Breakthrough: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Clarinet Feature (Over the Break)
By Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PK-0009043
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough: Score | $10.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Flute | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Oboe | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: B-flat Bass Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Piano Accompaniment | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Mallets | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 1st Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: 2nd Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Timpani | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: C Educational Pack | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: B-flat Clarinet Educational Pack | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Bb Educational Pack | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Eb Educational Pack | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: F Educational Pack | $3.00 | |
| Breakthrough: Bass Clef Educational Pack | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Breakthrough, by Chris M. Bernotas, is a fun clarinet feature that will have your students climbing over the break with confidence! Artfully crafted both musically and pedagogically, this fantastic piece ensures a thrilling musical journey for every ensemble member. (2:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Breakthrough: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PK-0009043
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas brings over 25 years of classroom and publishing experience to his work as a composer and educator. As Director of Instrumental Publications for Alfred Music, he shapes band and orchestra curricula used by programs worldwide, informed by direct experience teaching students at every developmental level.
Bernotas' gift is translating pedagogical insight into music that works. His pieces balance musicality with the real challenges students face, whether that's building confidence around technical passages or sustaining engagement across an entire ensemble. He appears regularly as a guest conductor and clinician, and his published resources including the Sound Innovations series have become foundational texts in music education. His commitment to serving both teachers and students drives everything he writes.
Why we love this
Bernotas understands the clarinet break not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for growth. This piece gives your section a feature that actually builds confidence rather than exposing weakness; the orchestration and pacing create the ideal environment for clarinetists to succeed. At Grade 1, it's rare to find writing this thoughtful about ensemble balance and solo presence.
What to expect
Breakthrough carries a genuine sense of accomplishment. The musical character is bright and forward-moving, with enough melodic interest to keep ensemble members engaged whether they're playing the feature or supporting it. There's an unmistakable sense of celebration built into the piece.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 1 level, particularly those developing clarinet confidence and looking for accessible yet musically rewarding repertoire. It works equally well for festival programming or concert showcases where you want to feature clarinet work without programming outside your ensemble's technical range.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the clarinet feature carefully in rehearsal. Sit the soloist forward in the room to establish the line clearly before adding harmonic support from the rest of the reed section.
- Isolate the break passages with your clarinet section separately. Slow work through the transition ensures students arrive at performance tempo without tension or register anxiety.
- Shape the accompaniment to complement rather than compete with the clarinet melody. Light articulation and controlled dynamics in supporting parts let the feature breathe.
How to use it
Program this as a first-half concert feature to showcase your clarinet section and set a positive, energetic tone early. It pairs well with heavier or more abstract pieces later in the program, giving audiences a moment of clear musical narrative and your students a confidence boost mid-concert.
Skills your students will build
- Register negotiation around the clarinet break with musical security
- Solo line projection and phrasing at Grade 1 level
- Balance and blend in reed sections supporting a featured voice
- Rhythm and articulation coordination across ensemble parts