....when you are done practicing! I hear so many students and parents say "if I leave it put together it will be easier to start practicing". It takes less than a minute to put your clarinet together.....yes, even if you have to use cork grease! Leaving it out of the case 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? Take good care of your clarinet! For more information on clarinet lessons in Sharon,MA visit my website www.elizabethleehey.com or email me at emlpml@comcast.net

Back to school time is here! Time to get that clarinet out of the case. When is the last time you cleaned your clarinet mouthpiece? Here's the method I've been using for many years: Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in a glass with about 2 inches of room temperature water. Put the mouthpiece in the glass, tip down. Do not submerge the cork. Let it soak for about 5 minutes and then rinse under the faucet with room temperature water. If there was any white build-up on the mouthpiece (this is calcium from your saliva), the vinegar will help to dissolve it. Next, use a Q-Tip to clean the inside of the mouthpiece - carefully get into all the "nooks and crannies". I highly recommend that you use

Success in Music leads to success in life! Summer is just about over, and next week begins the new academic year. I am teaching private clarinet lessons at my Home Studio in Sharon and at Concord Conservatory. Several students will be preparing for the upcoming District auditions this fall and I will be organizing a small ensemble of students to perform at a local senior residence. I will also be teaching a clarinet ensemble at Concord Conservatory. This is a great opportunity for students to meet other players and expand on what is learned in private lessons while playing fun and engaging music. I have openings in both studios for children and adults - all levels are welcome. In addition t

Do you need some inspiration to get that clarinet out of the case and start practicing? Listen to some great players, and listen to many different styles of music. Here is a small sample of what is available: Robert Marcellus playing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Conductor George Szell. This is one of the most well-known pieces in the clarinet repertoire. Paquito D'Rivera - Cuban clarinetist extraordinaire. Tico Tico Harold Wright live recording of Brahms Sonata #2 Barcelona Clarinet Players This is a great, fun group The Tale of Viktor Navorski from the movie The Terminal Original sound track played by Emily Bernstein Shirley Brill plays A

The more you bring to your lesson, the more you will get out of it. The obvious - “Practice” - is the first thing that comes to mind. Certainly, the more time you spend working on your own during the week, the further we will be able to progress in your lesson. However, there are other things to consider in having a great lesson - whether you have practiced a lot or just a little. Reeds. Make sure you have several reeds in your case at all times - used reeds and also new reeds. If you have time before your lesson, test out a few reeds to find one that is responding well. If you reed is not working well, I will help you - but you need to have a supply of reeds with you at your lesson. Playi

It's that time of year again - the start of school is just a few weeks away! Is your clarinet ready for September? If you have been playing during the school break, That's Great! Keep going! If you haven't played that much this summer, now is the time to dust off your clarinet case and start tooting. Here's a list of things to check before school starts: REEDS! - Do you have any NEW reeds? If you have less that 5 NEW reeds, now is the time to order a new box. Don't know where to get them? Check out my Clarinet Resources page, or ask your private lesson teacher. Is your clarinet working properly? Now is a great time to contact your local repair shop and have a technician look it over and make