Welcome to the tonebase Clarinet Community!

Hello, I am Gabby currently living in Plymouth UK.

I live by the sea, so the fish and chips are pretty good around here!

I am working on a few pieces from the ABRSM grade 8 repertoire as I am considering taking the exam next year. I am also working on improving my technique - trying to get faster and more accurate fingers, and a consistent tone across the whole instrument. I also know I need to work on phrasing and taking care of all the details as I am playing each piece.

I am hoping to get some ideas to help with my daily practice and for tips for specific pieces. It would also be great to see what other people are up to!

I'm Nancy,

I live in Providence, Rhode Island and there is a lot of good food here. It would be impossible to pick a favorite although my default is pizza.

I am a designer and teacher and amateur clarinetist. I recently finished six years of lessons with an amazing clarinetist who taught me a lot about sound production—embouchure, air, tonging, etc. but we didn’t focus on technique at all. He thought I “knew my way around the clarinet okay.” But I don’t.

I’ve been thinking of starting lessons again so was excited to see this online option. I’m pretty self-motivated so it may be a good fit.

I'm currently working on my orchestra music for Fall--Sibelius Symphony no. 2, second clarinet part.

Looking forward to better playing!

Hi, I'm Andy, I live near Bristol UK.

I love a good Sunday roast, chicken, roast potatoes, lots of stuffing and I even like sprouts :-)

My main instruments have been piano and saxophone (I have Trinity grade 8 in both) but have always loved the sound of the clarinet also, so recently started playing clarinet and navigating the specific challenges and differences from the saxophone (most notably, the squeaking when not closing the key holes fully).

Looking to dive into the courses on the fundamentals (breathing, embouchure etc.) and the scales intensive looks good if my early level on clarinet is suitable to participate ;-)
 

Hello.  My name is Valina and I’m now living in Salt Lake City. 
 

I inherited my grandmother’s sweet tooth so I do love fine chocolate and desserts, despite objections from my waistline.  But lately I’ve been tempering it with fresh fruits.  
 

I returned to the clarinet last year after nearly 20 years, when I moved over to baritone & euphonium my second year of college.  I made the switch because I was in marching band and the director of bands was an incredible euphonium player.  I unfortunately didn’t get a degree in music because I had no confidence in my ability.
 

 Fast forward to today, music has come to be central to my life again. I am playing clarinet in an incredible community concert band, occasionally play with the jazz band on my vintage saxophone, and I’m playing baritone in a women’s, trans, non binary rogue street band.  I attend regularly the Utah Symphony and have fallen in love with classical music all over again. 
 

I finished the Rubank elementary method book to review the fundamentals of playing and I’m currently working on the Rondo of Weber’s Clarinet Concerto in F with a private instructor (albeit at tempo-de-learno)

I’m looking forward to being a part of this community to help grow my skills as a musician and to learn from experienced musicians I’d otherwise not have access to.   

Hello! I am Susan. I live in Arlington, Virginia. My current favorite food is Salmon.

I graduated from a liberal arts college many, many years ago with a major in Music Education. I have never taught music. I work in a law firm as a Legal Administrative Assistant. I currently play principal second clarinet in a very challenging community concert band. I also play principal clarinet in a mediocre community orchestra.

There are many things I would like to work on; fast tonguing, breathe support, expressive playing to name a few.

Hello! My name is Josh Goo, and I am a professional clarinetist performing in a new music group called Nebula Ensemble, and teaching at Colorado State University - Pueblo.

As the creator of QuickStart Clarinet, I am always excited to see what is going on in the online clarinet teaching space, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn from so many truly legendary teachers and players here!

Hi all,

I live in New Orleans and I have to say all the food is pretty great - but I would perhaps choose a well-made gumbo as my favorite.

I lead a jazz band in town so I am always working in learning new tunes and taking ideas from my favorite clarinetists and figuring out my own way to play them.

I have noticed in my own playing lately a certain sloppiness to the execution of my ideas so I'd like to get some resources and practice plans to improve my technical and rhythmic abilities. Finger dexterity, familiarity with all scales and keys, etc. I'm looking forward to the upcoming two-week scale intensive and would appreciate any other suggestions in this regard!

Hi! I live in Arizona and my favorite food is Mexican.

I'm currently working on the new concert season for the local concert band and community orchestra. They're fun but they do stretch my ability.

I hope to get faster, more accurate fingering, improve my tone, and overall improve my playing.

Hi Josh! I've been working with Josh who is an incredible instructor. Between Josh and Tonebase I hope to continue my musical growth.

I am Katherine, and I live in Peterborough, a smallish city in Ontario, Canada. I work in arts management, and - while I started playing clarinet some EEK! 50 years ago, there was a 25 year gap in there somehow. (It was the not-unusual story of graduating with a clarinet performance degree and having neither the skills nor the imagination to know what to do next. So the clarinets were consigned to a closet while I built my career.) I’ve been back at it for 12 years now, and right now I’m working to correct a persistent biting problem by transitioning to a double lip embouchure - maybe permanently, maybe just as a tool I can use to self-diagnose and correct my biting tendencies in future. Because of this, I’m a little limited by way of repertoire: as I build strength in my upper lip and corners I’m back to Klosé mechanisms, and studies by Kristen Denny-Chambers, James Rae, and Jacques Lancelot. I’m also a keen bass clarinet player, and will be playing more bass this fall in the groups I usually play clarinet with, as my embouchure settles. (This isn’t a hardship. I love playing bass when composers know what we can do!)  
 

Food? I like it! As a vegetarian, I find that anything with spicy peanut sauce is immediately twice as delicious. That’s not exactly indigenous to this area, but with a lot of local vegetables at their peak right now, I hope it counts. 
 

What I’m hoping to get by joining in here? Basically, a community of support and inspiration at a time when I am more musically isolated than usual. This embouchure change is a PAIN, but necessary: and some kind of connection with other striving clarinetists (plus of course the resources on this site) will help, I know!
 

I'm Donald, a retired physician and large group practice CEO living in the western suburbs of Chicago. I am currently bass and utility clarinetist for www.dupagesymphony.org. I'm looking to meet fellow clarinet travelers and achieve faster articulation, a more even technique and an altissimo register that is better in tune. The Chicago area is home to numerous cuisines, both local and imported. My area is blessed with many Asian restaurants from various countries, so I'm partial to that. I'll admit I sneak in the occasional Chicago deep dish pizza, though I continue to favor the pizza style of my native New York. Check out my YouTube channel, Dr. Don And His Clarinets! I look forward to learning a lot here.