Easy Funk Play-Along: Clarinet: Clarinet Book & CD

Playful and grounded in groove, these tunes channel the energy of funk and jazz without requiring advanced harmonic knowledge. The clarinet sits naturally in the mix, trading ideas with a rhythm section that makes every note feel purposeful.

Clarinet students ready to step beyond reading exercises and into improvisation within a supportive musical context. Players working at the intermediate beginner level will find the tunes approachable and the accompaniments encouraging.

• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the groove in your ear before you play. Listen to the full track once without your clarinet to lock in the pocket.
• Start improvising over the changes with simple, repetitive phrases. Build complexity gradually rather than using every technique at once.
• Pay attention to the call-and-response structure in the recordings. Leave space for the accompaniment to breathe, and use silence as a musical choice.
• Experiment with different tone colors and articulation styles within a single solo. Funk clarinet rewards both percussive tonguing and legato phrasing.

Feature one tune during a school jazz assembly or casual concert to showcase improvisation as an accessible and joyful skill. Use individual tunes as side-by-side repertoire in lessons throughout the year, rotating through different grooves and styles.

• Improvisation over minor and major funk grooves
• Phrase construction and repetition within a 12-bar or 16-bar form
• Listening and responding to recorded accompaniments
• Funk and jazz articulation and tone production
• Building confidence in real-time musical decision-making