Band Today, Part 2: B-flat Bass Clarinet Book

Band Today, Part 2 builds on solid fundamentals without overwhelming students with too much material at once. Bass clarinet players finally get a dedicated book that treats their instrument with the same care and systematic progression as soprano clarinet, rather than adapting exercises meant for other reeds. Ployhar's years in the classroom show in every page: the difficulty curve feels right, the musicality develops gradually, and students stay engaged because the music actually sounds good.

Band Today, Part 2 invites bass clarinet players into the full sound of their instrument, moving beyond simple warm-up exercises into genuine musical moments. The progression feels organic: each page builds confidence, exercises transform into small phrases that actually sing, and the bass clarinet's warm, woody character emerges naturally from careful, measured work.

Bass clarinet players working through the intermediate levels of band development who need focused, sequential instruction on their instrument. This book is ideal for students who've mastered fundamentals and are ready to expand their range, rhythmic complexity, and musical expression without jumping into advanced repertoire.

• Balance your tone across the full range of the bass clarinet; the lower notes carry more resonance naturally, so lighten your air support slightly on high passages to avoid oversinging.
• Pay attention to intonation in the chalumeau register (low notes), where bass clarinets tend to run flat; adjust your embouchure and voicing as needed rather than forcing pitch with lip pressure alone.
• Use the accompaniment recordings (sold separately) to lock in rhythms and feel the ensemble context; solo practice builds accuracy, but hearing your part blend teaches musicianship.
• Mark fingering charts and alternate fingerings in your book early on; bass clarinet has quirks in the break and upper register that standard soprano fingerings don't address cleanly.

Use this book as the core method for bass clarinet players during the intermediate year of your band program, either alongside or following Part 1. The 32-page format works well as a fall-to-winter progression, giving players concrete material to practice while you teach full-band repertoire; by spring, students using this book will have developed the facility and confidence to tackle more challenging concert selections.

• Reading and playing across the full bass clarinet range (low E through high F)
• Executing longer musical phrases with consistent tone and intonation
• Recognizing and performing common rhythmic patterns at the intermediate level
• Understanding and applying articulation styles (legato, staccato, accented)
• Playing in tune across the clarinet break and into the upper register
• Responding to dynamic and tempo markings in a structured sequence
• Developing sight-reading fluency on the treble clef staff