Clarinet Basics: Clarinet Book

Harris built this method on genuine understanding of what early clarinet students actually need: clear technique scaffolding, concrete fingering references, and genuine music to play from day one rather than disconnected exercises. Non-specialist clarinet teachers especially benefit from the structured progression and built-in pedagogical guidance, which removes the guesswork from deciding what to teach next and how to frame it.

The method unfolds like a conversation between teacher and student, building confidence through recognition and repetition before introducing new challenges. Each stage feels manageable and purposeful, mixing technical work with genuine musical moments drawn from composers students will encounter later.

Classroom teachers and generalist band directors who teach clarinet but lack specialist training will find this method immediately practical, with step-by-step guidance embedded throughout. It also works well for private clarinet teachers who want a cohesive, well-paced curriculum that balances technique, theory, and repertoire from the very start.

• Build the finger gyms into your daily warm-up routine before tackling new material; they establish muscle memory without the cognitive load of learning a full piece simultaneously.
• Reference the rhythm boxes whenever a new rhythmic figure appears; students who self-check against these visual guides internalize patterns faster than those who rely only on counting.
• Use the fact files and quizzes as accountability checkpoints rather than tests; framed as discovery tools, they help students connect notation literacy to what they're actually playing.
• Pair the concert pieces with recorded accompaniments to give early students the experience of ensemble playing, which sustains motivation through the foundational stages.

Use this as your foundational clarinet curriculum for beginning band or solo clarinet study, progressing through all 22 stages across the first year of study. The concert pieces and traditional tunes are performance-ready, making them natural choices for school concerts once students reach stages where they can handle ensemble context.

• Clarinet fingerings across the chalumeau and clarion registers
• Basic articulation (tonguing, slurring, staccato)
• Rhythmic reading including common patterns and meter changes
• Notation literacy through structured fact files and quizzes
• Breath control and tone production through targeted warm-ups
• Ensemble awareness through playing with recorded accompaniments