Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 2: B-flat Bass Clarinet Book

This method balances foundational technique with genuine musical interest. The inclusion of recognizable popular songs and two commissioned performance pieces by respected band composers means students are learning discipline through repertoire they actually want to play. The accompaniment flexibility through both CD and MakeMusic Cloud access accommodates modern teaching needs while keeping the focus on what the bass clarinet part demands.

Learning from this book feels like being trusted with real musical work. The bass clarinet part in pieces like "Sleigh Ride" and the Star Wars theme gives students melodic moments alongside their foundational role, while the commissioned pieces by del Borgo and Clark demonstrate what accomplished ensemble writing sounds like. Popular standards mixed with classical and world music create variety that keeps practice sessions engaging.

Bass clarinet players in grades 6-8 concert bands who have completed Level 1 and are ready to deepen their range, expand rhythmic vocabulary, and move toward genuine ensemble responsibility. This method works equally well in middle school general music ensembles and beginner high school bands where bass clarinet carries harmonic and rhythmic weight.

• Lean into the style variations available through MakeMusic Cloud accompaniments. Switching between swing, ballad, and traditional arrangements of the same tune reinforces how articulation and phrasing respond to musical context.
• Use the accompaniment tracks to lock your ensemble's tempo before rehearsing unaccompanied passages. This builds confidence in the bass clarinet section's role as a rhythmic anchor.
• Separate scale studies from performance pieces in your rehearsal order. Work through the technical exercises when students are fresh, then apply those patterns to the popular standards where musicality matters most.
• Program one of the commissioned pieces as your rehearsal goal from the start of the book. Having a specific performance target transforms exercises into preparation rather than busy work.

Move through the book in order to build range and technical foundation systematically, but identify the two commissioned performance pieces as centerpieces for fall and spring concerts. The popular standards provide natural programming bridges between classical concert selections and lighter festival or assembly performances. Percussion integration on alternate pages creates natural moments to rehearse full sections together without pulling focus from melodic development.

• Extended range playing in the upper register
• Reading rhythmic patterns including sixteenth notes and syncopation
• Scale construction and major/minor tonal contexts
• Ensemble balance as a harmonic and rhythmic foundation
• Articulation control across styles (legato, staccato, marcato)
• Sight-reading within a structured curriculum progression
• Listening and adjusting intonation within an ensemble context