....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 c

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 mou

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 opportuni

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

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 reed

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