John Kinyon's Basic Training Course, Book 2: Clarinet Book

Kinyon's clarinet book builds fundamental skills without sacrificing musicality. The design supports solo instruction, sectional rehearsals, and full ensemble work from the same pages, making it genuinely flexible for how beginners actually learn.

Straightforward and encouraging. The material progresses logically from simple melodies to pieces with modest harmonic content, giving clarinetists genuine musical satisfaction as they move through the pages without overwhelming them with technical demands.

Beginning clarinetists working through their first two years of study, whether in a school band setting or through private instruction. This book suits clarinets starting around their second season and functions equally well in a section of like instruments or within a mixed band ensemble.

• Balance tone production across the upper and lower registers by listening carefully to how notes respond under steady air support; avoid tightening embouchure as you ascend.
• When working through new material, slow the practice tempo enough that you can read ahead and anticipate fingering changes; speed comes naturally once the muscle memory sets.
• Engage with the ensemble context even while studying individually; these pieces are designed to lock in with other parts, so imagine the full sound as you work through your book.

Integrate this throughout your second year of beginning band instruction as the primary vehicle for clarinet development. Pair selected pieces with full band arrangements or other sections' equivalent pages to maintain ensemble cohesion while targeting clarinet-specific fundamentals.

• Breath control and phrase shaping across moderate ranges
• Reading notation with emerging rhythmic complexity
• Intonation awareness and embouchure consistency
• Coordination between tonguing and fingering patterns
• Blending and listening within an ensemble context