Liam Murphy
Lesson Feesfrom $77.00 / 60 Minutes
Promotions Available
About
Hey! Thank you for checking out my profile : )
My name is Liam. I am a full-time clarinet teacher from Australia.
Before committing my professional efforts to teaching clarinet, I worked as an in-demand, freelance clarinettist.
I am a casual clarinettist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the CRR Symphony Orchestra (Istanbul), and a former clarinettist with the Royal Australian Air Force Band (2014-2021). During my time in the Air Force, I performed and recorded with big bands, wind quintets, pop/rock bands, and many other ensembles.
As a studio musician, I have recorded with the ABC Centre (5x5x5 Project) and with many small groups, most notably, Isolation Chamber.
Since 2021, I have focused my professional effort on teaching clarinet. My teaching approach is built on four main guidelines:
1) Help students create their own, sustainable, daily practice habit. Every student's life and commitments are different, but negotiating a sustainable practice routine is fun and the key to continuous improvement.
2) Help students find joy in technically mastering their instrument. Being able to command the instrument is exhilarating. It's worth the effort, trust me!
3) Help students find the motivation to play the clarinet. Not all students wish to undertake examinations. Without extrinsic motivation like that, all students need guidance in making their intrinsic motivation to play the clarinet. I help students design motivating musical goals and projects. Home recordings? Church performances? Any goal is better than none!
4) Help students feel proud of their playing. Clarinet is difficult. I teach clarinet with unfailing encouragement and positivity.
Bachelor of Arts
Diploma in Music (Practical)
Casual Clarinettist, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Casual Clarinettist, CRR Symphony Orchestra
Former Clarinettist, Royal Australian Air Force Band
I plan all of my lessons well in advance, but not in rigid detail. This gives my lessons structure, but allows for organic, student-led diversions which I've noticed make lessons much more fun for all involved.
After listening to a student for a few minutes, I learn which fundamentals require reinforcement, in what order of importance.
Concerning technique, clarinet-playing more-or-less boils down to:
--hand technique; embouchure; breathing; posture; and articulation--
In all five of these areas, each student has a unique balance of natural ability and opportunity for improvement. I listen and observe carefully and adjust my teaching accordingly.
For the paradigmatic teenager who will likely pursue musical examinations, my 45-minute lesson plan might look a little like this:
INTRODUCTION - 5 MINUTES
- "play a few notes for me, pretend I'm not here!"
- "just warm up your instrument a little, play me your favorite scale!"
- This is usually a good "show and tell" style ice-breaker. The student can show-off any new notes they've learned, or techniques they've experimented with.
FUNDAMENTALS - 10 MINUTES
- articulation. work on: lightness, velocity, clarity, coordination.
- hand technique. work on reducing tension and minimizing unconscious movement.
REPERTOIRE - 15 MINUTES
- Saint Saens Sonata, 1st Movement
- Weber Theme and Variations, Theme, 1st, and 2nd variations.
THEORY - 5 MINUTES
- Suspensions and passing tones (demonstrated with my piano)
AURAL - 5 MINUTES
Fun aural games, play one and the student has to guess from only two options:
- upward resolution or downward resolution?
- 3-note or 4-note chords?
- minor or diminished?
- dorian or aeolian scales?
CONCLUSION - 5 MINUTES
- praise where it's due
- any questions?
- more positive feedback and farewells
I have a large, digitized library of method books suitable for anyone from raw-beginners to college level players. Some of my favorites I have to hand are:
Beginner:
Essential Elements
Standard of Excellence
Klose's Complete Method
Advanced:
Jean Jean Vade Mecum
Artie Shaw's Clarinet Method (for jazzers)
Klose's Conservatory Method