Band Today, Part 2: E-flat Alto Clarinet (E-flat Clarinet) Book

Band Today, Part 2 picks up right where Part 1 leaves off without backtracking or over-explaining, respecting both the learner's progress and the director's rehearsal time. Ployhar's method builds genuine musicianship alongside technical facility, which means your E-flat clarinet players aren't just reading notes but developing the skills to become contributing members of your ensemble. The 36-page structure fits perfectly into a semester or full-year progression, giving you a complete pedagogical arc for intermediate students.

Band Today, Part 2 maintains a conversational and encouraging tone throughout its progression. The method respects the developmental stage of intermediate students by offering clear musical goals and varied exercises that build confidence without overwhelming.

This book serves intermediate band students who have completed a first-year method and are ready to deepen their musicianship, particularly those who have taken on the E-flat alto clarinet role. Players tackling the alto clarinet need structured guidance specific to their instrument's range and response, which this method delivers without assuming prior experience on this less common voice.

• Isolate passages where the E-flat clarinet doubles or contrasts with the B-flat clarinet section to clarify voicing and balance; the alto clarinet's lower register sits distinctly below B-flat soprano parts, so intentional blend requires intentional listening.
• Address the altissimo register early and deliberately if your method includes those passages, since the E-flat clarinet's upper range requires different embouchure support and air speed than the fundamental register.
• Establish consistent fingering conventions for each student from the start, particularly for the alternate fingerings this book introduces, so habits don't shift midway through the year.

Use this as your primary method text for E-flat clarinet students throughout the intermediate level, pairing it with your full band's concert repertoire to reinforce technique and musicianship in context. If your program is growing the lower clarinet voices, assign Part 2 alongside the B-flat clarinet method your band uses so both sections stay synchronized in their learning arc.

• Reading and playing in multiple keys beyond two sharps and two flats
• Extended range on the E-flat clarinet, including altissimo passages
• Rhythmic accuracy and phrasing in ensemble contexts
• Intonation control in the instrument's unique range
• Alternate fingerings and technical facility
• Sight-reading at an intermediate level