Call me biased, but the clarinet is one of the most versatile instrument in terms of range, dynamics, and much more! Here’s an overview of the range and different registers of the clarinet First, let’s discuss the difference between range and registers. An instrument’s range includes the entire span of notes capable of being produced. A register is a smaller subset of these notes, typically sharing timbral characteristics and tendencies. Here is the soprano clarinet’s working range: As demonstrated in the above photo, the clarinet has quite the range! Spanning nearly 3+ octaves, the clarinet c ..read more

I’m so excited to introduce a new series here on Jenny Clarinet – Around the World in Eighty Pieces! It’s no secret that I love to travel. When I moved to Paris back in 2015, I took advantage of budget airlines (shoutout to RyanAir and Transavia!) to explore all over Europe. This ignited my passion for travelling, and along the way, I began informally studying clarinet cultures around the world. What is clarinet culture? To me, this is the history, people, performers, teachers, repertoire, pedagogy, and other intangible aspects of learning, teaching, and performing the clarinet in each country ..read more

At first glance, these three concepts might seem interchangeable. To add further confusion, they all begin with the same letter! Here’s a quick overview of how I explain these three concepts to my students: I hope this quick overview helps you to distinguish between tone, tuning, and timbre! Leave a comment below with any input or descriptions you use! The post Tone, Tuning, Timbre – What’s the Difference? first appeared on Jenny Maclay. The post Tone, Tuning, Timbre – What’s the Difference? appeared first on Jenny Maclay ..read more

You know what they say – nothing lasts forever, and the clarinet is no different. One of the most common questions I’m asked is “How long does a reed/mouthpiece/ligature/clarinet last?” There are a few different factors affecting this answer, so let’s break it down by item: Now, let’s talk about clarinets: How do you know if your clarinet or accessories are wearing out? As you probably gleaned from reading this article, there is no set timeline for replacing your clarinets or its accessories. It depends on several factors and is unique to each musician. Ultimately, clarinets and accessories ge ..read more

My, oh my, how the time flies! When I started Jenny Clarinet back in 2015, I had no idea the journey I was about to undertake. I started Jenny Clarinet right before I moved to Paris as a way to share my musical musings, clarinet pedagogy, and travel updates along my clarinet career. For my 400th blog post, I would like to share 10 musical memories this blog has given me the opportunity to experience. I’m humbled and so grateful for all of the musical connections and memories created via this blog, and here are a few of my favorites: Thank you so much for your support and contributions to the c ..read more

Serious clarinetists are probably all-too familiar with Igor Stravinsky’s devilishly difficult Three Pieces for solo clarinet, written in 1918 and published in 1919. This piece was written as a thank-you present to philanthropist and amateur clarinetist Werner Reinhart (1884-1951) for his support of Stravinsky’s music. This is one of the first true unaccompanied solos in the clarinet repertoire, and it is commonplace for this work to be asked on auditions because it demonstrates the player’s technical and lyrical abilities. Another unique element of this piece is that it is written for both B ..read more

Let me preface this post by saying that the clarinet is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. True progress comes from consistent practice efforts throughout many months, years, and decades. That being said, there are a few quick and easy improvements you can make in under 10 seconds (yes, really!) I’m excited to share even more ways you can become a better clarinetist in under 10 seconds. (If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the first blog post in this series – it was one of my first blog posts ever!) Here are 10 more ways you can become a better clarinetist in 10 seconds or les ..read more

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 with you. In this list, I’ve included music for solo clarinet up to five performers. Currently, this list includes 335 pieces! I hope this resource will help to promote the diverse voices and artistic achievements of women i ..read more

Happy New Year! I hope this year brings you health, happiness, and a lot of great music! If new gear is on the horizon for you this year, I’ve rounded up my articles about upgrading clarinet equipment to help you take the next step. Accessories Clarinets Leave a comment below with other articles you’d like to see about clarinet equipment! The post New Year, New Gear! Clarinet Equipment Information first appeared on Jenny Maclay. The post New Year, New Gear! Clarinet Equipment Information appeared first on Jenny Maclay ..read more

Happy Friday! Title catch your attention? Hear me out! (Maybe I’m inspired by all the holiday baking ?) Oftentimes in technical passages, we tend to rush through the phrase. As a result, the notes become jumbled and indecipherable. I have a mental trick I use that helps me make sure each note is clear and enunciated. The quick fix? Move like molasses! Have you ever had those nightmares where you’re moving in slow motion, almost like you’re running through molasses? That’s the feeling we want to recreate on difficult technical passages. This mental trick encourages you to make sure each note is ..read more