The Clarinet Ninja Podcast

The Clarinet Ninja Podcast

Hosted by: Jay Hassler

The Clarinet Ninja Podcast brings you insightful interviews with clarinet players and practical lessons to help musicians of all ages and skill levels learn, grow, and celebrate the clarinet. Whether you're a beginner...

All Episodes

Episodes

Clarinet Gear Guide: What to Buy at Every Budget with Josh Goo & Lynne Snyder | Part 2

What clarinet equipment should you actually buy? Join Jay Hassler in this comprehensive clarinet gear guide with Quick Start Clarinet's Josh Goo and Queen Reed's Lynne Snyder as they reveal what to invest in at every...
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The Ultimate Clarinet Upgrade Guide: Budget-Friendly Tips That Actually Work (Part 1)

Ever wondered what clarinet accessories are actually worth your hard-earned money? In this game-changing episode, Clarinet Ninja host Jay Hasler sits down with two clarinet powerhouses: Josh Goo from Quick Start...
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Julian Bliss on His Stunning New Album: Lindberg & Aho Clarinet Concertos | Inside the Recording

What does it take to record two groundbreaking clarinet concertos? Join us as we dive deep into Julian Bliss's extraordinary new album featuring the clarinet concertos of Magnus Lindberg and Kalevi Aho—two of today's...
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James Danderfer — If Not Now: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & The Van Gelder Sound

Clarinetist/composer James Danderfer joins Jay to premiere his new album If Not Now (Celler Records), recorded at the storied Rudy Van Gelder Studio. They dive into choosing clarinet vs. bass clarinet, arranging for a...
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The Transformative Power of Jazz with Todd Marcus

In this episode we explore how bass clarinet artistry and community work can inform each other. Todd shares how he writes from the life around him, why giving the bass clarinet a leadership role matters, and what...
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Inside "New Picture": Hidden Lessons from David Gould on Bass Clarinet

David Gould shares the story behind New Picture, his new bass clarinet recording. We explore how the album took shape, working closely with composers, lessons from his study with David Weber and Philippe Cuper, the...
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Clarinet Audition Secrets: The Audition Method for Clarinet by Benjamin Baron

Preparing for a clarinet audition can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we explore The Audition Method for Clarinet by Benjamin Baron, a groundbreaking resource designed to help...
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Jazz vs Classical Clarinet: How One Teacher Shaped Two Totally Different Sounds

What if two clarinetists learned from the same master teacher, but ended up sounding completely different? In this episode, I talk with my friend of 33 years, Evan Christopher, about our shared roots under clarinetist...
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Clarinet, Crisis, and Change: How a Blood Clot Reshaped My Playing—and My Life

We often think progress on the clarinet comes from focused effort—hours of practice, carefully chosen reeds, and targeted exercises. But sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs begin somewhere completely unexpected. On...
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ClarinetFest 2025 in Fort Worth! Why You Need to Be There + Behind the Scenes with ICA Leaders

Are you ready for the clarinet event of the year? 🎶 Join me for a fun and inspiring conversation with Dr. Cathy Wood, President of the International Clarinet Association (ICA), and Jessica Harrie, ICA Executive...
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From Crutches to Clarinets: What Injury Recovery Taught Me About Adult Learning

🎧 Ever feel like your progress is slower than it should be? In this inspiring episode, I reflect on my journey recovering from a broken foot and the surprising parallels it shares with learning the clarinet as an...
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Inside the Art of Making Brad Behn Clarinet Mouthpieces

🎶 In Part 2 of our conversation with master craftsman Brad Behn, we dive deep into how he actually creates his legendary clarinet mouthpieces. From material selection to design philosophy and precision hand-finishing,...
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