Accent on Performance Concert Favorites Collection: Clarinet 2 Book

These arrangements deliver exactly what young bands need: engaging, stylistically varied pieces that feel professional without overreaching technically. Because they're correlated with specific pages in Accent on Achievement, they give students immediate context for what they're learning, turning method work into performed repertoire. The titles alone (Centurian, Attack of the Cyclops, Cardiff Castle) spark students' imaginations and build rehearsal momentum.

Stylistically diverse and orchestrally aware. These pieces incorporate imaginative themes, cinematic narratives, and contemporary compositional ideas that make young players feel like they're performing real concert music, not just educational exercises. The variety prevents rehearsal fatigue and keeps students curious about what comes next.

Clarinet 2 players in developing concert bands, particularly those using Accent on Achievement. This book serves students who have moved beyond early-level solos and are ready to experience the satisfaction of performing substantial ensemble arrangements at their level.

• Balance the second clarinet line against the first; these parts are written to complement, not compete. Listen across the section and adjust volume to ensure both voices blend into the harmonic whole.
• Treat tempo markings as structural guideposts. When the style shifts within a piece, commit fully to each section rather than treating transitions as hesitations.
• Use the variety of contemporary styles as a chance to explore different articulation colors. A militaristic march requires snap and precision; a more lyrical section demands legato singing.

Program individual pieces throughout the concert season as anchors for concerts focused on themed concerts (fantasy adventure, international journeys, etc.) or use them as building blocks in mixed-level programs. Since these correlate with method pages, assign them strategically as students progress through Accent on Achievement, reinforcing what they've learned in performance context.

• Reading secondary clarinet lines that maintain harmonic independence without doubling the first part
• Responding to stylistic shifts within single pieces (march rhythms, lyrical passages, contemporary textures)
• Balancing blend and line clarity in a concert band setting
• Performing arrangements that incorporate contemporary compositional approaches alongside traditional band writing