Measures of Success E-flat Alto Clarinet Book 1: Alto Clarinet Method Book

Measures of Success cuts through the noise of disconnected exercises by treating method study as genuine music-making from day one. The collaborative expertise behind this series (Sheldon, Balmages, Loest, and Sheldon) means you're getting pedagogically sound progressions paired with material that actually engages students rather than boring them into compliance.

Like finally having a method book that trusts you to think while you play. The material builds gradually but never feels simplistic, maintaining the balance between clear instruction and the satisfaction of making real music.

First-year alto clarinet students in school band programs, as well as independent learners picking up the instrument. Teachers who want a method that doesn't compartmentalize music theory, technique, and musicality will find the integrated approach especially valuable.

• Establish a consistent daily routine with these exercises rather than jumping around; the sequential design works only if students follow the intended arc.
• Record yourself or your students playing passages at the beginning and return to them weeks later; the progress becomes a powerful motivator that measurement-based method books uniquely provide.
• Connect each exercise explicitly to repertoire your band is playing; students retain concepts better when they see the same techniques appearing in pieces they care about.

Use this as your core alto clarinet curriculum during the first year, introducing new concepts gradually to match your band's full repertoire schedule. The assessment features built into the series also give you concrete data on each student's growth trajectory, making it easy to document progress for parents and administrators.

• Alto clarinet-specific fingering patterns and hand position
• Breath control and tone production across the full range
• Reading and interpreting musical notation with understanding
• Connecting technical exercises to actual musical phrases
• Self-assessment and tracking personal musical growth