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Clarinet Now Blog

The Clarinet Now Blog keeps you up-to-date with Clarinet-Now.com postings and news. Practicing, clarinet fundamentals, famous clarinet players and other odds and ends fuel Clarinet-Now's energy...



Clarinet Embouchure

Correct clarinet embouchure descriptions and ideas.

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Albert clarinet scales

Learn how to best use the J.B. Albert clarinet scales method book.

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Clean sound, mellow ease.

I played almost every day for at least five years and graduated from playing in the school orchestra to playing in the NY Jazz Mobile youth group in 1972,

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Legato

Minhye Kim Ilsan, South Korea Hello, I've been playing clarinet for about 8years. But I'm still feeling that my basic techniques are not stable. Especially

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Squidward playing the clarinet

If a clarinet teacher got a hold of Squidward playing the clarinet, what would that teacher say? Find out here.

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West Point Paws for a Cause Video with Old Grads Music

Therapy dogs are helping our returning soldiers in many ways. This video shows some of the dogs working at the West Point Warrior Transition Unit. It was recorded on a camera attached to a therapy dog's wheelchair. Special thanks goes to MSG Eric Miller and The West Point Band for the great music. I hope you enjoy it and you can visit us at West Point Paws for a Cause.

What a fantastic group of dogs and what a fantastic group of Soldiers they make happy? Good luck to you 'West Point Paws for a Cause.' The march you hear on the video is the West Point "Old Grads March". It is played twice a year at Homecoming and during Graduation Week. The West Point Band leads the Old Grads across diagonal walk at a slow tempo to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Thayer Statue saluting the graduates that passed during the year. The songs in the medley are "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", "Swanee River", "Hail! Hail! The Gangs All Here", and "Over There." It is a fitting tribute to the Old Grads and I have to say fits fantastically to Murray the Therapy Dog marching around doing his duties. Thanks to all that serve, Therapy Dogs, War Vets, Active Duty, Veterans, and West Point Old Grads. We all depend on the freedom you provide.

Click for more info


Dr. Michael White U.S. National Anthem Sugar Bowl 2012

Dr. Michael White and Bryan Batt perform the Star Spangled Banner in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 3, 2012.

Wurlitzer Reform Boehm clarinet.

More Dr. Michael White recordings Jazz From the Soul of New Orleans


Practice Chart

The Practice Chart helps you log your practice minutes and hours. Print these charts for free and use as an improvement tool on clarinet or any instrument.

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Clarinet Left Hand Position

Clarinet left hand position thoughts including photos and common faults. Goal - a more musically, efficient left hand.

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You can see the Fox News Special Here of West Point Band

If you wish to see the entire special (about 45 minutes minus commercials), here is the link:

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West Point Band Hudson Valley Holiday Concert on Fox News

If you have not figured it out, my day job is Clarinetist and Drum Major in the West Point Band, educating, training, and inspiring the U.S. Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York. I'm in my nineteenth year serving here and have performed 20 Hudson Valley Holiday Concerts.

For many of those years, I served as an extra duty as publicist for the band. I (and my staff of musician/publicists) tirelessly publicized the Hudson Valley Holiday Concerts and the show drew some of the best indoor crowds over the years (between 1500 and 3500 each year often for two concerts).

Fox News came earlier December 2011 to film our concert, several chamber ensembles, and West Point scenic shots to make a Christmas special to be shown on 23, 24 and 25 December. Following is the broadcast schedule:

Eastern Standard Time

12/23 (10pm)

12/24 (1am, 5am, 10pm) Christmas Eve

12/25 (1am, 4am, 1pm) Christmas Day

As the West Point Band focuses on duty at the Military Academy and New York Metropolitan area, it is not known as well as the Washington, D.C. special military bands. I assure you, this band rocks and is an honor to serve with every single Soldier/Musician. I hope you enjoy the show. We have not seen it yet, and are looking forward to their compilation.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chris

Clarinet-Now.com, Blog, Twitter, and Ezine

WestPointBand.com on Twitter, and on Facebook

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Legato

Hello, I've been playing clarinet for about 8years. But I'm still feeling that my basic techniques are not stable. Especially the legato problem. I feel

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Clarinet Leopard Shoes from Clarinet-Now.com

These are toe-tappers...


20% off Clarinet Play-Along Sheet Music with CDs

See the following Clarinet Play-along music and CDs at 20% off the cover price. Also, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25. Improve your ensemble skills and have fun!

Glee - 15 hits from the popular FOX TV show for solo instrumentalists! Includes a great full-accompaniment play-along CD so you can sound just like a pro. Songs include: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going - Defying Gravity - Don't Stop Believin' - Keep Holding On - Lean on Me - No Air - Sweet Caroline - True Colors - and more.

Wicked - 13 songs from the Broadway sensation arranged for solo instrumentalists with a great accompaniment CD. Songs include: As Long As You're Mine - Dancing Through Life - Defying Gravity - For Good - I'm Not That Girl - Popular - The Wizard and I - and more.

The Jazz Method for Clarinet - by John O'Neill. Book with CD. 96 pages. "John O'Neill has a solid understanding of jazz and how it can be taught. I highly recommend his educational jazz materials." (Jamey Aebersold)

Nothin' But Blues by Jamey Aebersold - For any C, Eb, Bb, bass instrument or voice. Play-Along series with accompaniment CD. Master the sound and feel of the blues. Beginner, intermediate. Book with CD.

Clarinet Concerto - KV 622 in A-major. (2-CD Set). By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Play Along book with CD.

More clarinet play-along music and CDs

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Jittering sound on the low notes in the lower register

I have been playing for about nine months, and seem to have a good tone, except for an ear piercing jittering sound I get sometimes when I play the low

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Clarinet-Now.com on Twitter

You can now follow ClarinetNow on Twitter. Webpage updates as well as performance info of Chris performing clarinet/drum major with the West Point Band.

Recent busy weekend, played Veterans Concert at Ike Hall, West Point, New York to nearly 2,000 live concertgoers. Here is a live performance of Bilik's American Civil War Fantasy with slideshow from that event.

Then, the West Point Band on 12 NOV 2011 had a full day of Army vs Rutgers Football activities at Yankee Stadium. Now, if you've been to Yankee Stadium as a fan, it is pretty cool, but going through all of the underworkings, locker rooms, executive suites, etc... is really cool. However, this day we played a two-hour rehearsal with the Rutgers Band and Cadet and Rutgers Glee Clubs, played Black Knights Alley for around fifty people, played the march-through the Bronx with 3,000 cadets for around a 1,000 people, and pregame and halftime for 30,000 live and millions of TV viewers.

For the first time ever, we collaborated with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Band for pre-game, here is it submitted by the Rutgers Band (from a distance)

Then, on 13 NOV 2011, the West Point Band played the halftime show for the Jets vs. Patriots Game at MetLife Stadium for Military Appreciation Day. Nearly 80,000 football fan really enjoyed the patriotic show. One live blimp shot of the West Point Band at halftime again jumps the audience number into millions.

If you are in the New York City area, I highly recommend you make an effort to hear the West Point Band, get free tickets to the Hudson Valley Holiday Concert here.

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High Notes on Bass Clarinet

How do you play the high notes on the Bass clarinet? I put a lot of air in it bu it makes the wrong sound. :( FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Far,

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Where is tongue when not articulating?

Hi! I was doing some research to put on a Master’s Class for High Schoolers and really have appreciated all of your helpful information. When putting

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How much mouthpiece?

Hey, I've been really fixing up my embouchure and my articulation technique. I find it's A LOT easier to articulate I use more mouthpiece, but I find

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Skull and Clarinets

Danger - Clarinet Practicing! The Skull and Clarinets are a whimsical play on the symbols Skull and Bones and Jolly Roger.

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Clarinet and Saxophone Embouchure Comparison

Hi there! I have been playing clarinet for 8 years and just a few months ago I switched to tenor saxophone for marching band this year. I haven't hardly

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Need a Clarinet Job?

Section Bb Clarinet/Eb Clarinet Utility in the West Point Concert Band.

Join the ranks of Larry Combs, Ben Armato, and Kalmen Opperman as alumni of the oldest of all U.S. Army Band's. The West Point Band has a great tradition serving the Nation, Army, U.S. Corps of Cadets, and New York Hudson Valley for almost 200-years.

Hurry and prepare:

PACKET POSTMARK DEADLINE: November 28, 2011

FINAL ROUND: February 27, 2012

If you are in competition for this job, keep this information to yourself and go practice. If you are not in competition for this job and know a great clarinetist, send them the link as soon as possible.

Below is a video of the 1812 Overture at the West Point Band's 1812 Concert held every year on Labor Day Weekend. Up to 15,000 come see this concert with fireworks.

Below is the impressive Cadet Parade that the West Point Band supports numerous times a year. Do you think marching and playing clarinet is not for a professional? Listen to The Official West Point March and Old Glory Triumphant March, smokin' clarinet parts, I have to say. Enjoy.

Pass in Review with America Exultant at 35 minutes, Official West Point March at 42 min 32 seconds, and Old Glory Triumphant March at 48 minutes and 5 seconds.

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Squeaking sound

HI there, I think I am driving myself and my neighbors mad trying to get the sound of the clarinet register notes correct! Slurring these notes is fine...no

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Movie Studio Clarinet

My goal is to play the clarinet in a band that makes the music we hear in movies. I've had a little taste of how it works, and it was an amazing experience.

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Top clarinet teachers?

Hi, I'm an Army clarinet player currently loving life in South Korea. I really do, not being sarcastic. My clarinet professor in college was a student

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Berkeley AC307 ELITE SERIES Clarinet - Has anyone purchased this instrument? Send us your Review.

First, how does one post a question on the Clarinet-Now Blog? Doesn't seem to be a place to post a question. I am a clarinet student using a Buffet R-13

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TEN TIPS ON CLEANING YOUR CLARINET MOUTHPIECE – PLUS A BONUS TIP

How to Clean a Clarinet Mouthpiece? How do you properly clean a clarinet mouthpiece? Is there different ways to clean different mouthpieces if they're

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Feels like I can't blow through

I played clarinet from 6th grade through High School and into college. Haven't played in about 15 years though, and now my daughter wants to play, so I

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Best In Class

I want to be best in my class! FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Marsha, Practice consistantly every single day. Even in the summer and on weekends. You

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Teeth not on mouthpiece!!!

I have been playing for 3 years and the whole time I have had the wrong embouchure. I don't put my top teeth on the mouthpiece, instead I roll my top lip

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Right Hand Pain

Hi! I've read your page about how to properly hold a clarinet: Right Hand Clarinet Position I feel like I am doing everything right but, my right hand

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Dixie Blues

I love Dixieland and listening to dixie clarinettists. I cannot play by ear so I gave up trying to play it. If I had a goal, it would be to play in a dixie

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Once Bitten, Twice Shy

I played clarinet in middle school and high school but dropped out after sophomore year. It took eight years to rekindle my interest in playing again and

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My Clarinet Goal

I myself want 2 become a nice clarinet player 4 little kidz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM CLARINET-NOW.COM Hello Alliyah, What a wonderful goal for clarinet

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West Point Band

Become a Facebook fan of the West Point Band. This awesome ensemble gives free concerts year-round in the New York City area and is not a student group made of cadets.

The West Point Band offers free recordings on this Facebook page as well as free concert events. Especially popular is the Trophy Point Concert Series in the summer from mid-June to Labor Day weekend on Sunday evenings.

If you are in the New York City area ever, come hear the West Point Band in person.

Click for more info


Clarinet Now Survey Results - 10% Move Chin while Articulate, 74% not, 16% do not know

So far, on the Clarinet Now Survey, 10% of you say you move your chin when you articulate on clarinet, 74% say you do not, and 16% say you do not know.

If you have not already voted, come to Clarinet Now Survey.

If you have voted, come back and see the results. You can do this by visiting Clarinet Now Survey and under each question, click the "Skip voting, see results" link. It will tell you the number of votes and the percentages of each question.

I almost forgot to remind all those using the 15-week Clarinet Now Practice Chart, if you started New Years Eve 2011, it is time to print your next chart. Click here for a free practice chart.

Best, Chris


Best fingering for a troublesome pattern.....

My clarinets in 7th/8th grade are having trouble with a pattern of 8th notes that move at a 120+ tempo... Can anyone help me with alternate fingers?!?!?!?

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Sound/Tone Quality

Hello. I've been playing clarinet for about 5 years and I needed help making my clarinet tone quality into one like a semi-professional one like my section

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Clarinet Now Survey

Alright good clarinet friends, if you want to take a quick, fun, clarinet survey, follow this link. You can see immediate feedback on these polls and leave your thoughts on each question. Oh yeah, pass it onto your clarinet friends and colleagues! Thanks. Chris

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Single Lip or Double-Lip Clarinet Embouchure?

Love your site, spent about 2 hours on it today! Regarding the embouchure, I have been confused since reading Benny Goodman's Clarinet Method; he says

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