Movie Songs by Special Arrangement: Clarinet Book & CD

Strommen's arrangements preserve the soul of each film standard while stripping away the improvisation requirement, giving intermediate clarinetists immediate access to mature, swinging repertoire. The collection pairs beautifully with the recorded accompaniment, allowing players to discover how jazz phrasing and syncopation feel in context rather than in theory. You get eleven iconic melodies that students will actually recognize and want to play.

These songs carry the warmth and sophistication of old Hollywood. Strommen's writing lets melodies breathe with space and phrasing that feel conversational, supported by a rhythm section that swings gently beneath without demanding fireworks from the soloist.

Intermediate clarinetists looking to expand beyond classical and concert band repertoire without overwhelming themselves with improvisation. It's ideal for players who have solid fundamental technique but are new to jazz interpretation and style.

• Listen to the recorded accompaniment several times before picking up your clarinet. Notice the comping style, tempo feel, and where the rhythm section breathes.
• Shape the melody phrases with the same intention you'd apply to a classical line. These aren't just syncopated notes; they're songs.
• Keep the eighth-note feel relaxed and slightly behind the beat where Strommen's articulation markings suggest it. Jazz phrasing lives in the space between strict time and full swing.
• Pay attention to any dynamic variance between sections. Strommen uses soft backgrounds and stronger statements to create form and keep interest across 24 pages.

Slot this into a spring pops concert or music appreciation day, where the combination of familiar film titles and accessible playing level engages both audience and ensemble. It also works wonderfully as a bridge repertoire set for students exploring jazz fundamentals before stepping into improvisation-based material.

• Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions (staccato vs. swing eighth-note feel)
• Reading syncopated rhythms in jazz context
• Listening and responding to rhythm section groove
• Playing with a metronome or recorded accompaniment while maintaining expressive shaping
• Understanding form through head melody arranged with clear section breaks