2 Ways To Improve Clarinet Reeds

CLARINET MENTORS NEWSLETTER - Feb. 27, 2019

In this issue:

• Hello From Michelle - Tell Me How I Can Help Your Clarinet Playing
• Free Training - 2 Ways To Improve Your Clarinet Reeds - Do you get frustrated by reeds that hold you back? This may help.
• Michelle Recommends - The Healthy Clarinetist - Do you have aches and pains after playing your clarinet? Watch this video...
• Clarinet Celebration - Join me for an incredible few days of amateur adult masterclasses, clarinet choirs, technic classes and more, alongside live performances by some of the greatest clarinetists in the world.
• Almost Free Training - Here's your chance to try two of my most popular clarinet courses for $1 for 30 days
• Further Clarinet Trainings - Did you know that Michelle offers several detailed courses to help you play clarinet more easily? Many of them have a systematic 30-Day Workout plan for you to have clear improvement in a month

Hello From Michelle

Hello to all clarinetists in the Clarinet Mentors Community! My apologies for not sending my clarinet training newsletter out to you earlier. It has been a busy start to the new year filled with chamber music concerts, two operas, and a variety of other life activities. I have a bit of a lull before another cluster of performances, and I look forward to devoting some time to the Clarinet Mentors Community. Things that are coming soon include a brand new Rhythm Course that I feel will really impact anyone who struggles with rhythm or timing, some new apps to help you (if you like mixing technology with your clarinet routine), some live online interactive broadcasts and more. I'd love to hear from you what would most help you with your clarinet playing. If there is something you struggle with, let me know. That may just give me a great idea for our next newsletter and another training video.

I am also SO EXCITED about the Clarinet Celebration in Portland in June (see details below). This will truly be one of the most inspirational clarinet events that I have ever attended. I hope you can join us. 

Thanks for being in my community!

Michelle

FREE TRAINING

Two Improvements To Your Clarinet Reeds (includes review of Legère Signature European Cut Reeds and BG Reed Performer)

I think I can honestly say that every clarinetist I know has struggled with reeds at some point. They warp, break, change in bad ways at inconvenient times, it is hard to find a good one... I'm sure you can relate to this. Finding the right reed for you can make a big difference. If you haven't tried a high quality reed, it is worth doing. Like all clarinet gear, I hesitate to pick "the best", because the best for me, may not be the best for you. You need to find the gear that best supports the clarinet sound that you wish to make. Having said that, some gear is higher quality than others, and will help you in this quest. For cane reeds, I recommend that you try Steuer (my personal favourite), Vandoren, Silverstein Alta, D'Addario Reserve and any other specialty reed that captures your attention. I have switched almost exclusively to the Legère European Cut reed, which I was reluctant to do, and struggled (at first) to get the tone I wanted. Today's free training tells you how I made it work, and how much I love the freedom of a good reed that lasts a long time, and doesn't change with the weather! I was inspired to do this by listening to players like David Shifrin, Ricardo Morales, Jose Franch-Ballester and Corrado Giufreddi, who all sound amazing on synthetic reeds. 

I also discuss in today's video how a small reed add-on, the BG Reed Performer, can improve the performance of both cane and synthetic reeds, but curiously, with almost opposite effects. 

Watch today's free training video here: https://youtu.be/uJfY_gxlgIE

A Clarinet Celebration

Live Clarinet Event - June 25 - 30, 2019, Portland Oregon USA

This is HUGE news for all of us in the Clarinet Mentors Community! David Shifrin, one of my childhood "Clarinet Heroes", is organizing an incredible festival of clarinet concerts, a youth competition, masterclasses, gear tryout rooms, many clarinet sessions with great artists and more! The best part for us, is that he has invited the Clarinet Mentors Community (that's you and me) to come and create a meaningful set of activities for amateur adult clarinetists. This will include access to all of the stellar concerts and recitals, a chance to participate in masterclasses with myself and some of these great artists in our own, safe, amateurs-only space, daily clarinet choir sessions where you get to play with like-minded clarinetists, special interactive clarinet technic classes where you will learn new skills, and so much more. Not only will you learn a lot, you will meet some great like-minded players, and have a wonderful time.

I think this will be one of the best clarinet events for amateur players that has ever happened. Please find out more details here: https://www.clarinetmastery.com/clarinet-mentors-live-event-2019

NOTE: We will accommodate lots of people from the Clarinet Mentors Community. However, there is only space for 50 people to register at this time. We currently have space for about 16 more people to join in. I will be looking at the room in March to determine if we can comfortably fit any more in. If you want to go, please book now to guarantee your spot.

Register Now For A Clarinet Celebration

I hope to see you in person at this exciting event!

MICHELLE RECOMMENDS

THE Healthy Clarinetist

Recently I have interacted with several clarinetist who have various aches and pains while (or immediately after) playing clarinet. This can be neck pain, wrist pain, back pain...or whatever muscles and tendons we strain making music. About a year and a half ago, I got together with Heather Walker, an Alexander Technic specialist, who works almost exclusively with musicians on how to improve how we hold and move our body to reduce injury. I find her training to be invaluable. We created a mini-course together to help clarinetists. I found it so valuable, that I created a page where you can watch one of the video lessons at no charge. It sure got rid of a pain-in-the-neck in my life! If you didn't see this earlier, you can watch it now, here: https://www.clarinetmastery.com/the-healthy-clarinetist

(ALMOST) FREE TRAINING - An Amazing $1 Opportunity for You 

I have two clarinet courses that I think are so valuable, I want to offer them to you to try out for $1 for 30 days. Pay $1 and learn lots. I'll give you the very short version of what you get, which is two monthly courses:

1. Clarinet Mastery Live Trainings - I go live, online with members of this course twice a month, and answer all of their clarinet questions. I also give personal feedback to a few volunteers each session who have a mini-lesson with me. You can be part of a great community, and get live feedback from me about your clarinet issues. There is so much to enjoy and learn within this community! We have a live session in about 24 hours that you could be a part of if you sign up now (and you get a recording of the replay if you can't make it in person).

2. Mastering Clarinet Music Club - I give you 2 new pieces of music each month with lessons on how to prepare the music. Recently, I have coaxed some of my musical colleagues to join in so that you can have play-along recordings with professional string players and pianists. It is awesome.

To try these for 30 days for just $1 (and after that you pay a monthly subscription, like Netflix or other online services), sign up here: https://www.clarinetmastery.com/offers/PFQbq67Q

FURTHER CLARINET TRAININGS

Did you know that Michelle Anderson of Clarinet Mentors has created several step-by-step courses to help you play the clarinet better? Do you want to improve your tone, or move your fingers faster, or play high notes better? Check out all of the courses (which all have free samples for you to learn from) by clicking the button below:

Further Clarinet Trainings And Samples

I hope you'll become part of my clarinet community! Feel free to email if you have questions, comments or things you would like to see in future newsletters. I hope that you enjoy great music with your clarinet playing this week.

Michelle Anderson, Clarinet Mentors