Get better at playing clarinet

Obtaining a decent instrument and mouthpiece was important, but lessons have helped immensely. I still struggle with breath support, smooth transitions into and out of the altissimo range, my embouchure, etc; however, I am able to obtain a decent tone without too much struggle.

This is quite a demanding instrument, and I need to devote more time and effort than I have been doing.

My goal is daily practice (90 minutes) and biweekly lessons (1 hr). By this time next year I want to begin learning bass clarinet as well.

On the consumption end of things, I expect to improve via the purchase of a superior instrument. I am buying a Leblanc Cadenza (by Backun) with a Backun bell which is being set up by Kessler music in Vegas. I’ll probably get a handmade mouthpiece by Clark Fobes or Walter Grabner as well.

On the much more important educational end, I will begin private lessons with the clarinetist and principal bass clarinetist for the LA Philharmonic, David Howard, hopefully by early September (prior to my birthday). I’m pondering returning to school to study music as well, but I’m hesitant to reduce my hours at work, and as a music major, most of my time would go into learning the piano (good for composition I suppose but less helpful with regard to this goal).

I took a jazz improv class last semester it really boosted my playing, I’m still not great yet, but I’m better. I totally recommend that for anyone who plays an instrument.

and if you don’t like jazz, you basically don’t deserve to live. Improvisation is what music is all about.

practiced for two hours last night in the empty practice rooms…it was awesome…the building was completely deserted..i was there until 11:30…=) i feel myself getting better already, but with 20 high-level pieces of music to learn, i’m pretty overwhelmed

shrug

i had a meeting with my new private tutor on monday who proceded to tell me that there are about a trillion things i don’t know that i should. le sigh. so today i have to go and buy about six new excercise books and everything short of a new clarinet. but i’m getting better i suppose.