Hendrickson Method for Clarinet, Book One: Clarinet Book

This method earns its place in thousands of studios because it balances technical precision with genuine musical interest. Hendrickson's carefully sequenced material never feels like an exercise; every page builds foundational skills while keeping students engaged enough to practice consistently.

Picking up this method feels like learning from a teacher who respects your intelligence. The writing is straightforward, the examples are musical rather than mechanical, and there's a quiet confidence in how each concept unfolds. By the end of the 48 pages, you've built real skills without feeling like you've sacrificed musicality along the way.

This book is designed for beginning clarinetists starting their first year of study. It works equally well in private lessons, school band programs, and self-guided learning, provided the student has access to guidance on embouchure and hand position during the early pages.

• Focus on tone production before worrying about speed. Hendrickson prioritizes sound quality, so use his progressions to establish a warm, centered tone on each new note introduced.
• Practice the musical examples as short phrases, not isolated technical drills. The material is written to feel musical, so phrasing and breathing should be part of your daily work from the start.
• Work through the book at a steady pace rather than skipping ahead. The progression is intentional; each concept builds on what came before.
• Record yourself regularly. Listening back reveals tone quality, intonation, and rhythmic accuracy that you might miss while playing.

Assign this as the primary method book for all beginning clarinet students in your band program. Its 48-page scope works well as a full-year curriculum for middle school beginners, or as the foundation for a private student's first 6 to 9 months of study before moving to supplementary materials.

• Proper embouchure formation and maintenance
• Tone production across the range of the clarinet
• Breath control and phrasing
• Reading single-line melodic material in treble clef
• Basic rhythm patterns including quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes
• Fingering patterns for the lower and middle registers
• Intonation awareness and listening skills
• Musical interpretation through dynamic and tempo markings