Lisa's Clarinet Shop

08/08/2026

Maddox bought an R13 A from us 4 years ago to get more time out of his Bb that cracked multiple times.

Now it could be coincidence, but the Bb he bought from a store with no set up. And the A was completely serviced and has not cracked.

When an instrument is properly set up and fitted to the right person it’s a winning situation.

And today was the day for Maddox to upgrade. He wanted to try everything Buffet makes.

So as we wondered through models it became quickly clear to him that he really didn’t want a super dark sound from his instrument because he already brought that with him.

Having gone from a BD5 to an M13Lyre- what a switch- it was a 🔴 🟤 🟠 Prestige Bb and A that Mom and Dad- who of course started our day with ‘We are not musical and can’t really tell much of anything’ could 💯 percent hear the difference. It was an especially electric day because towards the end of our discovery process to find these, Maddox said it was his 20th birthday today and it was the best present 💝 🎁 ever driving 6 hours round trip today.

Maddox learned to play the clarinet during the pandemic. He has the most beautiful sound. 🚀 Happiest of happy birthdays to you Maddox. 🎂 Good luck 🍀 starting your sophomore year as a performance major. You’re going to crush that seating assignment audition at the end of the month.

08/08/2026

Check out this Copeland Telos. What do you think of how it sounds?

08/08/2026

Sometimes the simple etudes are just too fun to play! This little ditty is from the Hite Melodious and Progressive Studies Book 1.

This demonstration is on a SeriO ClarO model Bb soprano clarinet. Come to https://getserio.com/ to pick up a free Clarinet Buyers Guide or take the Color Ring Quiz https://getserio.com/color-ring-quiz/

08/07/2026

We are proud to present episode 76 of 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐧, hosted by Lisa Canning from Lisa’s Clarinet Shop and Working Musicians Academy.

In this episode, Lisa sits down with saxophone and woodwind specialist Paul Mifsud. Paul talks about his lifelong journey with music and how he balanced it with a career in IT (Information Technology). He shares how he started playing the clarinet as a child, studied at the Berklee College of Music, and eventually entered the corporate world to support his family.

Paul explains why he kept his music life separate from his office job and how his business experience helped him as a musician. Now retired from IT, he plays music full-time and runs music workshops for corporate teams. This episode offers practical advice for musicians who want to make a living and helpful tips for anyone wanting to learn a wind instrument.

Presented by Lisa's Clarinet Shop and Working Musicians Academy. Please Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe! Your support helps us reach more music lovers and share these important stories. Don't forget to hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.

Learn more about Lisa’s work here:

https://lisasclarinetshop.com

and

https://workingmusiciansacademy.com

👉 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Toot Your Own Horn: Music Matters. 📢 Please share this episode to help us reach 3,000 subscribers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtTtnDLDbks

We are proud to present episode 76 of 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐧, hosted by...

08/06/2026

Better your best. Strive to be better. Building on an excellent teacher, those skills can take you anywhere you want to grow in music. 🎶

08/05/2026

G Major clarinet scale demonstrated by Zachary West, Clarinetist.

Zac walks you through the G Major scale fingerings. For the lower notes, if you have sound issues, you might not be covering all of the holes. One of many things new clarinetists have to get used to.

Tell us about your scale journey, do you know your 12 major scales yet?

08/05/2026

Register tube installed into the clarinet. Frank talks through getting the tube to follow the contour of the instrument.

Every adjustment or recondition of an instrument takes artistry and skill, just like playing it. Now, your turn to step into the instrument repair technician field. Learn more at https://workingmusiciansacademy.com/

08/04/2026

One and One allignment on Clarinet. This is one of those tricky pieces of knowledge that band directors try to teach clarinetists from the first day of putting the clarinet together: LINING UP THE BRIDGE KEY (AND NOT BENDING IT).

Here, you will see Frank discussing how the bridge key alligns and how some instrument brands make the rods allign or not.

This is another short instructional repair video available through tutorials with the www.WorkingMusiciansAcademy.com. Make sure you sign-up for your repair class now (offered for Flute and Saxophone as well).

08/04/2026

Eli is 13. He is about to start his Freshman year in high school. He came in on a Yamaha 4C that was pretty worn, Rico 2.0 and a Yamaha Bb 250.

The Yamaha needed a repad and really didn’t want to let much air go through it at all. Eli could barely make a sound, but he loves to play, he said, and his mom nodded in agreement.

It took 2 mouthpieces and two new reeds for all of us to gasp at what a clear full round sound he got on a 2.5 Vandoren and a BD5 Vandoren mouthpiece. Never having taken a lesson, we tried a nickel R13 and it was as if he didn’t have anywhere deep enough for the sound to go. We switched to. 🔴 🟤 🟠 R13 in Mopane, with silver keys, and instantly we all knew we had found the one. ☝️

I passed along a prospective teachers information for him, in the Milwaukee area, and boy will they be in for a treat. What a fast learner who remembers what you tell him on the first try. 🚀

Congrats Eli! I can’t wait to hear what you sound like in a year.

08/03/2026

Milestone Monday. ☮ 💓 🎶

https://www.prlog.org/13162114-working-musicians-academy-partners-with-black-dog-music-partners-to-give-musicians-independent-income-producing-careers.html

https://blackdogceo.com/