TheĀ Clarinet Ninja Blog

Education, Inspiration, Results

How to Improve Your Clarinet Playing: The 3-Room Strategy That Actually Works Jan 05, 2026

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If you're frustrated that you haven't made the progress you set out to make with your clarinet playing, let's change that for 2026. The problem isn't you. You're not broken. You're just in the wron...

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Playing Clarinet With My 11-Year-Old Self: What My Mom's Gift Taught Me About Music and Meaning adult learners family music grief holiday season legacy lifelong learning meaning in music practice motivation Dec 21, 2025

Introduction

This is my first holiday season without my mom. She passed away earlier this year, and I've been navigating what that means, especially during this time when memories feel heaviest and m...

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Practice Practice vs Practice Performance: The Two Types of Practice Every Clarinetist Needs adult learner clarinet practice music practice performance anxiety performance preparation performance psychology practice strategies Dec 02, 2025

Practice Practice vs Practice Performance: The Two Types of Practice Every Clarinetist Needs

Reading time: 12 minutes

Have you ever practiced diligently, felt confident about your abilities, and the...

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Making Clarinet Practice Work: Specific Strategies from Dr. Molly Gebrian (Part 2) advanced techniques guest interview neuroscience practice tips Nov 24, 2025

Making Clarinet Practice Work: Specific Strategies from Dr. Molly Gebrian (Part 2)

Last week I shared the first part of my conversation with Dr. Molly Gebrian, violist, neuroscientist, and author of ...

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The Neuroscience of Smarter Clarinet Practice: My Conversation with Dr. Molly Gebrian adult learners advanced techniques concert music deliberate practice guest interview mental practice music psychology neuroscience performance preparation practice tips Nov 10, 2025

The Neuroscience of Smarter Clarinet Practice: My Conversation with Dr. Molly Gebrian

I've read a lot of books about music and practice over the years. Maybe three have genuinely blown me away. Dr. M...

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Brad Behn vs Vandoren BD4: The Overtone Difference That Changed My Sound advanced clarinet best clarinet tone brad behn buying guide clarinet equipment clarinet setup equipment reviews gear reviews mouthpiece upgrade overtone analysis product review professional equipment sound analysis vandoren Nov 05, 2025

Brad Behn vs Vandoren BD4: The Overtone Difference That Changed My Sound

After years of playing the Vandoren BD4, I made the switch to a Brad Behn handmade mouthpiece over a year ago. The difference?...

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How to Practice Clarinet Effectively: Fix the Flawed Catalyst Sabotaging Your Progress adult clarinet students clarinet practice clarinet technique deliberate practice music practice routine neuroscience of practice performance psychology practice strategies practice tips Oct 18, 2025

How to Build a Clarinet Practice Routine That Actually Works: Why Purposeless Repetition Sabotages Your Progress

Every clarinetist has experienced this: hours in the practice room, yet come performan...

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Why James Danderfer’s If Not Now Is the Jazz Clarinet Album You Need to Hear adult clarinet student adult clarinetist bass clarinet clarinet education clarinet ninja clarinet technique clarinet tone james danderfer jay hassler jazz bass clarinet learn jazz Sep 29, 2025

James Danderfer’s If Not Now: The Jazz Clarinet Album You Didn’t Know You Needed

What happens when one of today’s leading clarinetists records at the most legendary studio in jazz history? You get Ja...

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