Carrie RavenStem

Author: Carrie RavenStem

  • KMEA All State – High School

    It’s that time of year to begin our journey towards the All State audition! First round is set for November, so don’t wait until the last minute.

    DON’T FORGET YOUR SCALES!

    Here are some recordings for your reference – remember that these are professionals and they prepared extensively to play these tempos. THESE ARE FOR REFERENCE! Don’t compare yourself to them, just listen for inspiration and understanding.

    Bb Soprano Clarinet Excerpts

    Lyrical Etude
    Rose 30 Etudes, #5

    Technical Etude
    Rose 30 Etudes, #26

    Bass Clarinet Etudes

    Lyrical Etude
    Rose 30 Etudes, #5

    Technical Etude
    Rose 30 Etudes, #26

    Thanks to the incredible performers who share their music on YouTube for us to learn from and enjoy. Practice does make progress!

  • Summer Music Camps

    It’s time to start planning for summer! Students right now are thinking about the end of the year and how much sleeping they will be doing, but as parents we know that planning for summer activities starts earlier than spring break!

    If you’re looking for a musical activity to keep your performing excited about music this summer, here is a list of some local camps that have high ratings from my studio families. If any require an audition to get in or for chairs and you decide this is the camp for your musician, please let me know and I will be happy to help them select music to prepare for their experience.

    • Foster Music Camp, Eastern Kentucky University
      • Middle school and high school students (separate camps)
      • Live on the beautiful campus in college dorms
      • 1 week for middle school, 1 week and 2 week options for high school
      • Work with EKU faculty
    • Wind Band Institute, University of Louisville
      • Middle School
        • 1 week with faculty from U of L
        • Day camp (9-5PM)
        • Theory classes, master classes, rehearsals
        • Nomination by your Band Director
      • High School
        • 1 week with faculty from U of L
        • Master classes, seminars, rehearsals
        • Overnight camp
        • Nomination by band director, private teacher, or UofL faculty
    • Racer Instrumental Music Academy, Murray State University
      • 9-12th grade
      • On-campus housing
      • Rehearsals, private lessons, chamber ensembles
      • Work with Murray State faculty
    • Jacobs Academy Summer Music Clinic, Indiana University Bloomington
      • Grades 8-12
      • Intensive band & orchestra experiences
      • On -campus housing
      • Rehearsals, chamber music, master classes, conducting, theory, conducting, jazz improvisation offered

  • All District/All State Recordings

    The Kentucky All District/All State music has been released, and everyone is getting started on learning the 2 etudes as well as the scales (the dreaded #5!) Let’s GO!

    Here are recordings of the two etudes that I like to use for reference.They are wonderful performers who play beautifully and represent the etudes well. These will give you an idea of shape and pacing, but do not just copy them. Learn the etudes slowly and commit everything to muscle memory first before adding speed and anything else.

    Slow and steady wins the race, and don’t wait until the end of October to get started! GOOD LUCK!

    If you are needing personalized coaching on these and are not a private student of mine, you are WELCOME to schedule a coaching session with me. Please contact me here to discuss availability and pricing. I offer these individual coachings in person and on Zoom.

    Rose #31 from Rose 32 Etudes

    Rose #35 from Rose 40, Book 2

  • LYO Audition Excerpts Information

    Now that the audition excerpts (music selections) are out, it is important that students not only familiarize themselves with the notes on the page, but it is incredibly helpful to know what the piece sounds like, style, tempos, your role in that moment of the music, in order to produce an audition from a place of hard work AND knowledge.

    Below are links to videos of the orchestra works with timestamps where the clarinet excerpts are heard. It is important to not rely on this to teach you the excerpt, but to use as a reference tool that you may refer to through your practice journey.

    I am also including links to the actual excerpt pages in order for you to print out the music if you haven’t already done so. Feel free to bring to your lesson so we may talk about pacing, breathing, style, etc. Happy Practicing!

    Excerpts, videos, and time stamps

    HORIZON WINDS (1&2 required, add 3 for principal consideration)

    Excerpt 1: Hopak from Sorochinsky Fair, Mussorgsky

    Excerpt 2: Scheherezade, mvmnt 3, Rimsky-Korsakov

    REPERTORY ORCHESTRA (3&4 required, add 5 for principal consideration)

    Excerpt 3: Beethoven Symphony 7, mvmnt 2

    Excerpt 4: Shostakovich Symphony 9, mvmnt 5

    Excerpt 5: Verdi La Forza del Destino Overture

    SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (5&6 required)

    Excerpt 5: Verdi La Forza del Destino Overture

    Excerpt 6: Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet Fantasy

  • Louisville Youth Orchestra Auditions for 2024-25 Season

    Audition music for the Louisville Youth Orchestra’s 2024-25 season is now available on the website!

    The LYO is a great organization that allows students to experience performing in an ensemble outside of school with students from across our communities. Auditions help to place students in the ensemble that fits their current performance level. Ensembles options are Horizons Winds, Repertory Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra, which is the top ensemble. You can read about the organization and its mission here.

    Audition music is available here. If you are unsure of which group to audition for, let’s talk about it at your lessons. You can view all of the music excerpts to get an idea of the level that is required for each group, but feel free to chat with me about your thoughts/concerns. Remember that music tends to freak us out at first look, but once we let the dust settle, things MAY be within our reach! When you are ready, you can follow this link here to register for your audition, which will be in August

    I performed in the Chicago Youth Symphony when I was in high school, and it definitely was a major factor in sparking my professional performing life! My daughter has played in 3 of the LYO’s groups as a cellist, and will graduate from the orchestra next year after 5 seasons with the group(s). We have enjoyed our time and experiences in it and I would recommend it highly to any student interested in expanding their performing opportunities.

  • International Women in Music Festival

    A few weeks ago, my duo partner Adria Sutherland and I traveled to the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi. We spent almost a week sharing with colleagues and new colleagues the incredible music of female composers. We had the honor of sharing Jenni Brandon’s duo The Mountain that we had premiered in Tahoe in 2022 and performed in this gorgeous hall! It was inspiring to listen to so many works that we had never hear before of female composers that were new to us. It was just an incredible week of learning and sharing, and it was wonderful to share so much quality time with my dear friend. We are looking forward to next year!

  • Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock

    What an incredible performance day, sharing the stage with two strong and unbelievably talented friends, Christina Booker, soprano, and Adrienne Fontenot, piano. We are so fortunate to be able to make beautiful music together! It was a wonderful faculty performance at Indiana University Southeast and we can’t wait for our next adventure together!

    Thank you to the faculty and students who helped us with the performance and for allowing us to share the stage with all of you.

  • Happy New Year!

    2023 is here! I’m incredibly excited for this year as I finally feel completely at ease with myself and my musical journey. This year is going to be filled with world premieres, new collaborations, new venues, and some exciting performances! I am thankful that you are here and following my adventures. Stay tuned for the upcoming performance schedule.

    Here’s to a fantastic 2023 filled with beautiful music and friendships!

    New Year’s Eve antics