Fine-Tuning the Clarinet Section: A Handbook for the Band Director

by Brent Coppenbarger

Overview

Clarinets are prominent melody instruments, and a strong clarinet section can make the difference between a good band and a great band. In Fine-Tuning the Clarinet Section: A Handbook for the Band Director, Brent Coppenbarger offers a full range of strategies to assist the band director, the beginning clarinetist, and the advanced clarinetist in developing a strong clarinet section. Fine Tuning the Clarinet Section covers the following topics:

• The basic foundations of a good clarinet embouchure
• Selecting and breaking-in a new reed
• A discussion on equipment
• Clarinet maintenance
• Intonation
• Articulation Strategies
• Strategies for developing finger technique
• Developing Musicality
• Developing a warm-up routine
• Rehearsing the woodwind section
• Preparing for a solo performance
• 10 steps to better sight-reading

Fine-Tuning the Clarinet Section: A Handbook for the Band Director is an indispensable resource for the band director who wishes to improve his clarinet section, as well as the beginning clarinetist, advanced clarinetist, or anyone interested in clarinet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475820751
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/31/2015
Pages:	124
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Brent Coppenbarger is professor of Music at the Cline School of Music at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina, where he has taught woodwinds since 1995. He is the author of Music Theory Secrets, 94 Strategies for the Starting Musician, and his articles have appeared in The Clarinet, NACWI Journal, and The Instrumentalist.

Table of Contents

Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 The Embouchure
2 The Reed
3 Equipment
4 Maintenance
5 Intonation
6 Articulation
7 Finger Technique
8 Musicality
9 A Colorful Warm-Up Routine
10 Rehearsing the Woodwind Section
11 Preparing for a Solo Performance
12 Ten Steps to Better Sight Reading
Conclusion
Appendix of Additional Materials for Clarinetists
Index
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

As a high school band director for thirty-six years a constant concern with our Symphonic Band was to maintain proper intonation and tone quality with our woodwind section and more especially the clarinets. Dr. Coppenbarger has written a very concise method for solving those sticky problems of intonation that plague our bands in his Fine tuning the Clarinet Section: A Handbook for the Band Director. This handbook covers topics from embouchure development to proper preparation for solo performance. You will find his handbook a valuable resource to improve the sound of your ensemble. This is now my go to guide for my clarinet section.

C. Phillip McIntyre

Coppenbarger’s writing is clear and he provides numerous examples that give further insight into teaching the clarinet, with additional helpful hints for the entire woodwind family.... This book is a valuable resource for any band director or instrumental music teacher. Recommended!

The Clarinet

Dr. Brent Coppenbarger has given both the band director and aspiring student a clear and concise guide to becoming proficient on the clarinet. His discussions on the woodwind section in particular makes "Fine Tuning the Clarinet Section" an invaluable resource.

Darian Washington

I was very impressed with Dr. Coppenbarger's new book, Fine Tuning the Clarinet Section. Early in the text, he states that it is a daunting task for a band director to know all of the nuances for teaching every instrument. In this way, I think that this text does an outstanding job of giving the non-clarinetist director helpful teaching hints for improving the quality of his clarinet section. What is most helpful is that there are specific problem areas that are unique to playing the clarinet that are targeted and given specific teaching techniques to address these issues. I was particularly impressed with the chapters on improving articulation and intonation within the section. This text will certainly become an invaluable resource for both the novice teacher and the experienced music educator.

Leslie W. Hicken