So you just got that new clarinet, now what do you do with it?  A lot of times there's a gap between when we purchase/rent an instrument and when we start lessons, but we're so excited, we want to get started right away.  Dena Merkovsky, the owner of Allegro Music, created this video to demonstrate exactly what you should do from the moment you bring your new clarinet home so you can avoid repair bills right from the start.

        Besides learning how to play a string instrument, the second hardest obstacle for a beginner is learning how to tune it.  I've heard parents tell me that their child couldn't practice for a lesson because the instrument wasn't in tune, or they tried to tune it and broke a string.  In this post, I'll give step by steps solutions aimed to help the beginning musician tune their instrument at home in between lessons or classes.

        One common problem I see as a teacher is when a child has chosen an instrument that doesn't suit them.  These students typically get frustrated quickly and quit after a few months.  When a child chooses the wrong instrument, it can be a negative experience for them and they may have fears about trying a different instrument in the future.