Interview With the University Professors Part II
During Part II, we discuss subjects pertinent to young players wishing to become woodwind multi-instrumentalists and that can be helpful to teachers. These include:
What is the most beneficial woodwind to start with?
What college/university courses need to be revamped or added to the basic music curriculum in order to benefit music students?
How the professors interviewed juggle their performance, teaching, and personal schedules.
Advice for prospective doublers.
*Opening Panel Audio Track:
Thelonious Monk: Ask Me Now
Greg Tardy, tenor saxophone
*Closing Panel Audio Track
Carl Maria Von Weber: Introduction, Theme & Variations
John Cipolla, clarinet
About the Artists
John Cipolla has been the professor of clarinet and saxophone at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY for the past 21 years. John grew up in Edison, NJ and established himself as a top multiple woodwind player in NYC over several decades. He was a successful doubler in many Broadway musicals including Cats and Shogun as well as a tenured member of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra for 20+ years. John has written many pedagogical publications and recorded/edited/compiled two essential projects dealing with the compositions of clarinetist Carl Baermann—”The Virtuoso Clarinetist” and “The Art of Clarinet.” He has also been an important contributor to the success of The International Clarinet Association (ICA) and served as President of that organization. John is an in-demand international recitalist, clinician, adjudicator, and chamber music performer.
Gary Whitman is a recently retired university professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX where he served as the Chair of Woodwinds during his long tenure. In 2009, TCU awarded him the Chancellor’s Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar. In addition to the single reeds, Gary also is an accomplished oboe doubler. He has been the bass clarinetist/clarinetist with the Fort Worth Symphony for the past 31 years and has presented recitals and masterclasses throughout the United States, as well as Mexico, Peru, Belgium, Puerto Rico, China and Cuba. A former President of the ICA, Mr. Whitman is an artist-clinician for Buffet Crampon, Inc. and D’Addario Woodwinds.
Multi-reedist and composer Greg Tardy has been the professor of jazz saxophone at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for the last 14 years. During his tenure there, he has created a highly successful jazz curriculum.
Greg is also an accomplished clarinet player having initially trained to be an orchestral clarinetist. A native of New Orleans, Greg has played and/or recorded with such international jazz luminaries as Elvin Jones, Andrew Hill, Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Nicholas Payton, Bill Frisell, Wynton Marsalis, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, etc. He has recorded 15 CDs as a leader and has been a frequent choice of critics as a rising star in Downbeat Magazine polls. Please visit his website at www.GregoryTardy.com.