Category: Podcasts

This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Having flutes, clarinet and saxes together
• Having 90-minute classes every other day
• Centers for assessment purposes
• Ways to get time with individual sections

No outline notes for Q&A style episodes
MusicTheory.net (for assessment station)–Article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• How to make Demonstration Day “Contagious”
• Performance Day and making it “Contagious”
• Drop Out Contest and making it “Contagious”

Making Your Class Contagious – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Contagious Engagement in Band Class – LINK TO PURCHASE BOOK!
Episode 19 – Demonstration Day
Demonstration Day – Article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com
Performance Day – Article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com
Drop Out Contest– Article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Crossing the Break on clarinet is a challenge, but students can have great success if they meet these four objectives before it is introduced.

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• What to say/not to say about crossing the break
• 4 Objectives that must be met before teaching crossing the break
• How to introduce A-B for the first time
• Tips for intermediate players for even smoother crossing the break

Crossing The Break – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Facebook Page
Episode 18 Playing to low E, Perfect A key hand position
Episode 25 baby registers (Thumb position)
Teaching Clarinets to “Roll to A” Isn’t Enough – article
Crossing the Break Smoothly – article
Band Drop-Out – article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com
Right hand down article – coming in the next couple months
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Tetrachords
• Benefits/Drawbacks
• Specific benefit of each scale (first octave)

Starting Clarinet Scales – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)

Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Need a quick link to a specific topic? We’ve got you covered!

00 Introductory Episode

Episodes 01-20 – Beginning clarinet (Developing Good Habits from Day 1) 
01 Before School Starts
02 Before Opening the Case
03 Putting on the Reed
04 The First Sound
05 Up to Pitch (part 1)
06 Up to Pitch (part 2)
07 Keep it Fun & Open G
08 Hand Position & Mouthpiece Only
09 Playing GFEDC
10 First Note Reading & Note Name Games
11 Earning the Bottom Joint
12 Tonguing (Day 1)
13 Tonguing (Days 2-5)
14 Adding the Bottom Joint
15 Playing Bb, A, G
16 Pause and Evaluate
17 Starting in the Book
18 A Key & Earning the Bell
19 Parent Demonstration
20 Q&A First Months of Beginning Band

Episodes 21-26 – Intermediate Clarinets
21 Tone (& Tuning) 
22 Tonguing 
23 Increasing Range 
24 Scales (Chromatic & Fingering patterns) 
25 Warm-ups & Alternate Fingerings 
26 Practice Tools/Preparing for Auditions

Episodes 27-34 – Beginning Clarinet (Mastering the Middle of the Year)
27 Accountability in Beginning Band
28 First Written Warm-up
29 The Chromatic Scale (intro & 1st octave)
30 Analyzing a New Line
31 Starting Scales
32 Crossing the Break
33 Making Your Class Contagious
34 What Would You Do in My Situation

Episodes 35-40 – Miscellaneous
35 Student Evaluation and 2016 Overview
36 Ideas for the New Year
37 Switching the Right Kids to Bass Clarinet
38 Challenging Your Bass Clarinetists
39 Method Books
40 Band Director’s Workshop

Episodes 41-46  Finishing Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class
41 Beginning Spring Warm-up
42 Multi-Octave Scales and Chromatic
43 Differentiation in Beginning Band
44 Teaching Band Through Games!
45 Rhythm Tips for Maturing Beginners 
46 Finishing This Year and Planning for Next Year

Articles Available:
Putting on a Clarinet Reed (with 30 beginners)
Why My Beginning Clarinets Only Need 1/2 Their Instrument the First 6 Weeks of School
Clarinet Deodorant (#1 Clarinet Exercise)
Bass Clarinet – Switching the Right Kids
Right Hand Down (or not) on Clarinet
BandDirectorsTalkShop.com Archived Posts –
Click here and scroll down to see all available posts

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Why I love the chromatic
• Make it a milestone
• How to start the chromatic (baby steps)
• Teaching goals of the chromatic

Chromatic Scale First Octave – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Print the warm-up (with chromatic exercises) from Episode 28
Episode 24 (Chromatic scale for the intermediate student)
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode includes information on the following aspects of teaching a clarinet:

• Tonguing & pitch
• Waterfall variations
• Descending scale (to low E)
• Beginning register studies
• How to start register studies

The First Written Warm-up – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
The First Written Warm-up (Beginners – Fall) (pdf download to print)
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode includes information on the following aspects of teaching a clarinet:

• Starting accountability week 1
• Pass-offs / Play-offs
• Building Momentum
• How accountability moves beginners faster

Accountability in Beginning Band – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Successful Beginner Band Pass-Offs (link to article)
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section” which focuses on 2nd-year intermediate clarinet players. This episode includes information on the following aspects of teaching a clarinet to intermediate students:

• Practice Tools
• Teaching students how to perform
• Helping students with audition preparation

Practice Tools & Audition Preparation – Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Use a Stopwatch, Not a Timer (link to article)
Airplane Mode (link to article)
Setting Goals and Achieving Objectives  (link to article)
Jar of Doom (link to article)
Performance BINGO (link to article)

Reminders for an Awesome Audition (printable copy)
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂

Subscribe FREE on iTunes!

This episode is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section” which focuses on 2nd-year intermediate clarinet players. This episode includes information on the following aspects of teaching a clarinet warmup to intermediate students:

• Each part of the intermediate (level 3) clarinet warmup
• Description of each exercise, its purpose, and what to watch for
• 3 primary alternate fingerings for intermediate players

Clarinet Warmup & Alternate Fingerings (Intermediate Players) -Outline Notes (print this reminder sheet!)
Warmup #3 (Intermediate – 2nd/3rd year) This is a PDF of the actual warmup.
Clarinet Deodorant (link to article)
4 Rules (pictures of ‘names’ of keys) (link to article)
Clarinet Law of Minimal Motion (link to article)
Facebook Page
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Sign up for the “new resources” list – I don’t do a weekly newsletter, but send out info when there is something new to share. 🙂