First Repertoire for Clarinet: Clarinet & Piano Book

Harris and Johnson curated this collection with deliberate variety in mind: you get beloved classical excerpts alongside popular song arrangements, which means students stay engaged across different musical languages and moods. The difficulty sits exactly where it claims (Grade 1-4), making this genuinely usable rather than aspirational. Every piece works on the page and in the ear, which is rare in survey collections.

This collection spans moods from lyrical and introspective to playful and dramatic, keeping both player and listener engaged. The writing is idiomatic to clarinet throughout; you'll feel how naturally the melodies sit under your fingers and in your voice, whether you're navigating a Telemann minuet or the sophisticated harmonies beneath Cole Porter's 'Night and Day'. There's a professional polish to every arrangement without any sense of compromise.

Clarinet students in their first few years of study who are ready to move beyond beginner method books but still building foundational technique and musical confidence. This book works equally well for private studio teachers building a student's recital repertoire and school ensemble directors seeking accessible concert material. Advanced younger students may also find pieces that fit comfortably while they're developing interpretation skills.

• Treat the Cole Porter and Barrington Pheloung arrangements as gateway pieces for students who find "classical" repertoire intimidating; use them early to build confidence and musicality before tackling the Bruch or Britten material.
• Work through the pieces in any order that suits your student's interests and technical needs rather than sequentially; the collection is designed to work as a toolkit.
• Balance preparation time between clarinet and piano partner; many students overlook the piano part's rhythmic or harmonic complexity, but a solid accompanist makes the clarinet line soar.

Draw from this book across your school year rather than programming it as a single unit. A lighter piece works well as an opener or contrast on a mixed concert; a more substantial number like the Bruch excerpt can anchor a clarinet feature performance. Many teachers use selections here as required recital repertoire, offering students genuine choice in what they prepare and perform.

• Playing with a steady accompanist and responding to harmonic context
• Phrasing across various musical styles and historical periods
• Reading and executing articulations specific to classical and contemporary idioms
• Building tone quality and control in Grade 1-4 registers
• Sight-reading facility across different note patterns and rhythmic figures