Category: Podcasts

EPISODE 04  SHOW NOTES

This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode of the Crossing The Break podcast covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• How to be sure students are ready to make the first sound
• 4 steps for correct clarinet embouchure
• Words to say to the group
• Ways to help individuals

Free download of all outline notes for the entire 20 episodes (click here to ‘enroll’ in the free course which basically just allows you to download the full packet of Outline Notes. I hope to add more pictures/videos to this course at a later time, but for now it allows you to download all 20 episodes at once.)
The First Sound (Outline Notes)
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Checking to see if they are ready – Steps with thumb

4 steps with mouthpiece/barrel

Checking individuals (I hold barrel)

One other comment – this child mentioned that it hurt her teeth “especially because they just grew in.” I normally start 6th graders, but for those of you that start in 4th or 5th grade, you may need to be a little more patient as students adjust. They still need to anchor, but I hadn’t really ever thought about teeth being extra sensitive as they are growing in.

EPISODE 03  SHOW NOTES

This Episode of the Crossing The Break podcast covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Preparing and assembling mouthpiece/barrel
• Ligature considerations
• Reed placement
• 4 things to check

Free download of all outline notes for the entire 20 episodes (click here to ‘enroll’ in the free course which basically just allows you to download the full packet of Outline Notes. I hope to add more pictures/videos to this course at a later time, but for now it allows you to download all 20 episodes at once.)
Putting on the Reed (Outline notes)
Article about Putting on the Reed (link with pictures)
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)

EPISODE 02  SHOW NOTES

This episode of the Crossing The Break podcast covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Organization/Preparation of supplies
• Productive use of time ideas
• Chants/Counting
• Milkshake face (clarinet embouchure)

Free download of all outline notes for the entire 20 episodes (click here to ‘enroll’ in the free course which basically just allows you to download the full packet of Outline Notes. I hope to add more pictures/videos to this course at a later time, but for now it allows you to download all 20 episodes at once.)
Before Opening the Case (Outline Notes)
Lines Spaces Chant (Instant PDF download)
Posture Chant (Instant PDF download)
Closed Facebook group (read guidelines and then request access)
Reed guards numbered – I forgot to talk about this on the podcast, but we number reed guards to help them rotate. I strongly recommend they have a real reed guard – well worth the investment. But, if they don’t, you can number 4 plastic cases. I use a silver sharpie for the black reed guards.

Milkshake Face – Since it’s the middle of the summer I didn’t have access to any of my students. This is a child (10 years old) that has NEVER played clarinet before. I explained milkshake and got these pictures in about 3 minutes.

This was her first try. Great chin, but the corners were back and her neck was really tense. I had her do it again and told her to think about the straw.

This was her 2nd try – corners were forward. Chin is still pretty good. But lips are too poochie.  I demonstrated again and showed her the 1st picture and the 2nd picture and told her to split the difference.
This was her third try. Pretty good! I’d be happy to have a class of these. Her neck is still tense, but I wasn’t really having her breathe in and out yet. Again, this was all in about 3 minutes.

Normal face (NOT clarinet face)- I also wanted to show you her normal face for comparison –

 

Episode 01  Show Notes

This episode of the Crossing The Break podcast covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:

• Supplies to order
• Stand tags (how to make them and the purpose of them)
• Thinking through the logistics as you set up your classroom
• Philosophy of beginning band
• Demonstrating for students

Free download of all outline notes for the entire 20 episodes (click here to ‘enroll’ in the free course which basically just allows you to download the full packet of Outline Notes. I hope to add more pictures/videos to this course at a later time, but for now it allows you to download all 20 episodes at once.)
Before School Starts (Outline notes)
Clarinet Hacks Article (information on supply order)
BandDirectorsTalkShop (link)
Stand tags

 

EPISODE 00  SHOW NOTES

This episode of the Crossing The Break (the “teaching clarinet podcast”) covers the following:

• A little about the host
• How this podcast came to be
• What to expect from this podcast
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  BandDirectorsTalkShop.com website
  BandDirectorsTalkShop.com Facebook page
  Sample article on BandDirectorsTalkShop.com by Tamarie Sayger
  Crossing The Break 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. 🙂