Clarinet Lessons with Charlotte Kies
I teach clarinet lessons in my studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Lee University, and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. In addition, I also offer lessons online. If you would like to sample the online clarinet lesson experience for free, send me a message below.
Clarinet Lessons and Covid-19
During Covid-19 I will be teaching clarinet lessons online only. Although I am teaching through Zoom, I am still running a full studio. If you would like to schedule a trial lesson online, send me a message below.
Clarinet Lessons for High School and Middle School Students
If you are a high school or middle school student, I offer 45- and 60-minute private clarinet lessons. In order to help you decide whether you would like to enroll full-time, I offer all new students one free trial lesson. Send me a message to ask for your free trial lesson.
College and Graduate Students
In addition to teaching privately, I also teach at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and at Lee University. To audition for my studio, send me a message or visit the university websites to learn more about our programs.
utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/music https://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/music/
About Clarinet Lessons with Dr. Kies
In addition to daily practice, weekly instruction provides structure and guarantees progress. A private teacher can help guide you, and help you improve your practice habits.
Even though lessons are online, students can still make valuable improvements. For example, you can still study intonation, rhythm, and repertoire.
When you study with Dr. Kies, you are studying not only from her, but from all the teachers with whom she trained.
How else can you study clarinet with Dr. Kies?
Dr. Kies hosts an annual summer clarinet camp. To learn more, visit the Chattanooga Clarinet Academy page.
If you would like to attend free events, Dr. Kies hosts an annual Clarinet Festival at Lee University. Visit the ClarinetFest page to learn more.
In order to stay up to date on her upcoming projects and performances, visit the Lee University and UTC websites.
Are you already enrolled in Clarinet Lessons? If you would like to learn more, explore my Clarinet Blog*
*Some content may only be available to members of the Chattanooga Clarinet Academy. In order to gain access, consider enrolling this summer! Visit the Chattanooga Clarinet Academy page to learn more.
3 Simple Changes You Can Make to Up Your Audition Game
For better or worse, admission to college, graduate schools, and employment in most full- and part-time ensembles rely on your performance in auditions. Consequently, it is worth spending some of your time considering how you can improve your audition-taking skills.
Taking auditions is a unique skill that should be considered separate, in some ways, from the skills you require to play your instrument. While it’s true that you cannot audition well if you don’t play your instrument well, it is also true that you can play your instrument very well, but audition poorly. It is sort of akin to taking a standardized test in a high pressure, timed environment. Some students feel that their results on standardized tests do not accurately represent their intelligence or their education, while other students excel at these exams, and have no complaints.
Below are 3 suggestions for improving your ability to take and excel in audition situations.
Building an Ideal Practice Session
In order to become a well-rounded clarinetist, you need to make sure you practice a number of technical skills every day.
Below is a list of items you should practice every day, in addition to the repertoire you are assigned to play for lessons, ensembles, and auditions.
Solve Your Intonation Issues with This 1 Simple Exercise
A former teacher of mine used to say that an out of tune note, even played in the right place at the right time, is still a wrong note. Not only do you have to be able to recognize the difference between in- and out-of-tune, but you also have to be a skilled-enough technician on your instrument to be able to bend the pitch to your will.
The first question you should be asking yourself is, “what does it mean to be in tune,” and the second, “how do I play in tune?”