Clearly understanding the big ideas of tone production, fingering and tuning across the woodwind family is the foundation of successful woodwind teaching and a key to superior ensemble performance. This clinic discusses these three big ideas in detail, defines areas of similarity and difference, and demonstrates commonly encountered problems, suggesting solutions in each case.
Charles West
- Biographical Information
Recipient of the VCUArts Award of Excellence, Charles West has taught all five woodwinds on the university level and has performed professionally on four of five woodwinds for over four decades. He has been a Fulbright Scholar, International Clarinet Association President, and Principal or Bass Clarinet in six professional orchestras on two continents, and has recorded repertoire on the Klavier, Wilson Audiophile, Centaur, CRI and Crystal labels and on a Grammy Award-winning Telarc CD. He has held professorships in three North American universities, and guest residencies in South America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and China. West is Coordinator of Winds & Percussion at Virginia Commonwealth University, artist-clinician for the Buffet Group, Conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Virginia and author of Meredith Music Publications' Woodwind Methods: An Essential Resource for Educators, Conductors and Students.