Belwin Beginning Band, Book One (featuring the works of Michael Story): B-flat Clarinet/B-flat Bass Clarinet Book

Story's direct voice on the included conductor recording transforms this collection from standard repertoire into a master class. Having the composer himself explain his intentions for each piece gives your students an immediate connection to the music and a powerful model for thoughtful interpretation. The range of styles across these eleven titles keeps early bands engaged while reinforcing fundamental skills without becoming predictable.

Each piece in this collection offers something distinctly different in character and mood. One moment your clarinetists are channeling the Old West in 'Silverado'; the next they're weaving through a carnival celebration or honoring a centuries-old hymn. The writing sits comfortably in the early band range while allowing genuine musicality to shine through.

Beginning and early intermediate clarinetists and bass clarinetists working in concert band. This collection works best for ensembles in their first or second year of study, when students benefit from varied, engaging repertoire that reinforces fundamental technique without overwhelming them.

• Listen to Story's commentary on the conductor CD before your first rehearsal. His specific guidance on tempo, articulation, and phrasing will shape how your clarinet section approaches each piece.
• Pay close attention to the rhythmic precision in titles like 'Roman Fanfare' and 'Battle Creek March'; the march style requires clean, unified articulation across your clarinet choir.
• Balance lyrical passages (especially in 'Sakura') by having clarinetists sing through the melody during sectionals to hear the shape independent of individual technique.
• Use the variety of styles as an opportunity to explore different sound colors; 'Carnival in Rio' and 'Sax to the Max' call for brighter articulation, while 'American Fantasy' rewards a warmer tone.

Distribute these titles across your concert calendar rather than performing them all at once. The diversity allows you to pair selections with other repertoire strategically; 'Roman Fanfare' and 'Battle Creek March' anchor formal concert programming, while character pieces like 'Carnival in Rio' and 'Toyland' bring energy to pops or seasonal concerts. The collection also works beautifully as a curriculum-building tool throughout the year, with each title reinforcing different technical or musical concepts as students progress.

• Sustained, focused tone production in varied musical styles
• Clear single and double tonguing articulation
• Independent melodic playing within the ensemble context
• Rhythmic accuracy in march and fanfare styles
• Lyrical phrasing and breath management in sustained passages
• Bass clarinet range and intonation (for bass clarinetists)