#jazz #saxophone #trumpet #livemusic

In all of the years I have worked on articulation, it has never been fast. I've always struggled with it. This is one of those rare moments that I actually felt good about it.

I'm bringing over some things from my personal account. This account will be strictly music and teaching.

My studio was never the largest, but I used to send at least that many to S&E myself alone!

We need to figure out what happened and how to reengage students, or there will be a dearth of good students that will ripple into the adult music making world!

#clarinet #saxophone #musiceducation

A fundamental shift happened during COVID lockdowns we've yet to recover from. This last weekend, at our Solo and Ensemble Festival, there were only 3 clarinets and 4 saxophones performing, and only a single woodwind ensemble!

Greetings Bluesky! Keep watching this spot for music performance clips, and tips for playing clarinet and saxophone.

I want to have fun and engage with you all as a performer and teacher! Let's make Bluesky THE place for music content!

#clarinet #musicteacher #saxophone #classicalmusic #jazz

Use that opportunity wisely along with your innate desire to learn, as you already have, and you'll be amazed that the rapid progress you'll make. Have fun!