Clarinet For Dummies

Learn to:

Develop proper finger placement and posture Play your first notes and move on to advanced techniques Maintain perfect pitch as you play Tune your clarinet

Your hands–on guide to mastering the most popular woodwind

Want to play the clarinet? No problem! This hands–on guide teaches you all the techniques you need to play this popular woodwind alone or in a group setting. You′ll begin by learning how to properly hold a clarinet and move on to getting a consistent sound, reading music, and playing songs in a variety of styles, including classical, pop, and jazz.

Get keyed up explore the anatomy of the clarinet and grasp the basic concepts of playing the instrument, from using the mouthpiece and reed to fingering keys Read all about it get a primer on how to read music or take a quick refresher course to sharpen your skills Clarinet care 101 understand how to properly assemble, clean, store, maintain, and repair your clarinet Start making some noise get expert tips and techniques on breathing and posture, hand position, and lip and mouth placement Hit the high notes take your skills to the next level to master intermediate techniques to reach high notes and add speed to your tonguing and improve your fingering

Open the book and find:

Tips for picking the right clarinet for you Guidance on renting versus buying Descriptions, illustrations, and exercises How to tune up for the proper pitch Warm–ups, scales, and studies to develop your skills Fingering charts Ten bad habits to avoid Tips for adjusting your reeds to suit your playing

Introduction.

Part I: Tuning Up with the Basics.

Chapter 1: So You Want to Play the Clarinet.

Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Clarinet.

Chapter 3: Picking the Right Clarinet for You.

Chapter 4: Grasping the Basics of Musical Notation.

Chapter 5: Assembling, Cleaning, and Caring for Your Clarinet.

Part II: And a One, and a Two, and a Three: Getting Started.

Chapter 6: Getting Your Body, Lungs, and Lips in the Game.

Chapter 7: Playing Your First Notes.

Chapter 8: Heading Lower, Higher, and In Between.

Chapter 9: Playing Between the Notes: Slurring and Tonguing.

Chapter 10: Rising Above and Beyond High C.

Part III: Above and Beyond: Essential Intermediate Techniques.

Chapter 11: Achieving a Great Clarinet Tone.

Chapter 12: Shaking It Up with Vibrato, Glissandos, Bends, and Scoops.

Chapter 13: Taking Your Fingers to the Next Level: Additional Fingerings.

Chapter 14: Turbo Tonguing and Faster Fingering.

Chapter 15: Tuning Up for Proper Pitch.

Chapter 16: Heading to the Practice Studio.

Chapter 17: Refining Your Reeds.

Chapter 18: Gaining Expertise and Exposure through the Clarinet Community.

Part IV: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 19: Ten Insider Secrets to Great Clarinet Playing.

Chapter 20: Ten (Plus) Clarinetists You Gotta Hear.

Part V: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Fingering Charts.

Appendix B: About the CD.

Index.

David Etheridge is the David Ross Boyd Professor of Clarinet, Chair of the Woodwind Area, and member of the Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet at the University of Oklahoma. He has taught clarinet for over 45 years.