Diary of a Grumpy Elf: B-flat Clarinet
By Timothy Loest
Level:.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1482_C1
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Description
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through Santa's workshop were busy elves. Among them is Leon, an ornery elf who turns to his diary to cope with each difficult day. Combining humor ous prose with favorite carols, this creative holiday work will be the best gift your audience ever received! From wooden soldiers who break rank and fight to defective reindeer harnesses that accidentally come with cowbells, this work is sure to delight! Perfect to feature an administrator or student as narrator. Easy to put together and fun to perform!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Diary of a Grumpy Elf: B-flat Clarinet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Starter Series
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1482_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Timothy Loest
Timothy Loest brings three decades of classroom experience to his compositions, creating works that prioritize both musical substance and student engagement. His pieces are performed by young bands across the country, and his impact extends beyond the concert hall: he received the Illinois Grade School Music Association's Cloyd Myers Memorial Award in 2017, and his composition Cloud Gate (Reflections of a City) was performed for over 5,000 spectators at Chicago's Millennium Park that same year. Loest has published with major houses including Warner Bros. Publications, C.L. Barnhouse Company, and FJH Music Company, and he founded Fanfare Music Press in 2022 to champion high-quality band compositions and arrangements.
His pedagogical reach is equally broad. Loest has collaborated on several widely adopted band methods, including Measures of Success: A Comprehensive Musicianship Band Method and the Beyond series (Warm-ups and Beyond, Rhythms and Beyond, Chorales and Beyond). His television credits span The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, and other network broadcasts. Loest holds degrees from Illinois State University (Bachelor of Music Education, high honors) and Northwestern University (Master of Music, program honors), and is an ASCAP member. He taught at F.E. Peacock Middle School in Itasca, Illinois throughout his career.
Why we love this
Loest crafts holiday entertainment that actually works in rehearsal. The humor lands on the page without sacrificing musicianship, and the flexible narrator role means you can showcase a student, administrator, or colleague without derailing your preparation timeline. At this level, finding a piece this accessible that still feels fresh and audience-pleasing is rare.
What to expect
Mischievous and warm. The music dances between humor and genuine affection for the holiday season, with familiar carols woven through original material that captures Leon's curmudgeonly voice. There is nothing cynical about it; instead, the piece captures that moment when grumpiness melts into genuine joy.
Who it's for
Beginning to early intermediate concert bands seeking a holiday program that engages audiences without demanding weeks of rehearsal. Solo and mixed ensemble programs also benefit from its flexibility, and middle school and high school bands alike find it engaging and fun to perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the narrator breathe between diary entries and musical sections; resist the temptation to rush transitions or compress the spoken passages into background noise.
- Coach the band to respond musically to the narrator's tone. When Leon is frustrated, the instrumentation should reflect that energy; when he's delighted, the texture brightens.
- Balance clarity in the woodwind solos and countermelodies against the fuller textures, especially during the carol arrangements, so melodic threads remain audible.
- Rehearse the moments when the band reacts to specific diary entries (the wooden soldiers, the cowbells) as ensemble comedy, not just technical passages.
How to use it
Program this as your second piece on a December concert, following something more formal. Its narrative structure and humor make it an ideal closer for a family concert or holiday assembly where you want to send the audience home smiling. It also works as a standalone novelty number for pops events or informal rehearsal showcases.
Skills your students will build
- Responding to textual cues and maintaining ensemble cohesion during narrative spoken passages
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in carol-based arrangements
- Expressing musical character through dynamic and tonal choices (frustration versus warmth)
- Executing rhythmic precision in passages that support comedic timing
- Reading and performing at grade 0.5 to 1 difficulty with confidence and musicality