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Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy
The second annual Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy was held August 4-9, 2008 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. This year's Academy featured a collection of artist faculty from major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Students attending the Academy had the opportunity for intensive personal study with J. Lawrie Bloom (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Pascual Martinez Forteza (New York Philharmonic), Eugene Mondie (National Symphony Orchestra), Victoria Luperi (Fort Worth Orchestra), and Ronald Van Spaendonck (Brussels and Mons Conservatoires, Belgium.)
Each faculty member conducted a master class during the Academy, as well as a one-on-one lesson with each Academy student. Students were given the opportunity to perform during the master classes for evaluation and coaching and, each class concentrated on a specific topic. Lawrie Bloom focused on orchestral bass clarinet excerpts, Pascual Martinez Forteza discussed air support and tone production, Eugene Mondie related his experiences as an orchestral E-flat clarinetist, Victoria Luperi discussed orchestral excerpts and auditions, and Ronald Van Spaendonck introduced advanced and extended clarinet techniques.
Students were also given the opportunity to study instrument technology with Buffet Crampon's master woodwind technician François Kloc (director of Sales and Marketing) and woodwind technician Bruce Marking. During the technology sessions, François and Bruce instructed the students on cleaning and disassembling their clarinets, as well as basic maintenance and trouble-shooting.
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By Lindsey Berthiaume
Every band director wants to improve the sound of his or her reed section for timber, control, and tone production. The single best way to do this is through mouthpiece and reed education so that students are able to identify and improve their own sound without direction from the conductor. The first step in educating students is becoming informed, yourself, so that you are able to pass on knowledge and insight.
Mouthpiece and reed combinations are a bit of a Pandora's Box. In fact, the topic may be totally overwhelming unless you have experienced reed playing for a number of years. My suggestion is that you focus on a few basics, mouthpieces, the components of them, and reeds. By understanding the basic construction and selection techniques, you will be able to better assist your players in making sounds decisions with their own playing equipment. Look for a few main themes to focus on within your reed section for each half of the year. It may be reed selection, reed care, and preparation or perhaps mouthpieces will be where you direct your focus. Take this theme and teach them the basics, so that they are able to make better choices for themselves while playing and crafting their talents.
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