Celebrating 42 years at The International Clarinet Association’s 50th
It’s hard to believe Lisa’s Clarinet Shop has been part of the International Clarinet Association (ICA) for 42 of its 50 years history. This month was a record attendance year for the ICA as 1800 registered to come out to celebrate their milestone of turning 50 years...
Top 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen of Influence in 2021
We’ve been working hard the past couple of years to get our projects off the ground – so it gives us immense pleasure to see that all our efforts are being recognized and appreciated.
Selecting the Right Buffet-Crampon Clarinet- Part 2
If you are looking to learn more about the playing characteristics of Buffet-Crampon clarinets, you have come to the right blog post. As I mentioned in Part 1, it is helpful to think of Buffet Crampon clarinets fitting into one of two tracks: Models that are more open (Track 1) and Models that are more compact (Track 2).
Selecting the Right Buffet Clarinet- Part 1
When it comes to choosing the right Buffet-Crampon models of clarinets to try, Buffet does not make it very easy in their marketing literature to know the fundamental differences between their various models from a player’s perspective.
Let’s Build a Sharing Economy, Music Store Owner – You In?
When you think of what compromises a lush forest you know a thriving sharing economy has been built. Why? Because everything in it must be able to sustain itself and coexist comfortably to produce that kind of rich density.
Music Store Owner: Developing a Thriving Local Music Ecosystem Now
What would it take to help your local music community be even better than it is right now? What would it take to increase music participation and create greater musical mojo locally?
Buffet Clarinet Models and Prices 2021 to Grow Music Stores
In 1825, French instrument maker Denis Buffet Auger sets up his workshop in Paris and became known for producing excellent 13-key clarinets. It was not until 1836 when his son, Jean-Louis Buffet marries Zoe Crampon and creates the Buffet Crampon name.
Giving Product Advice to Woodwind Musicians
As a music educator, learning how to care and nurture your woodwind musicians can feel a little bit like trying to decipher the meaning of morse code: Difficult to comprehend. Disjointed. Goes by way too fast to catch it all. Sound familiar?
Wood Clarinet Care and Preservation Tips for Music Store Owners
The clarinet is made from grenadilla wood (African Blackwood). It is a well-known type of wood famous for making instruments and furniture. This wood is extremely dense and oily when attached to the tree, and you need to take care and pay attention to how it reacts to changing temperatures after it has been cut, because the oil stops producing once it has. Constant temperature changes can have a negative impact on the wood and that’s why clarinetists need bore oil to protect the wood from cracking.
How to Fix Air Leaks on a Clarinet in a Music Store
Over time, as you play your clarinet, the mechanisms will shift slightly due to use. This is normal, but it can cause problems as you continue to play, particularly if something shifts far enough that it creates an air leak. When leaks happen, we tend to squeak or a note simply won’t come out at all, especially in the fundamental register (lower notes of the clarinet, without the register key). Thankfully, these small misalignments of keys, screws, etc. are fixable, often with minimal tools and materials. There are cases, however, where you’re likely to do more damage trying to fix something yourself and you should take it to a reputable repair person.
5 Flute Care & Maintenance Tips for Music Stores
The flute is one of the smallest instruments of the woodwind family, and like any instrument requires care and maintenance. Even though many musicians take the proper measures necessary to keep their instruments in good shape, sometimes accidents happen, as well as regular wear and tear, that do require a visit to the repair technician. It is important to teach care and maintenance to young students so that they can develop good habits early on that can prevent frequent trips to the repair shop. Check out this week’s tips on how to maintain and care for your flute.
The Value of Quality Repair for Music Store Owners
As a musician, why is that we spend most of our time taking lessons, practicing and rehearsing but learn very little about the mechanical aspects of our instrument? We play perfectly, or aspire to, but what would we do if a pad fell out on stage before a concert? Can...
Clarinet Vs. Saxophone: Similarities and Differences for Music Stores
The single reed musical family is comprised of musical instruments that in order to produce sound use a single piece of processed cane called the ‘reed’. The two most common instruments of this group are the clarinet and the saxophone. In many cases, there are many performers that can play both instruments, so one can think that these two are very similar between them. Is this true, though? What are the actual similarities and differences between them?
What to Look for In A Professional Flute Repair Services
Flutes are one of the smallest instruments in the woodwind family and like every instrument eventually need repairs due to daily use. There are many music stores that offer general instrument repairs, but few that offer professional repair services. This guide will discuss what it takes to overhaul flutes, their costs, and information about our repair courses.
Clarinet and Flute: Similarities and Differences for Music Stores
You’re probably wondering what the similarities and differences between the flute and clarinet? The most obvious one is that the flute is smaller than the clarinet! Even though the flute and clarinet both belong to the woodwind family, they have a lot of differences. Read more about this week’s blog post about how the flute and clarinet are different from one another?
How to Get Started in Clarinet and Saxophone Repair Courses
Many of us start playing clarinet or saxophone, realize we enjoy it, and keep doing it—which means we use our instruments quite regularly. They are mechanical machines, and their parts will wear over time; inevitably, some kind of repair is eventually needed. Rather than having to find a reputable repair shop that has the time to work on your instrument, why not pursue some training in basic clarinet and/or saxophone repair?
Professional Clarinet Pad Replacement Guide for Music Store Owners
Replacing clarinet pads is a common repair that is easy to perform. A good way to see if your clarinet pads need replacing is to do a visual inspection. If the pads are tattered, discolored, or old, it is usually a good time to replace them. Another way to check to see if the clarinet pads need to be replaced is the suction test for the clarinet’s top and bottom joint. If the clarinet does not seal properly, this means that the pad is leaking air. Loose pads can be reinstalled temporarily by heating the key cup with a cigarette lighter and slipping the pad back under the key cup with a pin. Apply light pressure to the pad so that it remains in the key cup until you are able to properly replace the pad or until you are able to schedule an appointment with a professional technician. The following is a do-it-yourself guide on how to replace pads on your clarinet.
Musicial Instrument Repair: Saxophone Repairs
Taking preventive measures as simple as cleaning your instrument can help prevent frequent trips to the repair technician. Even though many musicians take the proper measures necessary to keep their instruments in good shape, sometimes accidents happen, as well as regular wear and tear, that do require a visit to the repair technician. The following guide is about the various types of saxophone repairs.
The Saxophone’s Key Instrumental Features
What is a saxophone? The saxophone is a single-reed instrument that is characterized by its conical shape and finger keys. The first saxophone was patented by Adolph Sax in 1846 and was designed to bridge the gap between brass and woodwind instruments. The saxophone was used in the French army, and later was performed and used in other countries. During World War I, the saxophone became a popular instrument in the United States as a solo instrument, becoming among one of the foremost important solo instruments within the development of popular music genres, such as jazz.
5 Common Clarinet Repairs for Music Store Owners
As clarinetists, it’s important to learn to take good care of the instrument to ensure that it performs as well as possible, for as long as possible.