....when you are done practicing!   I hear so many students say "if I keep my clarinet put together I will practice more".   Once you've had a few lessons, it will take you less than a minute to put your clarinet together.....yes, even if you have to use cork grease!     Keeping your clarinet assembled is really NOT a good idea. Why? It can get damaged VERY easily. Bent keys, broken mouthpiece, dust, dirt......do you have a pet, or a young sibling? Also the tenon corks (betwe

Sharon Clarinet Ensemble performance 2025 May and June can be the busiest months of the year for parents and students and also music teachers who are preparing their students for recitals and auditions. I will be presenting a Spring Chamber Music Program in collaboration with flutist and music educator Yulia Berry on May 9, 2026 at The First Baptist Church in Sharon. The program will feature our students in a variety of pieces for flute and clarinet including arrangements o

Canton Community Band My best High School memories are those of band and orchestra. I was a member of the band, select band, marching band, orchestra and even a jazz orchestra called Studio Orchestra. We were a close knit group of students whose dedication showed in our many performances. Marching Band highlights included a performance in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and a parade on "Main Street" in Disney World. Studio Orchestra gave us the opportunity to

May and June are the months when Boston and Rhode Island youth ensembles are holding auditions for membership into next fall's groups. You may have heard students and parents discussing BYSO or MYWE or RIPYWE. These ensembles are quite competitive and students need to prepare very well prior to the auditions. In general, students will be asked to play scales, repertoire showing contrasting musical styles and sight reading. Each ensemble has specific audition requirements, so

Private lessons greatly benefit students of all ages, especially at the very beginning of learning a musical instrument, but also at any stage of learning. Learning to play the clarinet involves many different things including embouchure, breathing, hand position, and posture in addition to learning how to read music. There are many subtle aspects to these fundamentals skills which are so very important for the student to be able to progress on the instrument. Each student le

Is your child starting clarinet this school year? Are you wondering where to get an instrument? Or maybe you have an old clarinet to pass down. Here are some tips to help you get started: If you don't already have an instrument, I recommend renting a clarinet instead of buying one. You can "rent to own" in most music stores. Student model clarinets are best for young beginners. I highly recommend Leonard's Music in Bedford for rentals and repairs. The rental clarinet will in

Time to get that clarinet out of the case and start practicing!! Summer is just about over, and the new academic year is beginning soon....

Get Focused for your practice session Set up in a quiet room away from distractions - turn off the computer, TV, cell phone. Gather all of your equipment (instrument, music, reeds, pencil, metronome, etc.) before you begin to practice so that you won’t have to stop to get something (like a pencil) once you have begun. Position your music stand high enough so that your head remains level as you are reading the music. If you are sitting, use a chair that has a hard, flat seat (

Set up a dedicated space for effective and efficient practice Remove distractions that affect your child’s ability to focus An optimal practice environment is quiet - turn off TV, computer, cell phone, etc. Siblings (or parents) doing other activities in the practice area while a student is practicing is distracting. Dedicate the space to practice during practice time. Some students feel self conscious when a parent is listening to them practice. If that is the case with your

I like to encourage all my clarinet students to participate in district and state band auditions each year. Music auditions are a great...