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
Dr. Stefanie Gardner teaches at Glendale Community College (AZ) and performs with Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Symphony, Paradise Winds, and Égide Duo. Stefanie was named Top 30 Professionals by Musical America and is a 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator quarterfinalist. She has performed in concert with Jason Alexander, Andrea Bocelli, PitBull, Ceelo, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, David and Katherine McPhee Foster, Jordin Sparks, Weird Al Yankovic, Hanson, and The Who. Her albums can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. She is an artist for Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer and Silverstein Works.
Joshua Gardner - Biographical Information
Dr. Joshua Gardner is Associate Professor of Clarinet and Director of the Performance Physiology Research Laboratory at Arizona State University, where he has taught since 2011. He performs regularly with several chamber ensembles, including the internationally recognized Paradise Winds and Égide Duo. Gardner won first prize at the International Clarinet Association Research Competition in 2008 and has presented lectures on tongue motion during clarinet performance throughout the US, often accompanied by live tongue imaging. He is also a member of the interdisciplinary ASU research group, SAMBA—Science of Art, Music, and Brain Activity. The group plans to integrate ecologically-based perceptual scene-analysis theory, music performance and education principles, and neural brain modeling tests. Dr. Gardner received Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University. Gardner is a Silverstein Pro Team Artist and Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist.
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