In this letter
about competition | the monster warm up
My second professional audition ever was for Principal Clarinet of the Utah Symphony. Fresh from making finals in Santa Barbara, I was a first-year masters student at USC feeling ready and excited to audition for a great orchestra.
The moment I walked into my hotel room—booked from the orchestra's own suggestion sheet (mistake #1?) —I heard it. Through the paper-thin walls: my next-door clarinet neighbor, methodically playing through the excerpts. One by one, down the entire list, executing each excerpt flawlessly. Each one was polished, musical, and perfectly crafted.
I listened for a while, frozen with the realization of how absolutely underprepared I was. My first thought: Well, since I haven't even unpacked, I could just head back to the airport. My second: Wait—how much did this ticket plus hotel plus cab cost again? Was it a wasted trip?
After shaking off the shocked stupor, I pulled it together and played the audition anyway. But I felt like a complete impostor. The questions that plagued me afterward became familiar companions: How will I ever get that good? Will I ever win a job? What's all this work even for? How can I possibly compete against people like that??
That last question—how do I handle the competition?—turns out to be one of the most common we hear from students. And for good reason.
The competition, a bad thing?
This past weekend we were glued to the US Open womens and mens finals. Watching the champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka celebrate their victories, I realized we might be asking the wrong question entirely.
Because in the moments after their wins—when adrenaline was still coursing and cameras were rolling—both winners did something that would contradict the rivalry we feel when we hear the word "compete". And it wasn't just being diplomatic. Sabalenka authentically admired Asimova's skill. Alcaraz elevated Sinner's performance even in his moment of triumph.
Said Sabalenka to Anisimova: "I know how much it hurts to lose in the finals. You play incredible tennis. Girl, you're gonna enjoy it even more after these tough losses."
And Alcaraz turned to his opponent and said, "Wow, I want to start with Jannik. It's unbelievable what you've done this season. You show a great level at every tournament. I see you more than my family and it's great to share the court and the locker room with you." (I mean.. 😍)
The Latin etymology of "compete" comes from "competere" - literally meaning "com" (with/together) + "petere" (to seek, strive, rush toward). So "competere" originally meant "to strive together" or "to seek together." How interesting is that!? While the modern usage means a rivalry, striving against each other, the roots actually mean mutual qualification and "agreement".
Could competition elevate all participants?
Somewhere along the way, we transformed "seeking together" into "destroying each other." But what if we reclaimed that original meaning? What if competition could elevate all participants?
Alcaraz and Sinner are trading Major and Slam wins (and world #1 & 2 spots) in an incredible rivalry that brings out the best in each other.
Rather than viewing each other as threats to eliminate, they've become catalysts for each other's growth. After losing to Alcaraz, Sinner didn't make excuses or diminish his opponent's victory. Instead, he said, 'I'm too predictable. I need to become a more complete and unpredictable player by incorporating more variety in my game.'
Think about that response. Sinner used his competitor's success as a mirror to see his own weaknesses clearly—and as motivation to evolve.
The bottom line: Competition isn't a zero-sum game. You can be laser-focused on winning while having deep respect for your opponents. The people you compete against don't diminish your chances—they make you better."
Ultimately, my getting the room next to such an accomplished clarinetist (who ended up winning the job!!) was the wake up call I really needed. Instead of deflating me, that experience showed me precisely how prepared I needed to be. Rather than making me want to quit, it gave me a roadmap.
That musician wasn't my rival—they were showing me what excellence looked like.
Whenever I've taken some time off the clarinet there are a few exercises I love for getting back in shape. The Ring Tone, 2-10's Chromatic, Abado octaves and... Michelle Zukofsky's so called "monster warm up". The original resource is believed to be a saxophone study book, and here it is:
53-year veteran of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Michelle Zukovsky was one of our fantastic clarinet professors at the University of Southern California.
It addresses various aspects of playing all at once:
- steps and leaps
- legato
- navigating registral changes
- ear-training
- support and connection
- embouchure flexibility
- voicing
- agility
- evenness of finger motion
Download the monster warm up pdf and add it to your regimen!
If you're part of CLUB DCA, it's in your library already.
If you are curious about a fun, fantastic online community that supports clarinetists with resources, videos and guests ----> look around and join the Club!
I leave you with some homework: grab a friend and challenge them to a monster warm-up competition. Can you beat their streak? How many days in a row can you play the monster warm-up without missing?
Happy practicing!
Ixi
RESOURCES
28-Day Scale Reset, Foundations Packet, and more for your daily conditioning regimen
Special offer! Put your new-found golden practice rules into a beautiful spiral-bound planner. Each hard copy + digital bundle purchased ($40) will come with our Design Your Practice Guide free ($99 value). While supplies last. link.
