Summary: Carrie Koffman is Associate Professor of Saxophone at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and Lecturer of Saxophone at the Yale School of Music. She has appeared at numerous World Saxophone Congresses, the SaxArt International Saxophone Festivals in Italy, the International Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in China and several North American Saxophone Alliance National Conventions.<br> <br> Carrie is a graduate with high honours from the University of Michigan where she studied with Donald Sinta and also the University of North Texas where she studied with James Riggs and Eric Nestler. Carrie regularly appears as a chamber musician, and clinician and has been a featured soloist with numerous orchestras and bands including the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.<br> <br> Committed to new music, Carrie has commissioned and premiered around 50 compositions. Her recording projects comprise twelve commercially available CDs, and she has an ongoing recording and performing series entitled "Pink Ink" that is dedicated to promoting the music of living women composers.<br> <br> Show Notes: Getting started playing tuba parts on the contra-alto clarinet. Learning with Donald Sinta at the University of Michigan. The most charismatic person met to this day. Building playing from the ground up. Studying jazz improvisation as a classical saxophonist. Getting jobs early. Interpretation as a function of improvisation. Juggling multiple teaching positions. Changing practice routines as your playing matures. Learning and then teaching Kripalu Yoga. Using Pranayama breathing techniques in playing. Touring internationally with the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet. Working with living composers. Removing tension from playing for a long and healthy career. 50% technique, 50% repertoire approach to practising. The importance (and possible addiction) of recording. Skydiving to learn about letting go.
