Band directors of all levels can attest to the dreadful sound of a squeaking clarinet section. However, with the multitude of specific concepts attributed to teaching clarinet, how will the music educator learn to teach the instrument and drive the ensemble to excellence simultaneously? Using core wind band repertoire, this session will provide the tools and exercises needed to train your clarinets, ultimately improving the overall sound and performance of your wind ensemble.
Mevonnie Biggins
- Biographical Information
Mevonnie Biggins holds a Masters in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Florida A&M University where she served as Principal Clarinet for the Florida A&M University Wind Ensemble. Mrs. Biggins has been involved in music education at the elementary and secondary level for over ten years. Her bands have received superior ratings and have performed at the Kennesaw State Univeristy Concert Band Invitational and Historically Black College and University Band Consortium. She has a published article on clarinet fundamentals with Georgia Music News, the official newsletter for the Georgia Music Educators Association. Mrs. Biggins has served as a clarinet clinician throughout the state of Georgia and students within her studio have recieved placements in district and All-State honor bands. She currently serves as the music specialist for Peachcrest Elementary, where she serves over 950 students weekly in music instruction.
John Warren joined the Kennesaw State University faculty in 2006. After a national search, he was selected as the Professor of Clarinet in 2011. His previous University affiliations include Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia, and The University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was for fifteen years the principal clarinetist of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and prior to that position, the principal clarinetist of the Omaha Symphony. He served as principal clarinetist of the Des Moines Metro Opera for many summers prior to arriving in Atlanta. At Kennesaw State University, Mr. Warren teaches studio clarinet, wind chamber music, and Woodwind Techniques.Mr. Warren is a member of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, the IRIS Orchestra of Memphis, TN, as well as performing frequently and recording with the Atlanta Symphony. His playing can be heard on the Telarc, Naxos, Albany, and New World labels.