High Octane: 1st B-flat Clarinet
By Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 1.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017872_C1
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Description
Fire all cylinders! Using the optional synthesizer, this piece takes off and races from start to finish. Some dissonance adds a touch of the Doppler effect as you imagine the sound of cars zooming by. The ending builds with energy as the finish line approaches and completes with a victory lap. (Correlates with Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 2, Level 2).
Free Opening Count Off Sound Effect Download:
Download Here
Free Opening Count Off Sound Effect Download:
Download Here
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, High Octane: 1st 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:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
148
SKU:
00-PC-0017872_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas brings over 25 years of instrumental music experience to his role as Director of Instrumental Publications at Alfred Music, where he shapes educational resources for band and orchestra programs globally. His compositions balance accessibility with genuine musicality, earning regular performance by ensembles across all developmental levels.
Beyond the page, Bernotas remains deeply connected to the classroom. His background teaching students of all abilities informs every piece he writes, allowing him to anticipate what directors need and what young musicians are ready to tackle. He regularly appears as a guest conductor and clinician, and has co-authored numerous pedagogical works including the Sound Innovations series, Sound Artistry, and Sound Performance. His advocacy for thoughtful music education extends through presentations on conducting, composition, and teaching at conferences and workshops nationwide.
Why we love this
Bernotas captures the thrill of motion without overcomplicating the score. The optional synthesizer gives you flexibility for ensembles at different stages, while the Doppler effect concept and victory lap ending deliver genuine dramatic arc that students recognize and respond to. It's the kind of piece that sounds impressive to an audience while remaining honest about what a Grade 1.5 band can execute.
What to expect
High Octane feels like a high-speed journey compressed into four minutes. The dissonant moments create a sense of objects rushing past, while the layered ending builds genuine momentum, culminating in a satisfying victory moment that leaves the audience and players alike energized.
Who it's for
This score works for beginning to early-intermediate concert bands ready to play something with genuine character and energy. It's ideal for groups progressing through Sound Innovations Book 2 who want a performance piece that reinforces their current skills without introducing new technical or rhythmic obstacles.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the synthesizer so it propels the energy forward without masking the band's voice; let it accent key moments rather than dominate throughout.
- Shape the dissonant passages clearly so they register as intentional motion rather than confusion; rehearse those sections deliberately to build ensemble confidence.
- Drive toward the finish line build with graduated tempo or dynamic lift, not both; choose one approach and commit to it.
- Download and use the free opening count-off sound effect to lock in your tempo from the first note.
How to use it
Program this as a crowd-pleasing opener or closer for a concert featuring your developing ensembles; its accessible technical demands and engaging storyline work well alongside more traditional educational repertoire. It also serves as a natural performance milestone for a group using Sound Innovations, offering concrete proof of how far they've come by mid-year.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo and rhythmic precision through fast-moving passages
- Balancing ensemble sound when one section carries the melodic material
- Interpreting compositional intent through dissonance and dynamic contrast
- Responding to an optional accompaniment (synthesizer) without losing independence