Clarinet vs Bass Clarinet: The Long and the Short of It
Clinic Synopsis:
Moving students from soprano clarinet to bass clarinet, or the other way around, is always a problem for the students and the teacher. This clinic gives and demonstrates concrete methods to help your students be successful on both instruments. We help to reduce the stigma of bass clarinet being reserved for the lesser students and give specifics for each instrument. These include embouchure, tongue, instrument placement, studies and fingering suggestions for each instrument.
Robert Spring
- Biographical Information
Robert Spring is described as "one of this country's most sensitive and talented clarinetists" (Arizona Republic) and "dazzled his audience...flawless technique" (The Clarinet Magazine). His recording of Joan Tower's works for clarinet was described by The Clarinet Magazine as "truly outstanding”. The Instrumentalist Magazine says of his recording, Dragon's Tongue, "his musicality and technique make this recording a must for every CD collection." Fanfare Magazine says of the CD Tarantelle, "This recording was meant to amaze and, man, it succeeds". The America Record Guide writes of his Copland Clarinet Concerto recording, "Spring is fabulous in the Copland. His phrasing is elegant swing tailored with great flow and a spread of tone colors and expressive subtleties. His low and mid-range are especially warm, rich, and embracing and highly effective in the introduction and in the bridge to the jazzy finale. And boy what a finale…by the end, it feels like an improvised jam session."
He has three degrees from the University of Michigan as well as the Citation of Merit Award. He has performed world-wide and has published numerous articles on multiple articulation and other contemporary clarinet techniques.
Spring, a former President of the International Clarinet Association, is Professor Emeritus of Music in Clarinet at Arizona State University. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chinese Clarinet Association and an Honorary Membership in the International Clarinet Association.
He is a Henri Selmer Paris Artist and performs on the Privilège clarinet.
Stefanie Gardner - Biographical Information
A renowned performer and pedagogue, Dr. Stefanie Harger Gardner is recognized internationally for her contributions to clarinet performance, contemporary repertoire, and inclusive arts leadership. She teaches clarinet, chamber music, and music theory at Glendale Community College and Ottawa University, and previously served on the faculty at Northern Arizona University. An active performer, Dr. Gardner regularly appears with Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona MusicFest, Red Rocks Chamber Music Festival, Seventh Roadrunner, and the internationally recognized Paradise Winds. She is also a founding member of Égide Duo, a grant-winning ensemble dedicated to commissioning, recording, and performing music that promotes social change. Her versatile performance career has included collaborations with artists such as Jason Alexander, Pitbull, Ceelo, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Jordin Sparks, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Hanson, and The Who. Her chamber music recordings are available on the Soundset label and can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Dr. Gardner is listed in and has premiered more than 100 new works for clarinet and bass clarinet. She has performed at leading conferences including those of the International Clarinet Association (ICA), International Double Reed Society, North American Saxophone Alliance, International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, National Flute Association, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and the International Viola Society. International engagements have taken her to England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Spain, France, Austria, Belgium, and Mexico. During her tenure as chair of the ICA New Music Committee, Dr. Gardner founded the biennial ICA Low Clarinet Festival and the annual ICA New Music Weekend. She currently serves as chair of the ICA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Committee and is committed to fostering an inclusive clarinet community through initiatives like ClarEquality.com. In addition to her performance and teaching activities, Dr. Gardner is deeply engaged in woodwind pedagogy and research. Her award-winning study, An Investigation of Finger Motion and Hand Posture during Clarinet Performance, earned first prize at the ICA Research Competition and was conducted in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing using CyberGloves® technology. She was recently named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals, was a quarterfinalist for the 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award, and received the “Outstanding Contributions in Private Teaching” award from Arizona State University. Dr. Gardner also serves as a reviewer for Norton Publishing in the areas of music theory and aural skills. She holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University, where she studied with Robert Spring. Dr. Gardner is a Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist (Privilege clarinets), a Silverstein Pro Team Artist, and a Gleichweit Performing Artist.
Joshua Gardner - Biographical Information
Dr. Joshua Gardner is
Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Performance Physiology
Research Laboratory at Arizona State University, where he has served on the
faculty since 2011. Widely respected as both a performer and pedagogue,
Gardner’s career is distinguished by its integration of high-level artistry, pioneering
research, and innovative pedagogy.
A sought-after
clarinetist and chamber musician, Gardner regularly performs across the United
States and internationally, appearing with acclaimed ensembles including the
Paradise Winds reed quintet and Égide Duo. Known for his vibrant musicality and
refined technique, he has appeared as a soloist with numerous high school and
university ensembles and has been featured on American Public Media’s Performance
Today. His performances and research presentations have been featured at
major conferences, including those of the International Clarinet Association,
European Clarinet Congress, International Double Reed Society, North American
Saxophone Alliance, College Music Society, National Association of College Wind
and Percussion Instructors, and numerous state music education conferences.
Deeply invested in
advancing the understanding of wind performance, Gardner’s research focuses on
biomechanics, performance physiology, and woodwind pedagogy. His work employs
advanced technologies—including ultrasound imaging and thin-film force sensors—to
investigate complex physical behaviors such as tongue motion and embouchure
force in real-time. A first-prize winner of the International Clarinet
Association’s Research Competition, Gardner frequently presents his findings
through dynamic, live lecture-demonstrations that bridge the gap between
science and applied performance. At ASU, Gardner directs the Performance
Physiology Research Laboratory, where he mentors a wide range of student
research projects, from embouchure pressure studies to imaging-based
explorations of non-articulatory tongue motion in woodwind performance. He is
also a member of SAMBA (Science of Art, Music, and Brain Activity), an
interdisciplinary research collective at ASU that investigates the
neurocognitive foundations of music perception and learning. The group
synthesizes principles from perceptual theory, music education, and neural
modeling to develop a more integrated understanding of how the brain engages
with music.
An ardent champion of
chamber music, Gardner serves as the soprano clarinetist with Paradise Winds, a
Phoenix-based reed quintet dedicated to expanding and enriching the repertoire
for this emerging ensemble format. The quintet released its third album, All
Things Bright and Beautiful, in 2022 and is recognized for its commitment
to commissioning new works. Notable collaborations include pieces by Jon
Russell, Deborah Kavasch, John Marvin, Cornelius Boots, Alyssa Morris, Graham
Cohen, and many others. In 2024, Paradise Winds gave the world premiere of Boots' Freakwood at ClarinetFest in Dublin, Ireland, where they
performed as featured artists.
Gardner also performs
with Égide Duo, a socially engaged chamber ensemble he co-founded with
clarinetist Stefanie Gardner. The duo commissions and performs music that
addresses urgent themes including environmental sustainability, social equity,
and animal and human rights. Their mission is to use music as a platform for
meaningful commentary and public engagement. Their performance at ClarinetFest
2019 was described by the conference review team as “powerful,” marked by a
“vibrant color palette and captivating quality.” Composers commissioned by
Égide Duo include Eric Mandat, Jon Russell, Amanda Harberg, Alex Temple, Carter
Pann, and Joel Love, among others. Their most recent album, Gardners At Home
(2025), showcases works recorded at their home during the height of the
COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the duo’s adaptability and creative spirit during
a time of global upheaval.
Dr. Gardner holds dual bachelor’s
degrees in music education and clarinet performance from the University of
Kentucky and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University.
He is a Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist, performing on Privilège
clarinets, and a Silverstein Pro Team Artist.
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