3rd Annual Clarinet Day

We are excited to announce our 3rd Annual Clarinet Day at MMI!  April 13, 2019 from 10am-5pm.

Jonathan Gunn -clarinet professor from University of Texas - Austin, will be our featured guest artist. Jonathan will performing a small recital and giving a master class event.

Masterclass Participant Request:
- Participants will be selected based on repertoire and age. 4 performers will be selected by the artist; all decisions are final.
- Submissions can be made through the link below or by emailing your name, age, contract information and selected repertoire to [email protected] by EXTENDED DATE April 1, 2019 5:00pm.

Masterclass registration link

New! Solo Competitions
Performances open to the public

Junior division - ages 14-17:
§ 1st place = $200 cash price

§ 2nd place = $100 cash prize

§ 3rd place - $50 in-store credit

Senior division - ages 18- 26:
§ 1st place = $500 cash prize and invitation to attend Buffet's Clarinet Academy in July!

§ 2nd place = $200 cash prize

§ 3rd place = $100 cash prize

Submission deadline for solo competition is EXTENDED DATE April 7, 2019 at 5:00pm

Submissions can be made through the link below or by emailing [email protected] with your name, contact information and repertoire.

Solo Competition link

No accompanist required.

Schedule of Events

10-10:30am: Jonathan Gunn Performance

10:35-11:05am: Relaxation and Performance Techniques: Jennifer Gerth and Karrin Meffert-Nelson

11:10-11:40am: Clarinet Maintenance and Crack Prevention: Tori Okwabi and Caleb Rasmussen

11:45-12:30: Audition and Performance Preparation: Scott Anderson

12:30-1:00: Lunch break

12:45-1:45: Junior and Senior Solo Competitions (Open to the Public)

1:55-2:35: How to play in tune: Intonation and Voicing: Sang Yoon Kim and Gabriel Campos Zamora

2:40-4:20: Jonathan Gunn Masterclass

4:30-5:00: Clarinet Choir directed by Rena Kraut

Free small repairs throughout the day and a small lunch will be provided.

Competition Rules and Regulations:
1. Prepare 5 minutes max. of music from the standard solo clarinet repertoire. If you have questions about repertoire please
email [email protected].
2. Accompaniment and memorization is NOT needed. (Piano optional)
3. Entrants must supply 1 copy of their music for the judges.
4. Proper performance attire is expected.
5. Limit of 20 entrants per division allowed. Therefore performers are selected on a first come, first served basis. A wait list will be created in the event of cancellations.

Gifts for the Oboist

Not sure what to buy for the Oboist on your holiday shopping list?  Don't worry!  We've put together a list of ideas at all price levels!  Call us if you would like more assistance, we are happy to help!

 

Under $10

Thread

Variegated Thread

Polishing Cloth

Cigarette Paper

 

Under $50

Books

Swabs

Reed Cases

Knives

Reeds

Tool Pouches

 

$50 and above

Key Chains and Pendants

Reed Cases

Reed Making Kit

Oboe Cases

Case Covers

Music Stands

Gifts for the Bassoonist

Not sure what to buy for the Bassoonist on your holiday shopping list?  Don't worry!  We've put together a list of ideas at all price levels!  Call us if you would like more assistance, we are happy to help!

Under $10

Thread

Plaques

 

Under $50

Swabs

Kolbl leather cup seat strap

Cane

Music Stand

Mandrel

Protec or Rigotti Reed case

Music

Tool Pouch

Reeds

Files

Books on Bassoon

 

$50+

Rieger tip cutter

Rieger Micrometer

Marcus Bonna case

Reed Making Kit

DWK reed case

Rieger 6 pin drying board

Rieger reamer

LC Double Reed Forming Kit

Bassoon Stand

Knife

2nd Annual Clarinet Day!!

Event is free and no registration required!

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2018
10AM-4PM 
AT MIDWEST MUSICAL IMPORTS 

Free repairs, food, and instrument trials all day!
Location:  MMI's Recital Hall
All levels of clarinetists (and parents & band directors) welcome!

 

GIVEAWAYS!
STUDENTS--Win one of two student only prizes--a Buffet Prodige clarinet or a $250 clarinet scholarship!
SIGN UP TO WIN! (for all)--BG Duo ligature, wood glass plate reed case, Fobes Bb barrel, D'Addario Reserve reeds, Yamaha 4C mouthpieces, Legere reeds

GIVEAWAYS FOR ALL-Swag bags to the first 30 people in the door filled with reeds,
accessories, vendor swag and more!

Free small repairs during the event!  A light lunch will be served during the lunch seminar.

A HUGE variety of clarinets from Buffet, Selmer, and Yamaha will be available for testing all day!

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:00-10:15     Welcome and Clarinet trio performance with Gabriel Campos Zamora,
Tim Zavadil and Scott Anderson

10:15-10:50     Tim Zavadil: Bass clarinet and Eb beginnings (Band directors encouraged to come)

11:00-12:00     Scott Anderson and Gabriel Campos Zamora: Auditions and efficient practicing

12:15-12:45     Lunch with MMI Repair Techs: Maintenance and care of your instrument
12:15-12:45     Lunch with Tori Okwabi and Paul Schimming: Good Foundations/Q&A for
parents and band directors

1:00-1:30         Melissa Koprowski: Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces

1:40-2:10         Jennifer Gerth: Creating Harmony: The Mind-Body Connection

2:20-2:50         Forum--Entrepreneurship in Clarinet/Q&A with Karrin Meffert-Nelson,
Rena Kraut, Carley Olson, and Jan Scholl

3:15-4:00         Clarinet choir reading/rehearsal/performance: All are invited. Please bring
your music stand and your clarinet!

 

CLINICIANS AND PERFORMERS
Scott Anderson: Clarinet professor at St. Olaf College
Gabriel Campos Zamora: Principal Clarinetists of the Minnesota Orchestra and Buffet Artist
Jennifer Gerth: Clarinet professor at Augsburg College, St. Thomas University and University of Minnesota
Melissa Koprowski: Clarinet professor at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Vandoren Artist
Rena Kraut: Director of the Cuban American Youth Orchestra and Clarinet professor at Gustavus Adolphus College
Allen Mannes: Midwest Musical Imports Repair Technician
Karrin Meffert-Nelson: Clarinet Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College and Principal Clarinetist of the Minnesota Opera
Tori Okwabi: Clarinet Specialist at Midwest Musical Imports and educator
Carley Olson: Clarinet performer and educator
Caleb Rassmusen: Midwest Musical Imports Repair Technician
Paul Schimming: Clarinet professor at Concordia University-St. Paul and GTCYS librarian
Jan Scholl: Clarinet professor at University of Northwestern and University of Minnesota
Tim Zavadil: Clarinetist and Bass clarinetist of the Minnesota Orchestra and clarinet professor at University of Minnesota

 

Click here to share this event on Facebook!

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!!

Darrel Hale Bassoon Masterclass

Mini-recital with works by Bach, Mignone & Winstead
Masterclass
Reception following the class
Large selection of bassoons and bocals for trial
Free small repairs

Darrel Hale is the Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Louisiana State University and the Principal Bassoon of Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, he also performs regularly as a member of the Timm Wind Quintet and the Conundrum Reed Trio. Before joining the faculty at LSU, Mr. Hale serviced as the Acting Principal of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Principal Bassoon of the Kentucky and Springfield Orchestras. His teachers include Dr. Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, Per Hannevold, and William Winstead.

We look forward to seeing you at this great, FREE event!!

Thank you for attending our grand opening celebration!

I would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to everyone that came to our grand opening celebration! For those of you that came, emailed, sent flowers or called with your best wishes, we are extremely grateful. Below are some photos from the event.

A big thank you again to our generous sponsors/vendors: Buffet-Crampon, Fox Products, Loree, Puchner, Heckel, D'Addario, Peak, and Clark Fobes.

We look forward to many more events and please keep an eye on our calendar for updates!

Best wishes,
Jessica Nelson, General Manager

Owner and founder, Mike Aamoth gets a thumbs up after the Friday night reception from long-time customer, David Braslau.

Katie with customers at the Friday night reception.

Friday night reception.

Friday night reception.

 

Friday night reception.

Eric thanks a customer after work in the repair shop.

Our first customer during the celebration on Friday!! Jessica with her friend and oboist, Siri Garnaas

Friday was repair technician, Matt Reich's birthday! We surprised him with a cake.

Julie Gramolini William, Chris Marshall, and Greg Williams, of the MN Orchestra during their trio performance
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We've moved and are open for business!!!!

We are extremely happy to announce that we have moved to our new location and most importantly, WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!!!!  Please visit us at:  1621 E. Hennepin Ave., Ste. 100, Minneapolis, MN 55414. (Only two blocks away from our old location!) Our email and phone contacts have not changed.

If arriving by car, take East Hennepin to 16th Ave SE, and park either on 16th Ave SE (it's a dead end), or the parking lot across from the west entrance on 16th.  If needed, there is a ramp located at the back of the building at the main entrance.  Please call us with questions. We are located in the southwest corner of the Fisk building, at the corner of 16th Ave SE and E. Hennepin Ave.

The new space is much larger than our old and includes a recital hall!  Our repair dept. and the retail shopping area have been expanded.  Below are some photos.  We can't wait to welcome you in the store!

20170110_100734 Our new shopping area

20170110_100833The brand new recital hall!  Watch for upcoming events!!

20170110_101010The repair staff (minus Allen) in the new repair shop!  L-R , Eric, Caleb, Ginny, Matt and Coda in the front!

20170110_121359Sales staff in the new sales area! L-R Jeff, Steven, Jessica, Katie, Brandon, Tori.

We thank you for your patience over the new year as we were closed and completed our move.  Please stop by and say hello when you are in the area!  We'd love to give you a personal tour! =)

Best wishes from all of us at MMI!
Jessica, Jeff, Steven, Katie, Brandon, Tori, Eric, Ginny, Matt, Caleb and Allen