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Clarinet Music by Women Composers
Over the years, I’ve written several articles about women clarinetists and women composers who wrote for the clarinet. (Articles linked below) In the world of classical music, the contributions of women composers have historically been overlooked. For the past few years, I’ve compiled a list of works for clarinet written by women, and I’m excited to finally share this list…
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The Beginner’s Complete Guide to the Clarinet
Congratulations for beginning your clarinet journey! ♫ The clarinet is by far the best instrument out there (or at least it is according to me and this small corner of the internet), and I have several resources to help you get started. I’ve written several articles which will help guide you along as you navigate the process of learning clarinet,…
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What do clarinet reeds and jeans have in common?
Finding the best clarinet reed for your setup is a lot like searching for the perfect pair of jeans—frustrating at times, but incredibly rewarding when you find the one that fits just right. The similarities don’t stop there! If you’ve ever delved into the world of clarinet reeds, you know that we have a lot of options, which can all…
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Are you allergic to the clarinet?
Although this might sound like a weak excuse to get out of band class, it is possible to experience allergies to some of the clarinet’s components. Here’s how you can be allergic to the clarinet: (Just a reminder – I am a classically trained clarinetist and not a medical doctor. If you experience any concerning symptoms while playing clarinet, please…
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Clarinet Equipment Advice for Marching Band
Another school year is just around the corner, which can only mean one thing… Marching band! Whether this is your first time in marching band or you’re a seasoned marching band pro, here is my clarinet equipment advice for anyone in marching band (or band directors working with marching bands): Good luck, and I hope you have a great marching…
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FAQ: Playing clarinet in the Arctic
I spent three months this year playing clarinet in the Arctic, and I’m here to answer some of the most common questions I received during and after these residencies! In case you missed it, here is a detailed account of my Mission: Evolution project, as well as behind-the-scenes details from my residencies. Leave a comment with any questions you have…
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Extreme clarinet playing in the Arctic
I spent three months this year performing clarinet in the Arctic. “How is your clarinet ok?!” “My clarinet cracked just looking at this post!” “How is the tuning?” These are some of the messages that flooded my inbox these last few months during my artist residencies in northern Greenland and Svalbard, where I played my Henri Selmer Paris Privilège Evolution system…
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Is your clarinet thumb rest in the optimal position?
If you are experiencing discomfort or pain in your hands or wrists while playing clarinet, your thumb rest might not be in the optimal position! Even though the clarinet is not very heavy (about 1.5-2 pounds, or about 680-900 grams), it all starts to add up after you multiply the hours, days, weeks, months, and years spent holding and playing…
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Historical Clarinetist Superlatives: Most Likely To…
Congratulations to all the graduating clarinetists this school year! My North American readers are probably familiar with school superlatives, so In honor of graduation, I thought it would be fun to nominate historical clarinetists for school superlatives (my North American readers will probably be familiar with these!) Most likely to succeed Caroline Schleicher-Krähmer, the first woman clarinet soloist in history.…
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My clarinet won’t come apart! What should I do?
Chances are, if you’re reading this you’re in a bit of a dilemma – your clarinet is stuck together and won’t come apart! This is actually more common than you think, and here’s what you should do: Now that you’ve gotten your clarinet apart, here are some tips to help prevent this from happening again:
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New composition: Qivittoq for solo clarinet
I am honored to have spent one month in Ilulissat, Greenland as an artist-in-residence with Arctic Culture Lab during March/April 2025. Ilulissat and the icefjord were beautiful beyond belief, and the photos and videos I took don’t do it justice! As part of my project researching Greenlandic music culture and history, I composed a piece for solo clarinet inspired by…
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Clarinet embouchure: How much mouthpiece should you take in?
Believe it or not, how much mouthpiece you take in when playing clarinet can make a big difference in your sound! Whether you’re new to the clarinet or have been playing for years, it’s never a bad idea to examine (or re-examine) your embouchure to make sure you’re producing a top-quality sound. One aspect of this is how much of…
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