On February 2, 2026, Ken Peplowski played his last notes aboard The Jazz Cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. He was 66 years old, he was in the middle of a comeback, and by all accounts he sounded extraordinary.

The next day, he was gone. In this episode of the Clarinet Ninja Podcast, Jay Hassler sits down with three of the greatest jazz clarinetists alive: Anat Cohen, Paquito D'Rivera, and Evan Christopher. Anat and Paquito were on that cruise. All three played many times with Ken. Anat and Paquito night before he died.

What follows is not an obituary. It is a portrait, built from the memories of people who knew Ken on the bandstand and off it. They talk about his sound, his humor, his Midwestern humility, his extraordinary repertoire, and what it felt like to stand next to someone who made every musician around him better.

This episode covers the final performance on the Jazz Cruise, Ken's tone and technique as described by three world-class clarinetists, his unique place in the long history of jazz clarinet, his years-long battle with multiple myeloma, his planned comeback, and the legacy he leaves for anyone who plays or loves the clarinet. Ken Peplowski recorded more than 70 albums as a leader, played with Benny Goodman, performed at Carnegie Hall and Birdland, and was called by many the greatest living jazz clarinetist.

He was also, by every account in this episode, one of the funniest and most generous people in jazz. As Evan Christopher says near the end of this conversation: "He wasn't trying to sell anything. He was just trying to deliver."

Find Ken's recordings on all major streaming platforms. Start anywhere. You will know within thirty seconds that you are hearing someone who knew exactly what he was doing.

Guests: Anat Cohen, Paquito D'Rivera, Evan Christopher

Topics: Ken Peplowski, jazz clarinet, The Jazz Cruise, multiple myeloma, Benny Goodman Orchestra, swing jazz, clarinet tone and technique, jazz history, jazz tribute The Clarinet Ninja Podcast is hosted by Jay Hassler and covers clarinet performance, jazz history, and the stories of the musicians who dedicate their lives to the instrument. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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What does it take to build a career on an instrument that modern jazz largely left behind?

Virginia MacDonald grew up the daughter of one of Canada's most celebrated jazz saxophonists - sitting in smoky Toronto clubs at age four, surrounded by musicians like Neil Swainson and Pat Larbara as if they were just the neighbors. She picked up the clarinet at six because she thought the keys looked like buttons. Nobody told her the instrument had a problem. By the time she figured out that almost nobody was hiring clarinet players for contemporary jazz groups, she'd already decided she was going to make it work. In this conversation, Virginia talks about growing up in an artistic household, learning jazz by ear instead of out of books, her complicated relationship with her first classical clarinet teacher, and how transcribing Kenny Dorham and Clifford Brown solos, instead of clarinet players, helped her find her own voice on the instrument.

We also dig into her debut album as a bandleader, her collaboration with bass clarinetist/composer Todd Marcus, and the philosophy behind her compositions.

Topics covered:

Growing up in Toronto with a jazz legend father and visual artist mother

Choosing the clarinet at age six ("I thought they were buttons")

Learning jazz by ear and why structured practice felt foreign

The barrage: her first classical clarinet teacher at 15

Why she transcribed trumpet players, not clarinet players Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, and the In and Out record that changed her playing

The shrinking clarinet lineage in jazz and what she did about it Her debut album on Cellar Music, including Last Call at Dimitri's and Eternal Return of the Same

Her "Frankenstein" R13 and the crystal mouthpiece she hated for two weeks before never going back

Practicing on the road: why it's a blessing and a curse Links:

Virginia MacDonald's website: https://virginiamacdonald.ca/

Album on Bandcamp: https://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of

Cellar Music label: https://www.cellarlive.com/

Stream everywhere: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal

Clarinet Ninja Dojo (adult clarinet learning): https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

Book a free session with Jay: https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min

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/

ClarinetFest 2026: https://clarinet.org/clarinetfest-2026/ 

Theme music by James Danderfer: https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/

Clarinet Ninja Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

Quickstart Clarinet: https://www.quickstartclarinet.com/

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

Check out the Clarinet Ninja Dojo here: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

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.

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

Clarinet Ninja Forum (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/6777812678921667

Calendly Link - talk to me free: https://calendly.com/theclarinetninja/30min

JamesDanderfer.com

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

📥 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: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @clarinetninja

🎵 Join the Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing

If this episode helped you, please leave a review! It helps other clarinetists find the show.

This is my first holiday season without my mom.

While going through old recordings after her passing, I found something that stopped me in my tracks: a recording of me at 11 years old playing "The Christmas Song" on clarinet, with my mom accompanying on piano.

It was a fifth grade band holiday concert. Fifth-grade me squeaking through phrases, my mom patiently at the piano, both of us creating something we didn't know would matter like this decades later.

So I decided to do something: I played a duet with my younger self. Current me, meeting fifth-grade me, both of us held together by my mom's piano.

This episode is different from my usual format. It's personal. It's emotional. But I think it might be exactly what some of you need to hear right now.

The story behind the recording and why my mom captured that moment

What grandparents (and parents and teachers) are really doing when they show up

The "long game" of creating meaning that compounds across decades

Why you should record yourself NOW, even if you're not ready

What you're actually building when you practice your instrument

The full duet performance: three generations in one musical moment

How music collapses time and creates conversations across decades

What it means to become "someone's archive"

Finding meaning during difficult seasons

The role of music in processing grief and loss

Legacy and what we pass down to future generations

Why your practice matters more than you realize

Creating archives that reveal their meaning later

The compounding effect of showing up consistently

How adult learners demonstrate possibility to those watching them

Whether you've lost someone recently, you're thinking about legacy, or you're wondering if your practice time really matters, this episode is for you.

The Clarinet Ninja Podcast helps adult clarinet players reclaim their musical dreams through evidence-based practice methods, systematic skill development, and the mindset of lifelong learning.

Whether you're returning after decades away or just getting started later in life, this show proves it's never too late to become the musician you've always wanted to be.

Hosted by Jay Hassler, who combines performance experience from Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, and Broadway with adult learning science to create methods that actually work for real people with real lives.

If this episode resonated with you, the best way to support this work is to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

It helps other adult learners find the show and join this community of people who believe music is a lifelong conversation with yourself.

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Sometimes the people who need these messages most don't even know they're looking for them.

Keep practicing. Keep showing up. Keep building something that compounds.

Host: Jay Hassler

Production: Clarinet Ninja

Original Recording (1985): Jay Hassler (clarinet), Betty Hassler (piano)

Music: "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"

© 2024 Clarinet Ninja. All rights reserved.

Have you ever practiced diligently but struggled in performance? The problem isn't your playing—it's that you're only doing half the practice you need.

Free PDF

In this episode, I break down the two essential types of practice every clarinetist needs: Practice Practice (building skills) and Practice Performance (accessing those skills under pressure). Most players focus entirely on the first while neglecting the second, which is why performances don't match practice room ability.

What You'll Learn:

Key Timestamps: [Add your timestamps here - examples:]

Resources Mentioned:

Ready to transform both your practice and performances?

Join the Clarinet Ninja Dojo where we work on these exact skills in live group sessions: [link]

Connect with Clarinet Ninja:

Support the Show: If this episode helped you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other clarinet players find the show!

Larry Guy has played on Broadway, with the New York Philharmonic, NYC Opera, and as principal clarinet of the Joffrey Ballet. But what makes this conversation truly valuable is Larry's incredible body of pedagogical work—books on embouchure, articulation, and definitive editions of the Rose 32 Etudes and Complete Daniel Bonade works.

In this episode, Larry reveals why traditional embouchure teaching often makes students look perfect but sound worse, shares the simple coffee cup lid trick that fixes articulation problems instantly, and explains why the "tip of tongue to tip of reed" directive doesn't work for many players (including himself and Robert Marcellus!). We dive deep into his study with legends like Anthony Gigliotti, Dave Weber, and Cal Opperman, and Larry shares fascinating stories about Daniel Bonade that you won't hear anywhere else.

If you're an adult clarinet player, you'll especially appreciate Larry's insights on why adults can actually learn clarinet MORE efficiently than children—and how to leverage your adult brain for faster improvement.

Key Topics:

Why embouchure training must include air flow work

The upper lip pressure technique from Gigliotti Double-lip embouchure as daily tonic Articulation without closing your throat

How jaw anatomy affects tonguing placement

Teaching adults vs children effectively

What Rose really intended in the 32 Etudes Daniel Bonade's photographic memory and character

Resources mentioned:

Larry Guy's books (available through Camco Publishing):

The Complete Embouchure Book

The Complete Articulation Book Rose 32 Etudes Study Guide

The Complete Daniel Bonade

Join the Clarinet Ninja Dojo for systematic adult clarinet education: Clarinet Ninja