The Clarinet Ninja Podcast: Clarinet Lessons & Practice Tips

Ron Odrich didn't start the clarinet the way most people do. As a kid, he snuck the clarinet off the stand in his father's house (his dad was a professional doubler), soaked the reed, and taught himself the opening glissando from Rhapsody in Blue entirely by ear. No teacher. No sheet music. No idea what the notes were called.  By the time his father found out, Ron could already play it. His father called in a teacher the same day. That intuitive, ears-first relationship with the instrument never left him. And in this third installment of Jay Hassler's conversation with Ron Odrich, you hear where it led: to first chair at Bryant High School without being able to read clarinet notation, to a meeting with Buddy DeFranco at Birdland at age 12, to serious classical study with Bob Marcellus, playing with the Airmen of Note, to hearing Charlie Parker live at the Three Deuces and eventually meeting Bird backstage, and through a 15-year hiatus before finding his way back through a chance connection with Eddie Daniels. Along the way, Ron and Jay get into what it actually means to play jazz by ear rather than by formula. What separates the musicians who are "playing the song" from those who are just running patterns over chord changes. And what it feels like to play an instrument so fluently that there are no obstacles. This is the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, hosted by Jay Hassler. If you're an adult clarinet player looking to get better, check out the Clarinet Ninja Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing    

What does it take to build a career on an instrument that modern jazz largely left behind? Virginia MacDonald grew up the daughter of one of Canada's most celebrated jazz saxophonists - sitting in smoky Toronto clubs at age four, surrounded by musicians like Neil Swainson and Pat Larbara as if they were just the neighbors. She picked up the clarinet at six because she thought the keys looked like buttons. Nobody told her the instrument had a problem. By the time she figured out that almost nobody was hiring clarinet players for contemporary jazz groups, she'd already decided she was going to make it work. In this conversation, Virginia talks about growing up in an artistic household, learning jazz by ear instead of out of books, her complicated relationship with her first classical clarinet teacher, and how transcribing Kenny Dorham and Clifford Brown solos, instead of clarinet players, helped her find her own voice on the instrument. We also dig into her debut album as a bandleader, her collaboration with bass clarinetist/composer Todd Marcus, and the philosophy behind her compositions. Topics covered: Growing up in Toronto with a jazz legend father and visual artist mother Choosing the clarinet at age six ("I thought they were buttons") Learning jazz by ear and why structured practice felt foreign The barrage: her first classical clarinet teacher at 15 Why she transcribed trumpet players, not clarinet players Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, and the In and Out record that changed her playing The shrinking clarinet lineage in jazz and what she did about it Her debut album on Cellar Music, including Last Call at Dimitri's and Eternal Return of the Same Her "Frankenstein" R13 and the crystal mouthpiece she hated for two weeks before never going back Practicing on the road: why it's a blessing and a curse Links: Virginia MacDonald's website: https://virginiamacdonald.ca/ Album on Bandcamp: https://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of Cellar Music label: https://www.cellarlive.com/ Stream everywhere: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal Clarinet Ninja Dojo (adult clarinet learning): https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing Book a free session with Jay: https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min  

What does this periodontist know about clarinet tone that your teacher never told you? As it turns out: a lot. Ron Odrich spent 40 years looking inside the mouths of wind instrument players as a practicing periodontist. He also studied clarinet with two of the greatest teachers of the 20th century, Robert Marcelus and Danial Bonade, performed with the Airmen of Note, and recorded alongside Phil Woods and Clark Terry. Ron has spent a lifetime connecting the science of the mouth to the art of the clarinet, and this conversation is the result. We cover the physiology behind tone production, starting with the single most counterproductive word in clarinet teaching: "blow." Ron explains why exhaling instead of blowing activates an entirely different nervous system response, and why that difference shows up directly in your sound. One player tested it live and said it felt like playing a different horn. We also dig into the soft palate as a resonating chamber, including a simple reflexive trick to raise it without adding tension. Ron breaks down the eight muscles of the tongue, explains why there is no universal correct tongue position, and shares how your individual anatomy (jaw, palate shape, lip thickness) should be driving your approach, not a one-size-fits-all instruction. Along the way, we talk facial muscle anatomy, the problem with negative instructions like "don't bite" and "don't blow," how to take a breath without losing contact with the mouthpiece, and what great tone actually feels like from inside your body. This is science-based clarinet teaching at its most practical, and most of it has never been written down anywhere. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: • Why "blow" triggers tension and "exhale" triggers resonance • How the soft palate works and how to raise it reflexively • The role of the parasympathetic nervous system in playing with ease • Why tongue position is individual, not universal • The facial muscles involved in embouchure and which ones to avoid • How to breathe for maximum air volume with zero muscular forcing • What resonant tone feels like physically, and how to use that feeling as a guide ABOUT RON ODRICH: Ron Odrich is a retired periodontist and lifelong clarinetist. He studied with Robert Marcellus and Danial Bonade, served as a member of the Airmen of Note, and performed and recorded with Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and many others. He lives in New York. ABOUT CLARINET NINJA: Jay Hassler is the founder of Clarinet Ninja, an online learning platform for adult clarinet players. The Clarinet Ninja Dojo offers courses, coaching, and community for players who want to improve faster with better information. Book a free call at https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min Check out the Clarinet Ninja Dojo here: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

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 most compelling contemporary composers. In this episode, we explore: ✨ The technical and artistic challenges of these modern masterworks 🎵 What makes Lindberg and Aho's compositions so unique 🎤 Julian's approach to interpreting contemporary classical music 📀 Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, whether you're a clarinetist, classical music lover, or curious about modern orchestral music, this conversation offers invaluable insights into one of the year's most significant clarinet releases. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES: Julian Bliss Official Website: https://www.julianbliss.com/ Listen to the Album: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1iLev7zNHl1X0cn7yi7i5A Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/lindberg-aho-clarinet-concertos/1828201426 Signum Records: https://signumrecords.com/ 🎓 STUDY CLARINET WITH ME: Join the Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing Clarinet Ninja Website: https://www.clarinetninja.com/ Free Content: https://www.clarinetninja.com/joinus Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/clarinetninja Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast to help other clarinet enthusiasts discover these conversations! #JulianBliss #ClarinetConcerto #ClassicalMusic #ClarinetPodcast

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 clarinetists succeed in auditions at every level. You’ll learn: 🎵 Why auditions can feel so overwhelming for clarinetists 🎵 How Baron’s Audition Method breaks down preparation into clear, practical steps 🎵 Simple strategies you can start using right away to boost your confidence and performance Whether you’re auditioning for an orchestra, a school program, or simply want to push your clarinet playing further, this episode will give you tools to prepare smarter—not harder. 📘 Featured Book: The Audition Method for Clarinet by Benjamin Baron 🎶 Perfect for: Clarinet students, adult learners, and anyone facing auditions 👉 If you enjoy this episode, please follow the show and leave a review—it helps more clarinetists like you find this resource! #Clarinet #ClarinetPodcast #ClarinetAudition #ClarinetTips   Ben Baron: https://www.benjaminbaron.com/ The Audition Method for clarinet Vol. 1: https://amzn.to/4oEVSoJ The Audition Method for clarinet Vol. 2: https://amzn.to/4oEX5MN James Danderfer:https:www.jamesdanderfer.com/ All Clarinet Ninja links: https:linktr.ee/theclarinetninja

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 June 11, 2003, I had blood clots in my brain. I didn’t know it at the time, but that medical emergency would become one of the most defining moments of both my life and my clarinet playing. In this episode, I share how surviving that event forced me to rethink everything—from how I approached my career to how I understood discomfort, identity, and growth. And I draw direct lines between those lessons and the clarinet: how real improvement often starts with disruption. When you change your voicing, your tonguing reacts. When you focus on articulation, your tone may fall apart—at first. But within that mess is the seed of real transformation. Whether you’re navigating a personal challenge or just wrestling with your air support or articulation, this episode reframes discomfort as a necessary—and powerful—tool for musical growth. Sometimes the biggest changes in your playing start with the things you never asked for. all my stuff: https://linktr.ee/theclarinetninja https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/

🎧 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 adult. Here is me: https://www.clarinetninja.com/ Here is the Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing James Danderfer: https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/ 💥 From pain and patience to tiny wins and trust in the process, this story is a reminder that healing—and learning—aren’t linear. Whether you're nursing an injury or nurturing your skills, this episode is here to lift you up and remind you: you’re doing better than you think. 🛠️ Themes we explore: How rest IS progress Why setbacks don’t mean failure Trusting your teachers—and your body Celebrating the tiniest victories Staying motivated through frustration Building strength, one step at a time 🖤 For every adult clarinetist who’s ever wondered, “Is it supposed to be this hard?”—this one’s for you. 👉 Hit play and let’s reframe how we think about learning and growth!

🎶 In this episode of the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, we sit down with world-renowned mouthpiece, barrel, bell, reed, and reed case maker Brad Behn. Discover how Brad’s journey from professional clarinetist to master craftsman began — and what inspired him to revolutionize clarinet gear. If you've ever wondered how the best clarinet mouthpieces are made, or how passion and artistry shape great craftsmanship, this episode is for you! Brad Behn: https://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/ Find me: https://www.clarinetninja.com/ https://linktr.ee/theclarinetninja Aaron Irwin: https://aaronirwin.com/ Aaron Irwin: https://aaronirwin.bandcamp.com/music 🔥 Topics we cover: Brad Behn’s journey from performance to mouthpiece design How top-quality clarinet mouthpieces are born Advice for clarinetists looking to upgrade their setup 🎧 Don't forget to subscribe to the Clarinet Ninja Podcast for more clarinet insights, interviews, and gear deep-dives! #Clarinet #BradBehn #ClarinetMouthpiece #ClarinetPodcast #ClarinetNinja #ClarinetGear #woodwindquintet  Clarinet Ninja approved products Links are affiliate links - a great (no cost to you) way to support the channel! Mouthpieces: Affordable professional Bb clarinet mouthpiece: Vandoren BD 4 https://amzn.to/3iSEmAc Vandoren 5RV LYRE https://amzn.to/3H1mECA Vandoren M30 https://amzn.to/3J6ExTs Student mouthpiece: Fobes Debut Student debut mouthpiece https://www.clarkwfobes.com/products/debut-clarinet-mouthpiece?variant=39983864774790 Brad Behn Overture mouthpiece https://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/overture-student-clarinetmouthpiece Vandoren V12 reeds: #3 https://amzn.to/3J6ExTs #3.5 https://amzn.to/3WvJHLD #4 https://amzn.to/3J7LJhY Vandoren Traditional (Blue box) #3 https://amzn.to/3J7LJhY #3.5 https://amzn.to/3ZKTGPY #4 https://amzn.to/3QTusLm Reed cases: Vandoren Hygro case Bb and Eb reeds https://amzn.to/3koZmPo D'Addario Woodwinds Multi-Instrument Reed case https://amzn.to/3XubIVg Rico Reed Guard Bb clarinet https://amzn.to/3J1h06d Brad Behn Reed Cases https://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/product-page/behn-reed-case Books all clarinetists should have: Baermann third division https://amzn.to/3j2fTsd Kell Staccato studies https://amzn.to/3wkLisZ Jean Jean Vade Mecum https://amzn.to/3J9U6cO Rose 32 etudes https://amzn.to/3J9U6cO Rose 40 etudes https://amzn.to/3GWDwdW Kroepsch 416 progressive studies https://amzn.to/3wj48kb Reed equipment: Ridenour ATG reed finishing system https://amzn.to/3XqF7zu ReedGeek Universal G4 reed tool https://amzn.to/3HnjWZC 400 grit sandpaper https://amzn.to/3H1oof6 600 grit sandpaper https://amzn.to/3j2hiyZ Vandoren V12 Reed Trimmer https://amzn.to/3H7K8r6 Vandoren V21 and 56 Rue Lepic https://amzn.to/3GLkC9I Vandoren Traditional https://amzn.to/3kjMQRi Vandoren Black Master/Black Master Traditional https://amzn.to/3HcErs1 Vandoren White Master https://amzn.to/3kl4hRz Ligatures: Bonade inverted silver plated https://amzn.to/3wlJdNy Vandoren M/O ligature https://amzn.to/3XPYNNg Vandoren Optimum Ligature https://amzn.to/3QYvOof Rovner Mark III https://amzn.to/3J6H7ZE  Links are affiliate links - a great way to support the channel!