Learn special effects on the clarinet including quarter-tones, multiphonics, slap tonguing, flutter tonguing, teeth-on-reed, vocal sounds, growing, whistling, lip buzzing, and much more!

Secret 47: Special Effects (VIDEO)

This 11 minute movie produced by Michele Gingras, illustrates all the steps to achieve circular breathing on the clarinet.Circular breathing is a technique used for different purposes throughout musical times. Middle Eastern double reed players produce a drone with continuous and uninterrupted airflow, and Scottish bagpipers use an air sack to store air to create a continuous sound.Technically, circular breathing is the production of a continuous sound by using the cheeks as an air reservoir and breathing through the nose while the stored air is forced from the mouth into the instrument. In traditional repertoire, it is almost always possible to find a place to breathe, although some long virtuoso passages could be played with this technique. Circular breathing also produces spectacular effects in contemporary music.Follow the instructions on this video, and you should be able to play this technique within a week or two.Please note that Prof. Gingras uses the word "expulse" instead of "expel" in the video (too much French this summer!). This will be corrected in a future video.Good luck!

This 11 minute movie produced by Michele Gingras, illustrates all the steps to achieve circular breathing on the clarinet. Circular breathing is a technique used for different purposes throughout musical times. Middle Eastern double reed players produce a drone with continuous and uninterrupted airflow, and Scottish bagpipers use an air sack to store air to create a continuous sound. Technically, circular breathing is the production of a continuous sound by using the cheeks as an air reservoir and breathing through the nose while the stored air is forced from the mouth into the instrument. In traditional repertoire, it is almost always possible to find a place to breathe, although some long virtuoso passages could be played with this technique. Circular breathing also produces spectacular effects in contemporary music. Follow the instructions on this video, and you should be able to play this technique within a week or two. Please note that Prof. Gingras uses the word "expulse" instead of "expel" in the video (too much French this summer!). This will be corrected in a future video. Good luck!

Secret 46: Circular Breathing (VIDEO)

Learn glissando technique (also called portamento).

Secret 43: Glissando (VIDEO)

Learn how to install your own neck-strap ring for under 1 dollar.

Secret 41: Installing an Instant Neck-Strap Ring (VIDEO)

Learn a very quick and inexpensive way to balance reeds. The only thing needed is reed rush and your reed sitting on your mouthpiece!

Secret 40: Express-Speed Reed Balancing (VIDEO)

Learn a new fingering that helps in making the clarinet feel more stable while playing C in the clarion register.

Secret 37: Stabilizing the C3 Fingering (VIDEO)

Learn proper Inhaling and Exhaling to enhance tone.

Secrets 32 and 33: Breathing (Inhaling and Exhaling) (VIDEO)

An interesting challenge on the clarinet is that although the little fingers are the smallest and relatively weakest fingers, they active the largest amount of keys. This exercise is the key to gain agility with both little fingers. This 8-minute film shows the steps to take to master Secret 22 (from my book "Clarinet Secrets" Scarecrow Press, 2004): The Little Finger Exercise.

Secret 22: The Little Finger Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn high register fingerings to simplify and perfect chromatic and diatonic scale patterns.

Secret 21: Perfecting the High Register (VIDEO)

Learn how to play smoother intervals from fow to high registers by using the left index finger.

Secret 19: Half-Hole Exercise (VIDEO)

Clarinet pedagogue Michele Gingras from Miami University (OH) presents her book Clarinet Secrets published by Scarecrow Press.

This exercise is the key to playing the "break" (A to B or a to Bb) smoothly and effectively. The left index finger must remain curved at all times and mold to the G# and A keys, as well as the F# ring. This four-minute film shows the steps to take to master Secret 18 (from my book "Clarinet Secrets" Scarecrow Press, 2004): the Left Index Finger Exercise.

Secret 18: The Left Index Finger Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn a way to practice this orchestral excerpt with less finger tension.

Secret 17: Daphnis et Chloe-With a Little Help (VIDEO)

Analyze natural finger motion to minimize tention and improve technical dexterity.

Secret 16: Natural Finger Motion (VIDEO)

Learn the flat chin exercise to improve embouchure and tone.

Secret 13: The Chin Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn various fingerings to rectify common intonation problems and improving tone colors in the throat register.

Secret 12: Using Fingers to Modify Intonation (VIDEO)

Learn how to play clean and light staccato by not crushing the reed with the tongue.

Secret 7: The Light Tongue Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn how to dissociate the jaw muscles from the tongue muscles to improve staccato clarity.

Secret 6: The Relaxed Jaw Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn how coordinating fingers and tongue greatly improves short staccato clarity.

Secret 4: Finger-Tongue Coordination Exercise (VIDEO)

Learn a technique to improve light and rapid staccato.

Secret 1: Rocket-Speed Tonguing Exercise (VIDEO)

Author Michele Gingras presents her book Clarinet Secrets.

Welcome to ClariNET Secrets. Author's Introduction (VIDEO)

I recommend every clarinetist to watch her video &#34;Special effects&#34;One of the funniest things I&#39;ve ever seen, I can&#39;t believe Michele was serious on some of those &#34;Specail Effects&#34;But Michele should definitely continue with her videos, they are very amusing.

Funny Stuff

It looks like Ms. Gingras knows what she is doing and some of her techniques may be helpful, but her delivery is very uninteresting and her playing is only decent.  I would not recommend this podcast to an experienced clarinetist.

Rather Boring

clariNET secrets

The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Practical Philosophy & How To Live

What is this?
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from a carefully curated podcast episode.
Every Monday & Wednesday.

Want a 3rd insight and episode every week? Email me at curation@owltail.com.