Do you play your instrument? Or do you work at your craft?
Category: Practicing
Three Tips for Better Clarinet Auditions – part 1
Try these simples tips to immediately sound better on auditions.
Listening — by Christopher Pell
What are we supposed to do with our brains and our attention? Listen!
Porch/Patio Lessons – A Student’s View
Another student of mine, Catherine, came to her first in-person lesson yesterday since the quarantine began. It was a hotter day so we moved from the porch to the shadier patio in back. Catherine ordinarily has a joyful smile. But this day her smile was even ‘smilier’. Mine was too. It was so good to… Continue reading Porch/Patio Lessons – A Student’s View
Porch Lessons
Teaching effective music lessons during Covid-19
Articulation: Warm Ups, Stroke Work, Flexibility and Stamina
Recently I updated the articulation packet on my website. Preference is given to working on articulation within music, but there are times when isolating the act of tonguing is helpful. http://www.dianahaskellclarinet.com/artist.php?view=dpk Assuming one’s air is supported properly, the embouchure is stable, and the player does not lack in endurance, the biggest issue is not tonguing… Continue reading Articulation: Warm Ups, Stroke Work, Flexibility and Stamina
Listen to – and Learn From -Experienced Musicians
Last year a friend of mine offered a really great idea to help our orchestra. This person is a long-time member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. When I suggested this person talk with our management, the response was "No, no one wants to hear from someone my age." I was taken aback and saddened… Continue reading Listen to – and Learn From -Experienced Musicians
Character Traits of Great Clarinet Students…and Musings On Ego
One of the greatest teachers of young clarinetists today, and someone I greatly admire, Eva Wasserman-Margolis, recently wrote a profound statement: ‘The quality of music is of utmost importance .... but it is really about the human being behind the music that is most important to me’. I have maintained that in teaching, the heart of… Continue reading Character Traits of Great Clarinet Students…and Musings On Ego
Preventing Injury In Clarinet Students – Five Guidelines For Private Teachers and School Conductors
Several high school students recently came to me with tension, muscle weakness, pain, numbness or tingling. This was largely due to overuse, poor muscle tone and poor body positioning. The students were afraid to tell anyone, and they thought it was ok to continue playing through the pain. Mostly they didn’t want to let their… Continue reading Preventing Injury In Clarinet Students – Five Guidelines For Private Teachers and School Conductors
PRACTICE TIME IN PERCENTAGES FORMAT
In practicing, students usually fall into one of two groups. Using highly technical terms (not), I call these groups: 1) those who get lost in details (detail-ers) 2) those who run through material without much attention (runners) ‘Detailers’ enjoy the process and can get lost in musical minutiae, forgetting that time exists. An hour later they… Continue reading PRACTICE TIME IN PERCENTAGES FORMAT
CLARINET DIVAS 