Jazztastic: Clarinet Book & CD

Upbeat and approachable, with the relaxed confidence of real jazz. You'll hear yourself answering the band, trading energy, and discovering how much personality you can put into a simple melody when swing feel and blues inflection are part of the toolkit.

Intermediate clarinetists ready to move beyond classical phrasing and explore a different musical language. This works for students in jazz bands, private lesson studios, or ensemble programs who want focused solo study material with professional accompaniment.

• Listen through the accompaniment track first without playing along. Focus on where the comping hits, the swing feel, and the harmonic movement so your phrasing sits inside the groove rather than on top of it.
• Practice the written lines at a comfortable tempo, then gradually work up to the recording's speed. Jazz isn't about technical speed; it's about landing the pocket, so don't rush past the phrasing work.
• Experiment with note placement slightly behind the beat in certain passages. The printed page shows the basics, but the recording demonstrates how jazz time actually breathes.

Use this as a supplementary resource for clarinetists in your jazz band who need independent skill building on improvisation vocabulary or jazz interpretation. It also works well for mixed instrument studios where a clarinet student wants focused material outside band rehearsal.

• Swing feel and jazz time placement
• Blues tonality and blue note approach
• Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Playing over changes with recorded accompaniment
• Solo interpretation and personal expression within a groove