Crossing The Break - Embrace The Challenge of Teaching Clarinet: Recent Episodes
Tamarie Sayger
The Crossing The Break Podcast discusses the nuts and bolts of teaching clarinet at the beginning and intermediate levels. We will cover aspects of playing clarinet including tone, embouchure, hand position, tonguing, technique, range, fingerings, tuning and other clarinet-specific items. These ideas can be applied to beginning clarinet class, beginning band, intermediate or advanced clarinetists, and in an individual or group setting.
The host of this podcast is Tamarie Sayger. A 1999 music education graduate of WTAMU, Mrs. Sayger held band director positions in Plano and Odessa, TX for 5 years. As a private clarinet instructor in Texas for 16 years, she has taught hundreds of students from grade 6-12 in classes, sectionals, and individual lessons. She has presented at district in-services and co-presented at the Texas Bandmasters Association convention. Her website, CrossingTheBreak.com, provides resources for clarinet teachers around the country. Tamarie Sayger is also a core contributor for BandDirectorsTalkShop.com, primarily on the subjects of clarinet and private lessons. Her podcast, Crossing The Break, can be found on iTunes.
Keywords: Teaching clarinet, clarinet, band director, band, music education, music ed, music, teaching music, music teacher, playing clarinet, clarinet pedagogy, band pedagogy, music pedagogy
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet - beginning band games:
- Staying Positive
- Reasonable Expectations
- Reading Books & Hanging out with Experienced Directors
- Evaluation/Feedback
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Finishing the Year Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Rhythmic priorities
- Rhythm activities
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Finishing the Year Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Why I start games later in the year
- Favorite Clarinet Song in May
- Band Jeopardy
- Connect 4
- Drop Out (how to introduce & increase intensity later)
- Beat the Band Director
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Finishing the Year Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- O
- O
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Finishing the Year Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Full Range Chromatic
- Saying Fingerings in Rhythm
- Possible Order of 1 Octave Scales
- Possible Order of 2 Octave Scales
- Arpeggios
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Finishing Strong in Beginning Clarinet Class.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Exercises students should be playing daily at this point
- How and why to teach them
- PDF of the spring beginning band warm-up
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode discusses Band Directors' Workshop at West Texas A&M University.
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com (link to the article with newsletter updates signup.
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Clarinet Method books for beginner/intermediate players
- Clarinet Etude books
- Bass Clarinet Method Books
- Updated publishing schedule for next podcast series
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Guidelines for bass clarinets
- Suggestions for challenging your bass clarinetists
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- 2 requirements for a switch
- 2 preferred features for a switch
- Other considerations when choosing
- recruiting the right kids
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
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This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Getting organized for 2017
- Fun game for January
- Finding a mentor
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Mid-year Evaluation
- Resources on CrossingTheBreak.com
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Having flutes, clarinet and saxes together
- Having 90 minute classes every other day
- Centers for assessment purposes
- Ways to get time with individual sections
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- How to make Demonstration Day "Contagious"
- Performance Day and making it "Contagious"
- Drop Out Contest and making it "Contagious"
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet – Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- What to say/not to say about crossing the break
- 4 Objectives that must be met before teaching crossing the break
- How to introduce A-B for the first time
- Tips for intermediate players for even smoother crossing the brea
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Band - Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Tetrachords
- Benefits/Drawbacks
- Specific benefit of each scale (first octave)
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: clarinet, music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Band - Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Analyzing New Lines
- Clarinet "tricky spots"
- 4 Steps to a New Line
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Band - Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Why I love the chromatic
- Make it a milestone
- How to start the chromatic (baby steps)
- Teaching goals of the chromatic
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Band - Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Using Line 1 - tonguing & pitch
- Waterfall variations
- Descending scale
- Beginning register studies
- How to start register studies
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Band - Mastering the Middle of the Year.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- How to hold band students accountable
- Start from week 1
- Play-offs/Pass-offs
- How to build momentum
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Practice tools
- Helping students learn how to perform
- Building intensity before auditions
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Intermediate warm-up
- Specifics for each exercise
- 3 primary alternate fingerings for 2nd-year players
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Chromatic scale - basic fingerings to check
- Stories to use about alternate fingerings
- 2 octave scales
- Finger reminders for each key
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Stretching from C in staff to high C
- Reading notes confidently
- Register Studies
- Reeds
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Tuner Visual Exercise
- Baby Registers Progression with Tonguing
- Scale exercise for style
- Thirds exercise for multiple objectives
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode is part of the series “6 Weeks to a Better Clarinet Section” which focuses on 2nd year intermediate clarinet players. This episode includes information on the following aspects of teaching intermediate clarinet:
- Review of embouchure, tongue position, anchoring, pitch
- Air - Blowing up a balloon (resistance)
- Abs of Steel
- Baby Register Studies & 1st progression
- Throat tones - tendencies and solutions
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Organization/Preparation of supplies
- Productive use of time ideas
- Chants/Counting
- Milkshake face (clarinet embouchure)
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Invitations
- Preparing
- Announcements
- Things to talk about
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Prepare with "The Trick"
- Introduction to rolling
- Words to use
- Earning the Bell
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Make it a goal & privilege
- Things to say often
- Build trust
- Physical vs. Cognitive
- Ways to use the book (all year)
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Evaluating how the students are doing so far
- Evaluating class routine
- Evaluating specific clarinet concepts
- Teaching students to evaluate themselves properly at home
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Review things to check
- Adding Bb & A
- Adding G
- Progressing right hand finger drills
- Left hand finger drills
- Early ear training
- Conversation to update readers on the podcast
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Logistics of earning the bottom joint
- Bridge key and correct assembly
- Right hand position
- Things to watch for
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Tonguing on clarinet on days 2-5
- Speed, lightness, release
- Down the row
- Other things to say
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Face your fears
- Why we wait so long to start tonguing on clarinet
- Teaching clarinet tonguing on day 1 - a system and words to use
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Reasons to stay on the upper joint
- GFEDC (Waterfall)
- How to earn the bottom joint
- Making it a big deal
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- When/how to start reading music
- Playing supplemental pages
- Notename games
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Music stand logistics
- Playing G F - thumb
- Adding E and then D,C
- Earning the lower joint
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Starting Hand position (left hand only)
- The thumb, fingers 12&3, the pinky
- Finger drills
- Mouthpiece only
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Change of pace during class
- Variety of playing activities
- Playing open G
- Email to parents about sending instruments home
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Helping clarinet students get up to pitch on mouthpiece & barrel
- External embouchure problems and how to fix them
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
- Internal symptoms that can cause students to be flat on mouthpiece and barrel
- Words to say and things to try to help them fix it
Show notes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode of the Crossing The Break podcast covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
How to be sure students are ready to make the first sound
4 steps for correct clarinet embouchure
Words to say to the group
Ways to help individuals
Specifics on students getting no sound or only squeaks
Shownotes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
Mouthpiece and barrel
Ligature
Putting on the reed
4 Things to check for reed placement
Shownotes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This is part of the series “Teaching Beginning Clarinet - Developing Good Habits from Day 1.” This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
Organization/Preparation of supplies
Productive use of time ideas
Chants/Counting
Milkshake face (clarinet embouchure)
Shownotes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
This episode covers the following aspects of teaching clarinet:
Supplies to order (some are unusual)
Stand tags (how to make them and the purpose of them)
Thinking through the logistics as you set up your classroom
Philosophy of beginning band
Demonstrating for students
Shownotes can be found at CrossingTheBreak.com
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, music ed
In this introductory episode, Tamarie Sayger gives a little history about herself and how the Crossing The Break podcast came to be. You will also learn what to expect over the first few months of this new podcast.
Keywords: Music education, band director, teaching clarinet, teaching music, Tamarie Sayger