Slow and Steady Creates Progress

Slow and Steady Creates Progress

Jun 3, 2021 | music

I took a break on the clarinet practicing. The end of the spring semester really hit me hard. Add to that a few other things, and well let’s just say my little notations in my planner that I played faded into nothingness. But I’ve practiced TWICE this week...

Why Clarinet Scales are Like Trot Poles

Feb 27, 2019 | music

As I was working on the Pares Scales books, and feeling myself getting better at keeping my fingers moving and playing one note at a time — not getting ahead and fumbling things — I realized that scales and trot poles are pretty much the same things, just...

Seeing Progress (Clarinet Re-Learn)

Dec 26, 2018 | music

This past weekend was finally the point where the fingers and the brain started working together and I realized progress. I’m still working on Pares Scales, and the first exercise at that. However, I found my rhythm, even without the metronome that I misplaced,...

Practice Compassion (Musical Practice)

Dec 5, 2018 | music

One of the hardest things I find as someone who is coming back to playing the clarinet after a hiatus of about 20 years is to be compassionate with myself. I remember how easy it seemed, how I could hit the high notes and had the lung capacity to play through the long...