First Division Band Method, Part 3: E-flat Alto Clarinet Book

This method has earned its place in countless band rooms because it works. The carefully sequenced progression moves students forward without overwhelming them, and the familiar song material keeps practice engaging across all twelve million students who've learned from it. For alto clarinet players, this book ensures they're building the same foundational skills as their Bb clarinet peers while learning on their own instrument from the start.

Working through this method feels like building a house on solid ground. Each page adds a small but essential brick: simple whole notes become half notes become quarter notes; single lines evolve into two-part exercises. Songs and familiar melodies appear frequently enough to reward progress and keep motivation high, while the alto clarinet's warm, rounded tone gives these exercises a pleasant quality that makes daily practice feel less like work.

Beginning alto clarinet students in school band programs who need a systematic introduction to their instrument. This book works best for students entering a concert band ensemble where other sections are also using First Division Band Method materials, creating a unified pedagogical foundation across the band.

• Establish a consistent embouchure from day one. The exercises in this method support proper mouth formation, so give students time to feel the muscle memory develop rather than rushing ahead.
• Match the alto clarinet's darker, mellower tone quality with the band's overall sound. Have students listen to how their voice blends with upper woodwinds and the full section.
• Use the correlated material listed throughout the book to reinforce concepts across your band program. If your director's score or another instrument book references a specific exercise, align your alto clarinet students to the same page.
• Encourage daily practice with the method book itself. The incremental difficulty is designed for consistent, short practice sessions rather than occasional longer ones.

Use this as your primary instructional text for alto clarinet students in grades 6-8 or for anyone picking up the alto clarinet for the first time in a band setting. If your band is already using First Division Band Method for other instruments, the alto clarinet book keeps all students on the same learning timeline and allows for easy cross-section rehearsal from week one.

• Reading treble clef in whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes
• Whole step and half step intervals on the alto clarinet
• Breath control and phrasing over sustained lines
• Coordination between fingerings and consistent tone production
• Rhythm patterns including rests and syncopation
• Two-part ensemble reading