Learn to Play Clarinet Duets: Clarinet Book

Duet collections at this level rarely balance pedagogical purpose with genuine musicality, but Eisenhauer's graded selection keeps both in focus. The progression from easy to medium difficulty gives students real repertoire to perform together while their technical foundation is still forming, which means ensemble playing reinforces what they're learning in scales and exercises rather than overwhelming them.

Fresh and approachable. The varied styles keep rehearsals from feeling repetitive, and the graded difficulty means early pieces sound polished quickly, building confidence. By the time students reach medium-difficulty selections, they've accumulated enough technical skill to shape the music expressively.

Clarinet students in their first year or two of study who are ready to explore ensemble playing without jumping to full band literature. This book works equally well for private studio settings and school band classes where students benefit from motivating duet experience alongside their solo studies.

• Establish clear tempo together before playing; use a metronome or counting aloud to lock in the pulse, especially when one part has longer note values than the other.
• Balance your sound to match your duet partner's dynamic level. Record yourselves and listen back to catch moments where one clarinet dominates.
• Practice each part separately at performance tempo first, then bring them together gradually, starting at a slower tempo if intonation wavers.

Use these duets as ensemble-building activities during the school year when students want to perform something substantial together but before they're ready for full band instrumentation. They also work beautifully as practice partners for sectionals or as a supplement to method book studies in private lessons.

• Listening and matching tone with a fellow clarinetist
• Maintaining steady tempo while following a partner's phrasing
• Reading varied musical styles and textures
• Blend and balance in two-part writing
• Building confidence through accessible ensemble repertoire