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Dear composers – when I started this blog I had just finished my PhD, and had lots of free time to work on the blog and answer your questions, as I was just starting to find my way in freelance new music playing. Now, unfortunately, it’s getting difficult. I receive many e-mails from composers with scores and questions every week, and while answering them is a great pleasure for me, I no longer have the time to keep up with them. If you don’t get a response to your e-mail, please understand, it’s better if I spend the time working on new posts (or, you know, practising ;). I’m very sorry about this, but I wish you all much luck and fun with your clarinet writing!

air sounds eb clarinet no mouthpiece speaking
aluminum foil flute embouchure preparations spectral multiphonic
articulation flutter tongue quarter tones tongue ram
bending glissandi register key trills
 composer advice history repertoire trumpet embouchure
double tongue  ‘how to’s for clarinetists shaking water
double trills  multiphonic singing whistling
dyads  CONTRA slap tongue

Table of Contents


The Basics:

On multiphonics:

Special Techniques: 

Specifically for Clarinetists:

On Repertoire:

…on a historical approach to the sound of the clarinet

 Other Popular Posts:

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New Notion Template for your Repertoire List – great for any musician!

As many of you will already know, I’m a little bit obsessed with using Notion to keep all aspects of my life organised – but particularly things related to music and my career.

I’ve been developing a repertoire list template for some time, and now, it’s finished!

Feel free to check it out on my Gumroad site:

Before I decided to get serious about making a version that anyone could use, I shared a short on YouTube that gave a little tour of the version that was very much solo clarinet repertoire focused, but it gives you a bit more of an idea of what it looks like (but the version on my Gumroad has a few fantastic other features so please go look at the description there!)

P.s. if you’re a clarinetist and want a version with the 180 solo pieces I’ve got inputted here, just let me know after you’ve paid for the template and I’ll send you a version of that, which you can duplicate to your Notion!

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Study with me at my home or online

Regular or one-off lessons are available either online via Zoom or at my home studio in Woolwich in South-East London. These are available to both clarinettists and also composers who need help and feedback with their work, and can be booked quickly and fuss-free via the Calendly app below.

A photo of me, clarinet in hand, pointing at a screen with a score displayed thereon.

For clarinet players, things you might consider working on in your lessons:

  • Extended techniques (circular breathing, slap tongue, multiphonics, quarter tones and other microtones – basically anything you’ve seen on my blog that you’d like to be able to do)
  • Working on your improvisation skills
  • Graphic Scores
  • Contemporary repertoire (you can see the solo repertoire I’m most familiar with, but I’m happy for you to bring anything to your lesson, so long as you send me a PDF of the score).
  • Chamber music coaching (if you want to bring your ensemble/pianist for a lesson to my home studio, that would be wonderful – I have a beautiful August Förster baby grand for them to play on).
  • Breath work, voicing, posture
  • Advice about the music industry, about building a ‘portfolio career’
  • Advice on studying – where to do it, who else to study with, etc.

Rates for clarinet players are are as follows:

  • initial consultation/one-off lesson, £55 (1 hour)
  • 45 minute follow up lesson, £40
  • A block of five 45-minute lessons is available for £180
  • Chamber music coaching, £80 (90 minutes)

Composers, you might consider booking a session with me if:

  • You’re unsure if you’ve notated something well for clarinet, or if it’s idiomatic or comfortable to play
  • You’d like to explore a technique you’ve seen on my blog in more detail
  • You want to write creatively with multiphonics and need some help or need to hear them first
  • You just want someone to look at your solo piece and give some detailed feedback

Rates are:

  • £40 for a half-hour session (with 15 minutes of looking at your score before our session if you send it to me in advance)

It is very easy to book a lesson with me now through Calendly, just select a time that works for you.

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Masterclass for Composers in Beautiful Croatia in October

Dear Composers – I’m joining Synchronos Ensemble and composer Johannes Maria Staud for a few days in October for a masterclass at Osijek Festival.

Come join us!

https://masterclass.tribina.eu/

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Zöllner-Roche Composers Lab

The Zöllner Roche Duo is pleased to announce a call for applications. The last online workshop to help you with your applications (and show you some nice features of our duo) is TONIGHT on Zoom (June 27 at 8pm CET (7pm GMT)). Please see our flyer below for more details and our website at www.zoellner-roche.com for the workshop sign up details!

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Gaudeamus: Thursday September 9, 7pm

Friends in Holland! Eva Zöllner and I are coming to Utrecht to play next week, we have a fantastic programme for you, which is a combination of our ‘hits’ and some new pieces written especially for the festival. We’ve started rehearsing already, and I’m very sure this is going to be a fascinating concert.

The programme is as follows:

Annika Socolofsky – The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: silience
Matthew Ricketts – Lucent
Pawel Malinowski – Paradise blue
Johan Svensson – double dubbing (firefly song)
Elnaz Seyedi – Nach Neuen Meeren

See you next Thursday! More information can be found at their Facebook Event.

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