About Us

Modern musicians face many challenges in today's world. Not only is the pandemic adding uncertainty to an already uncertain world, musicians won't even know what to expect when it's finally safe enough to go back to "normal life". The pressure of auditions, job interviews, creating income and starting a career is daunting, to say the least.

In our ever-changing world, the tools we use and skills we have must constantly be diversified, developed and updated to allow us to be agile in an ever-shifting industry. 

I am Ixi Chen, a clarinetist in the Cincinnati Symphony and professor at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  Please meet my Digital Clarinet Academy co-creator, Dr. Tiffany Valvo, who is aprofessor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

We are performers, educators and coaches who have studied the "gap" in the traditional path of classical music training.

Ideas often start with a problem. Ours was simple: in-studio lessons aren't enough. Time in the practice room and with the clarinet on your face is great, but it isn't everything. A career it won't make. 

Teaching and preparing hundreds of conservatory (and high-school) students over our collective 30 years of teaching, it's clear that high level musical training isn't enough. Our *360* philosophy and approach to creativity and music performance expands the study to include insights from other disciplines, mental resilience training, lifestyle considerations from exercise to nutrition to sleep,  time management skills and emotional well-being.

In this way, we develop musicians into performers who engage completely with their art, and for whom success is redefined.

This purpose-centered work also incorporates business and entrepreneurial know-how. To be skillful in this area doesn't require you to go out and get a degree, just basic working knowledge that will help you actively create the career you've been training all these years for! From resume-creating, copywriting, speaking with poise, interviewing, to website design and personal branding, we KNOW skill-building is crucial to your success. 

 

Aligning all aspects of clarinet playing can be transformational for the work you're doing to achieve success in your musical and creative pursuits.

It is through this lens that we are passionate about helping you find confidence in playing the clarinet, and realize the dreams you never thought possible!

It all starts with an initial conversation so I can learn more about YOU. Please look around and if interested, reach out and we'll schedule a chat.  We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Ixi and Tiffany