A year and a half ago when my wife and I redesigned my professional website, clarinetmike.com, we put up 15 clarinet clinic and master class YouTube video clips. Since then, I’ve also been posting recital videos directly on to YouTube.

So,  how can YOU put video on YouTube?

Without getting too in-depth or technical, here’s basically how you can do it – at least, how I do it.  (FYI, there are lots of “how to” tutorials, videos, etc. on the Internet, just google it.)

1. Get a video camera (with HD if possible) and start video recording your recitals and master classes. A tripod is a must.

2. Download Windows Live Movie Maker on to your computer  (Vista or Windows 7 – I believe there are similar programs for Mac). This program is GREAT and is FREE!

3. Get a YouTube channel.

4. When you get some video you are happy with,  dump it on to your computer hard drive and edit it with Windows Live Movie Maker. Then, click the YouTube button on Movie Maker. Enter your passwords and away you go! After your video is on YouTube, be sure to adjust the various YouTube settings.

FYI, check out my videos:

http://clarinetmike.com/media_master.html

http://clarinetmike.com/media_clinic.html

Also, here is a recent recital video I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNttaOARHQw

Batterie de cuisine, Musée Cernuschi, Paris.

   (As many of you know, my wife Anne-Leslie is a fantastic cook. Below is another excellent recipe she uses.)

The recipe below is a slightly modified version of this: http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/12/02/holiday-gifts-8-homemade-gifts-in-a-jar-with-free-printable-gift-tags/ [1. S’mores in a Jar]

S’mores Recipe

Combine in a mixing bowl:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (one sleeve of crackers, crushed)

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows. (Or substitute with 8 Peeps and 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows for seasonal fun.)

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or mini Hershey Kisses or M&M’s

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla

Press mixture into a 9 inch square baking pan.

Bake at 350F for 15 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Cut into bars.

Robert Fruehwald, composer

Just noticed that my friend and colleague, Robert Fruehwald, has put up the sheet music for another clarinet work on his website for free pdf download -Terpsichore (for unaccompanied clarinet). Check it out here: http://www6.semo.edu/fruehwald/downloads.html.

Also available for free download on the above website is the sheet music and CD accompaniment  for his beautiful Summer Sunrise on the Mississippi (for clarinet and CD).  (Click here for a video of Summer Sunrise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKQtHpcvVW8.) Thanks Bob for writing cool music and making it available!

FYI, his recent CD of Woodwind Music is available here:http://www.amazon.com/Woodwind-Music-Robert-Fruehwald-Vol/dp/B004IA2ZSS

Kenneth Tse

Rochelle Oedemann

Southeast Missouri Single Reed Day 2012 is scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

This year’s clinicians are:

• Kenneth Tse, Saxophone Professor, University of Iowa
• Rochelle Oedemann, Clarinet Adjunct Professor, George Mason University
• Michael Dean, Clarinet & Saxophone Professor, Southeast Missouri State University

Southeast Missouri Single Reed Day 2012 is a one-day festival at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. The conference  features clarinet and saxophone master classes, performances, clinics and more.

Single Reed Day events are open to students, teachers, amateurs, professionals, and all those interested in the clarinet and/or saxophone.

Admission is free to all events during the day for Southeast Missouri Single Reed Day. The evening concert is a ticketed event with tickets available at the door.

High school seniors and potential transfer students may audition for a music scholarship during Southeast Missouri Single Reed Day.

For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Dean (email: mdean@semo.edu or call: 573/651-2535).

Single Reed Day 2012 Information

Single Reed Day 2012 Program

Single Reed Day 2012 Flyer

Single Reed Day 2012 Concert Program

Single Reed Day 2012 Concert Poster

Click Here: Michael Dean Clarinet Recital at Las Vegas Academy

Retired clarinet professor Bill Klinger & me in Boulder City, Nevada

Keep it simple.

from Preparation and Effort: Tips on Applying John Wooden’s Concepts

1. Take clarinets to the repair shop.
2. Find some reeds for the coming semester.
3. Study an orchestral work you don’t know (or a solo, etude, etc.)
4. Work on Sight Reading
5. Put in all the fixes your teacher was telling you about all semester.
6. Work on scales for spring semester!
7. Call an old friend who used to play clarinet (esp a retired teacher/professor).
8. Watch old movies (check out TCM) and listen to the music. Learn about the composer.
9. Work on transposition.
10. Most importantly, take at least a few days off and NOT think about the clarinet – maybe attend a religious service, get some exercise, read a good book, volunteer to help someone, etc.

[Note: Picture above by Anne-Leslie of our big family summer vacation to California in 2011. We are on a beach near San Clemente, CA - just a great day.]

"Be Quick, But Don't Hurry." John Wooden

Music Juries and Final Exams are upon us. Here’s a tip to help: STOP.  Now PLAN your time. Most success comes from planning, so take a few minutes and plan your next week or so.

More time management tips and some performance anxiety tips are found at these links:

http://www.clarinetmike.com/docs/Basic_Time_Management.pdf

http://www.clarinetmike.com/docs/Performance_Anxiety_Tips.pdf

[photo above courtesy PDPhoto.org]

(As many of you know, my wife Anne-Leslie is a fantastic cook. Below is another excellent recipe she uses.)

Thanksgiving is over and turkey is gone. Here’s food everybody likes and can be spiced up as per each person’s preference – I put lots of crushed red pepper on it.  Also, you can prepare it ahead of time (even freeze it) and then just cook it in the oven. This can help with practice time and our busy schedules this time of year.

Check it out: http://www.food.com/recipe/tater-tot-pizza-casserole-366349

Clarinetmike.com/rsrc_allstate.html. It features links to helps on the Missouri All-State clarinet music, performance anxiety tips, an article by my teacher Carol Jessup and other helps.