The Clarinet Ninja Podcast: Clarinet Lessons & Practice Tips

The Clarinet Ninja Podcast: Clarinet Lessons & Practice Tips

Hosted by: Jay Hassler

The Clarinet Ninja Podcast teaches adult clarinet players how to learn faster and play better using science-based practice methods. Host Jay Hassler brings you interviews with world-class clarinetists like Ricardo...

All Episodes

Episodes

Playing Clarinet with My 11-Year-Old Self: A Story About Music, Memory, and Loss

  This is my first holiday season without my mom. While going through old recordings after her passing, I found something that stopped me in my tracks: a recording of me at 11 years old playing "The Christmas Song" on...
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The Two Types of Practice That Transform Your Clarinet Performances

Have you ever practiced diligently but struggled in performance? The problem isn't your playing—it's that you're only doing half the practice you need. Free PDF In this episode, I break down the two essential types of...
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Clarinet Embouchure & Articulation with Larry Guy| Adult Clarinet Players NEED This

Larry Guy has played on Broadway, with the New York Philharmonic, NYC Opera, and as principal clarinet of the Joffrey Ballet. But what makes this conversation truly valuable is Larry's incredible body of pedagogical...
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Clarinet Gear Guide Part 2: What Equipment 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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Clarinet Upgrades for Beginners: Best Budget Equipment (Part 1 with Josh Goo & Lynne Snyder)

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 Interview: Recording Lindberg & Aho Clarinet Concertos

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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Bass Clarinet in Jazz: Interview 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 Sound: Interview with Evan Christopher

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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Overcoming Injury as a Clarinetist: Personal Story of Recovery & Growth

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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