Best books about clarinets according to redditors

Really, the only way to do it is to practice your scales and arpeggios! The Baermann scale book (division 3) is what almost every clarinet player uses. It has every way to play a scale that you could ever imagine.

When I have fast scales and arpeggios, I don't look at every note; I've practiced them enough to know what comes next. If there's a note in the passage that isn't in the normal scale/arpeggio, I circle it to make sure I actually look at that specific note.

Edit: [here's the Baermann on IMSLP](http://imslp.org/wiki/Vollst%C3%A4ndige_Clarinett_Schule,_Opp.63,_64_(Baermann,_Carl)! Again, division 3 is the one you're looking for. You can also buy your own, easier-to-read copy on Amazon. You'll most likely be playing out of that book for the rest of the time you play clarinet; I think it's worth it to spend a little on it!

I'm pretty sure they come from the French book of rose studies. Artistic Studies Book 1–From the French School.

If you're not familiar with chromatic harmony up through augmented sixth chords and enharmonic modulations, I recommend getting a good modern textbook like those listed in the sidebar.

Counterpoint is indispensable for composers, but the internet is in the habit of perpetually recommending Fux, whose style I regard as outdated. Plus, his examples have contrapuntal and stylistic errors. Brian Hyer's counterpoint manual is fine for species writing. Also look at Seth Monahan's videos on harmonic species counterpoint. Ernst Krenek's manual is decent as a start to tonal counterpoint. Kent Kennan's Counterpoint is a very good book too.

Beyond that, Schoenberg's Fundamentals of Musical Composition and Reginald Smith-Brindle's Musical Composition offer some nice insights to composition.

For orchestration, you can go with Sam Adler's Orchestration, but honestly I usually don't use these books for much more than ranges and this tiny, cheap book is more convenient. Sometimes I'll look up how to notate a certain technique, but even the big orchestration books can be spotty on those and I find myself hunting them down in specialist books. Jazz arranging is a little different. For that, refer to Rayburn Wright's Inside The Score and Bill Russo's Composing for the Jazz Orchestra, but understand that these are built around a certain tradition of jazz arranging.

Reed strength is actually more dependent on the mouthpiece than on you. If you have a close mouthpiece(orchestral), you need a higher reed strength. If you have an open mouthpiece(jazz) you need a low reed strength.

It's harder to play the really high notes with a low reed strength.

Also, if you're going for an orchestral tone, try Gonzalez reeds. And bump up the strength to a three at least - you can get singlets if you go to good(not chain) music store.

Arbans is recommended for clarinet students as well, but it doesn't cover the highest and lowest registers - you should grab Baermann's III as well.

Art of Clarinet Playing talks a lot about the mechanics and embrochure without treating you like a five year old who can't tell a treble clef from a curlicue.

Contact the all state organization and let them know about this. If they can't help, contact the publisher directly.

Edit: here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Concert-Contest-Collection-Clarinet-Accompaniment/dp/B000KY2N4C

It is also 100% worth buying in paper form. Available on Amazon, Sheet Music Plus, JW Pepper. It is almost impossible to ever outgrow this book. Mine's been repaired with duct tape a couple times now.

One hint: Clarinet music is written in C, so it's a good source of single note sight reading material. I use this book: http://www.amazon.com/O304-Celebrated-Clarinet-Complete-Edition/dp/082580051X

It's a intro method book, so it starts out slow and works up.

Why not learn from one of the great masters, Artie Shaw or Benny Goodman?

For your listening pleasure, may I suggest that you also add in Buddy DeFranco, Acker Bilk, and of course Eddie Daniels. For Eddie, I specifically recommend pairing two of his (now) older albums, Benny Rides Again (where you'll be introduced to the great Gary Burton) and This is Now.

Here is a great book edited by Daniel Bonade. It features a number of the French Solo de Concours series commissioned by the Paris Conservatoire.

Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but my 13 year old nephew plays clarinet and someone got him this Star Wars solos for clarinet book, and it was a hit.

other ideas --

-- Reed case (looks like a classy cigarette case)

-- Clarinet Hero Tshirt. Or have a tshirt printed with the logo for the brand of his clarinet printed on it.

-- Clarinet stand

https://www.amazon.com/Concert-Contest-Collection-Bb-Clarinet/dp/1423445449/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539282655&sr=8-1&keywords=clarinet+solo+book

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Thanks but that's not the one. I'm trying to find this one, not the one from Jaques Lancelot. But again, thank you :)

http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Studies-Op-63-Clarinet/dp/1581060629

Is this the sort of thing you're looking for?

There's tons out there, Mel Bay and Hal Leonard have published all sorts of "Giant Collection of Type of Music X Arranged for Instrument Y" --

what kind of music does your family like? Make a list of 4-6 categories (Broadway? Vintage 70s album rock?) and email the band teacher see, what s/he thinks.

https://www.amazon.com/Soloist-Folio-Hal-Leonard-Corp/dp/1458426831

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This is one of my favorite intermediate soloist books. It is super affordable and has a lot of great pieces including a slightly reduced version of Weber's Concertino, which is one of my absolutely favorite standard solo pieces.

I would say the Rubank Intermediate Book would be at your level and a solid boost to your technique. For solo work, I would check out the Concert and Contest Collection book (https://www.amazon.com/Concert-Contest-Collection-Clarinet-Educational/dp/1423445449), which has about 10 short solos with piano accompaniment. The Scherzo in C Minor from that book would be a great place for you to start. The Gade Ballade is also gorgeous for a slow option.

I second the comment about private lessons, though! Not only will a private teacher be able to give you personalized feedback and advice, they will also be able to make sure you are learning your solos correctly and provide you more audition/performance opportunities :) Check with your band director! They may be able to find you a private teacher nearby.

Good luck!

I've got a copy of this and it has some nice stuff. Bach/Mozart/Beethoven

78 Duets for Flute and Clarinet: Volume 2 - Advanced (Nos. 56-78) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423445422/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AYNMxbK5S4QME

Thanks. 99% self-taught. I am using John O'Neil's jazz clarinet method (https://www.amazon.com/JAZZ-METHOD-CLARINET-BOOK-Tutor/dp/0946535213)

Here’s what I’d recommend:
-Opperman Elementary Velocity Studies https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825833337/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WEKBCbVBNYPNY

-Rose 32 etudes https://imslp.org/wiki/32_Etudes_for_Clarinet_(Rose,_Cyrille)

-Rose 40 studies https://imslp.org/wiki/40_Studies_for_Clarinet_Solo_(Rose,_Cyrille)

-Baerman Complete method for clarinet https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825801702/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cEKBCbHPQ40J3

One more thing,
Especially when you are starting out, try different reeds.
These are a great thing to buy.

Good luck!

I think I understand you to be asking how to work on your Clarinet skills, am I right? I'll just run with that...

If you're looking for style interpretations the Wicked soundtrack has a fantastic pit orchestra Clarinetist who plays with an excellent "Broadway" sound. If you do your best to mimic that, you should be okay even if you only get it a little bit.

If it's a fingering issue, I'd say that you should find an etude or piece that you know cold on your saxophone and play it on the Clarinet. It will be weird hearing it in Bb instead of Eb pitch center, but since you already know the rhythms and notational markings it will help you "smooth out" your Clarinet.

Granted, these are just quick fixes... if you've got time I recommend the Klosé Method as this should help with a more Clarinet centric pedagogy.

Break a leg!

EDIT: Added link

When I was around your age I played a clarinet piece for a solo ensemble called Andante by Alexandre Beon. It has a beautiful melody that haunts me to this day.

I did a search and found a video of a kid (not me) playing it. The piece can be played with a lot more feeling than he does it, but that gives you an idea. The only technically challenging part is the solo at the end, and most of that is slurred.

The sheet music is available in this book.

I played this for my senior recital but transcribed the orchestra part for big band. The melody and transcribed solo from the original studio album are here:

https://www.amazon.com/Daniels-Transcriptions-Performing-Artist-Master/dp/0757937403