The Clarinet Ninja Podcast: Clarinet Lessons & Practice Tips

Clarinetfest 2026: Why you can't miss this year

What is ClarinetFest, and is it actually worth going to? In this episode, Jay sits down with ICA President Cathy Wood, ICA Executive Director Jessica Harrie, and Enthusiast Committee co-chair Josh Goo to answer exactly that. ClarinetFest 2026 takes place July 7-11 at the Songdo Convencia in Incheon, South Korea, and this year features something especially exciting for adult enthusiasts and returning players: the Prelude to ClarinetFest Enthusiast Workshop. Before the main festival begins, a full day of workshops, icebreakers, ensemble playing, and masterclasses is designed specifically for non-professional players who want to get the most out of the week ahead. Jessica Harrie, who now lives in Incheon, walks listeners through what it's actually like to travel there: the 25-minute ride from the airport, the English-friendly signage and transit, the Central Park lakefront, and the restaurants of Triple Street. Spoiler: it is a lot more accessible than you might think. The group also previews some of the performing artists on the program, including Kokoya (the Japanese trio playing Brazilian choro music), the Magic Clarinet Quartet, the Seoul Clarinet Ensemble, Jerry Chai of Seoul National University, and the Bass Clarinet Choir of Canada. The opening gala concert is being held at the Art Center Incheon, one of the most stunning concert halls in the region. Cathy, Jessica, and Josh each share their most memorable ClarinetFest moments, from Julian Bliss's American debut at age 11, to fireworks on a Belgian beach with a clarinet choir, to walking past Julian Bliss in a hallway in Denver and doing a double take. Jay also teases an upcoming episode with jazz clarinetist Virginia McDonald, and confesses to spending $104 on two reeds from France. No regrets. To register: Prelude event: https://clarinet.org/prelude-to-clarinetfest-2026/ [https://clarinet.org/prelude-to-clarinetfest-2026/] ClarinetFest 2026: https://clarinet.org/clarinetfest-2026/  [https://clarinet.org/clarinetfest-2026/ ] Theme music by James Danderfer: https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/ [https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/] Clarinet Ninja Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing [https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing] Quickstart Clarinet: https://www.quickstartclarinet.com/ [https://www.quickstartclarinet.com/]

Stop Blowing Your Clarinet (A Periodontist Explains What to Do Instead)

What does this periodontist know about clarinet tone that your teacher never told you? As it turns out: a lot. Ron Odrich spent 40 years looking inside the mouths of wind instrument players as a practicing periodontist. He also studied clarinet with two of the greatest teachers of the 20th century, Robert Marcelus and Danial Bonade, performed with the Airmen of Note, and recorded alongside Phil Woods and Clark Terry. Ron has spent a lifetime connecting the science of the mouth to the art of the clarinet, and this conversation is the result. We cover the physiology behind tone production, starting with the single most counterproductive word in clarinet teaching: "blow." Ron explains why exhaling instead of blowing activates an entirely different nervous system response, and why that difference shows up directly in your sound. One player tested it live and said it felt like playing a different horn. We also dig into the soft palate as a resonating chamber, including a simple reflexive trick to raise it without adding tension. Ron breaks down the eight muscles of the tongue, explains why there is no universal correct tongue position, and shares how your individual anatomy (jaw, palate shape, lip thickness) should be driving your approach, not a one-size-fits-all instruction. Along the way, we talk facial muscle anatomy, the problem with negative instructions like "don't bite" and "don't blow," how to take a breath without losing contact with the mouthpiece, and what great tone actually feels like from inside your body. This is science-based clarinet teaching at its most practical, and most of it has never been written down anywhere. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: • Why "blow" triggers tension and "exhale" triggers resonance • How the soft palate works and how to raise it reflexively • The role of the parasympathetic nervous system in playing with ease • Why tongue position is individual, not universal • The facial muscles involved in embouchure and which ones to avoid • How to breathe for maximum air volume with zero muscular forcing • What resonant tone feels like physically, and how to use that feeling as a guide ABOUT RON ODRICH: Ron Odrich is a retired periodontist and lifelong clarinetist. He studied with Robert Marcellus and Danial Bonade, served as a member of the Airmen of Note, and performed and recorded with Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and many others. He lives in New York. ABOUT CLARINET NINJA: Jay Hassler is the founder of Clarinet Ninja, an online learning platform for adult clarinet players. The Clarinet Ninja Dojo offers courses, coaching, and community for players who want to improve faster with better information. Book a free call at https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min [https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min] Check out the Clarinet Ninja Dojo here: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

He Studied With the Greatest Classical Clarinet Teachers and Played Jazz With the Best | Dr. Ron Odrich Ep. 1

In this episode of the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, host Jay Hasler sits down with Dr. Ron Odrich for the first of a four-part conversation that every clarinet player needs to hear. Dr. Odrich is one of the most uniquely positioned clarinetists alive today. He is a world-renowned periodontist, a former member of the legendary Airmen of Note, a close friend and student of Buddy DeFranco, and a man who studied directly with both Robert Marcellus and Daniel Bonade. This is not secondhand information. This is living history. In Episode 1, Ron walks us through his musical journey from his first teacher Sal Amato, a virtuosic doubler whose clarinet tone Ron still considers the most beautiful he has ever heard, to Jimmy Abato, to three transformative years studying under Bob Marcellus in Washington D.C. while serving in the Air Force. He also shares how a chance meeting with Buddy DeFranco at his father's home set the direction of his entire musical life. Along the way, you will hear some remarkable stories, including the moment Bonade picked up Ron's clarinet and played a Rose etude so beautifully that Ron could not believe it, and a phone call Bonade received from Benny Goodman right in the middle of a lesson. Ron also draws on his expertise as a periodontist to explain something very few teachers have ever discussed openly: how the structure of your mouth, your palate, your teeth, and even the vowel sounds of your native language shape the sound you produce on the clarinet. His explanation of how Marcellus's dentures contributed to that famous large resonant tone is alone worth the entire episode. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply someone who loves the clarinet, this conversation will change the way you think about tone production forever.

Support vs. Volume: The Key to Better Clarinet Playing with David Sapadin

Welcome to the Clarinet Ninja Podcast! In this episode, Jay sits down with longtime friend and accomplished clarinetist Dave Sapadin for a deep dive into the journey of becoming your own player. Dave shares his equipment evolution - from Buffet R13 to LeBlanc Opus, Backun MOBAs, and finally to Uebel clarinets - and what he learned about compromise and personal sound along the way. But this conversation goes far beyond gear. As a highly successful teacher with students earning top honors (including first chair in New York State), Dave reveals his teaching philosophy: creating an open, judgment-free environment where students learn to identify and solve problems independently. He discusses the crucial difference between support and volume, why embouchure is often blamed incorrectly, and how to help students hear themselves objectively. Key topics include: The evolution of clarinet manufacturing and intonation Learning habits vs. unlearning them Teaching students to "not accept" mediocrity How sound changes with distance from the player The role of air, throat, and fingers (not just embouchure) Lessons learned from studying with Ricardo Morales and Yehuda Gilad Why dynamics are about color, not just volume The impact of the pandemic on student playing Whether you're a student, teacher, or adult amateur, this conversation offers valuable insights into developing as a complete musician. Clarinet Ninja Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing [https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing] Clarinet Ninja Forum (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/6777812678921667 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/6777812678921667] Calendly Link - talk to me free: https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min [https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min] JamesDanderfer.com [https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/]

Stuck in Your Clarinet Playing? Here's What's Really Holding You Back

If you've been frustrated with your clarinet progress, this episode will change everything. The problem isn't that you're not talented enough. The problem isn't that you don't practice enough. The problem is your environment. In this episode, I break down the exact framework for designing an internal environment where improvement becomes inevitable, not aspirational. You'll discover: - Why discipline and willpower-based practice always fails (and what actually works) - The Three Rooms Strategy for strategic musical growth - How your confidence shifts based on proximity (and how to stabilize it) - The exact four areas that determine your progress - How to protect your mental environment from comparison traps - Why you're the same musician in every room This isn't about practicing more hours. It's about designing the right environment where drive flourishes naturally. FREE DOWNLOADS: 📥 Internal Environment Workbook: https://www.clarinetninja.com/internal-environment-workbook [https://www.clarinetninja.com/internal-environment-workbook] 📥 Clarinet Practice Guide: https://www.clarinetninja.com/2026-clarinet-practice-guide [https://www.clarinetninja.com/2026-clarinet-practice-guide] This year, don't just set goals. Design an environment where improvement is inevitable. CONNECT WITH CLARINET NINJA: 🌐 Website: www.clarinetninja.com 📧 Email: TheClarinetNinja@gmail.com [TheClarinetNinja@gmail.com] 📱 Instagram: @clarinetninja 🎵 Join the Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing [https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing] If this episode helped you, please leave a review! It helps other clarinetists find the show.