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 f...

On February 2, 2026, Ken Peplowski played his last notes aboard The Jazz Cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. He was 66 years old, he was in the middle of a comeback, and by all accounts he sounded extraordinary. The next day, he was gone. In this episode of the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, Jay Hassler sits down with three of the greatest jazz clarinetists alive: Anat Cohen, Paquito D'Rivera, and Evan Christo...

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...

What is ClarinetFest, and is it actually worth going to? In this episode, Jay sits down with ICA President Cathy Wood, ICA Executive Director Jessica Harrie, and Enthusiast Committee co-chair Josh Goo to answer exactly that. ClarinetFest 2026 takes place July 7-11 at the Songdo Convencia in Incheon, South Korea, and this year features something especially exciting for adult enthusiasts and returni...

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 Wo...

In this episode of the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, host Jay Hasler sits down with Dr. Ron Odrich for the first of a four-part conversation that every clarinet player needs to hear. Dr. Odrich is one of the most uniquely positioned clarinetists alive today. He is a world-renowned periodontist, a former member of the legendary Airmen of Note, a close friend and student of Buddy DeFranco, and a man who s...

Welcome to the Clarinet Ninja Podcast! In this episode, Jay sits down with longtime friend and accomplished clarinetist Dave Sapadin for a deep dive into the journey of becoming your own player. Dave shares his equipment evolution - from Buffet R13 to LeBlanc Opus, Backun MOBAs, and finally to Uebel clarinets - and what he learned about compromise and personal sound along the way. But this convers...

If you've been frustrated with your clarinet progress, this episode will change everything. The problem isn't that you're not talented enough. The problem isn't that you don't practice enough. The problem is your environment. In this episode, I break down the exact framework for designing an internal environment where improvement becomes inevitable, not aspirational. You'll discover: - Why discipl...

  This is my first holiday season without my mom. While going through old recordings after her passing, I found something that stopped me in my tracks: a recording of me at 11 years old playing "The Christmas Song" on clarinet, with my mom accompanying on piano. It was a fifth grade band holiday concert. Fifth-grade me squeaking through phrases, my mom patiently at the piano, both of us creat...

Have you ever practiced diligently but struggled in performance? The problem isn't your playing—it's that you're only doing half the practice you need. Free PDF In this episode, I break down the two essential types of practice every clarinetist needs: Practice Practice (building skills) and Practice Performance (accessing those skills under pressure). Most players focus entirely on the first while...

Larry Guy has played on Broadway, with the New York Philharmonic, NYC Opera, and as principal clarinet of the Joffrey Ballet. But what makes this conversation truly valuable is Larry's incredible body of pedagogical work—books on embouchure, articulation, and definitive editions of the Rose 32 Etudes and Complete Daniel Bonade works. In this episode, Larry reveals why traditional embouchure teachi...

What clarinet equipment should you actually buy? Join Jay Hassler in this comprehensive clarinet gear guide with Quick Start Clarinet's Josh Goo and Queen Reed's Lynne Snyder as they reveal what to invest in at every budget level. 🎵 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✅ Best clarinet equipment for a few hundred dollars (and it's not what you think!) ✅ Clarinet case comparison: Bam vs. Pro-Tech vs. Marcus Bona...

Ever wondered what clarinet accessories are actually worth your hard-earned money? In this game-changing episode, Clarinet Ninja host Jay Hasler sits down with two clarinet powerhouses: Josh Goo from Quick Start Clarinet and Lynne Snyder (aka Queen Reed) to decode the mystery of clarinet upgrades. Clarinet NInja Amazon Store - No extra cost to you...but a great way to support the podcast! Clarinet...

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...

Clarinetist/composer James Danderfer joins Jay to premiere his new album If Not Now (Celler Records), recorded at the storied Rudy Van Gelder Studio. They dive into choosing clarinet vs. bass clarinet, arranging for a 7-piece band with three horns and vibes, the balance between classical sound concept and modern jazz feel, plus practical gear talk (Hawkins mouthpieces, Legère reeds, Selmer Privile...

In this episode we explore how bass clarinet artistry and community work can inform each other. Todd shares how he writes from the life around him, why giving the bass clarinet a leadership role matters, and what adult learners can borrow for tone, time feel, and phrasing. The through line is simple. People are multifaceted. Music can help you become the whole person you want to be. Intersectionof...

David Gould shares the story behind New Picture, his new bass clarinet recording. We explore how the album took shape, working closely with composers, lessons from his study with David Weber and Philippe Cuper, the transition from Bb to bass clarinet, and practical insights on mouthpieces and reeds. In this episode: • How the concept of New Picture became a finished album • Collaborative approache...

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, pra...

What if two clarinetists learned from the same master teacher, but ended up sounding completely different? In this episode, I talk with my friend of 33 years, Evan Christopher, about our shared roots under clarinetist Gary Bovyer and how we each took that foundational training in radically different directions. We discuss the role of genre, artistic choices, and how musical identity is shaped over...

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 pla...

Are you ready for the clarinet event of the year? 🎶 Join me for a fun and inspiring conversation with Dr. Cathy Wood, President of the International Clarinet Association (ICA), and Jessica Harrie, ICA Executive Director, as we dive into everything you need to know about ClarinetFest® 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas – July 9–13! We also talk about the special Pre-ClarinetFest Enthusiasts Event happening...

🎧 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...

🎶 In Part 2 of our conversation with master craftsman Brad Behn , we dive deep into how he actually creates his legendary clarinet mouthpieces . From material selection to design philosophy and precision hand-finishing, Brad shares insider secrets behind the mouthpieces trusted by top clarinetists worldwide.   Brad Behn:  https://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/ Find me:  https://www.cl...

🎶 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 craftsm...

In this episode, we dive into Writing the Vandoren Wave , a compelling collection of essays by acclaimed clarinetist and educator Mitchell Estrin . This book offers powerful insights into the art of clarinet playing, thoughtful reflections on music education, and a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most influential brands in the clarinet world— Vandoren . 🎶 Why this book matters: Writing the V...