Technic Today, Part 1: B-flat Clarinet Book

Ployhar built Technic Today to function as a genuine technical foundation rather than busy work. The materials align naturally with Band Today, Part One, so students encounter exercises that directly reinforce the method's progression without jumping ahead or retreading ground. Band directors appreciate its lean, focused design: 24 pages of targeted practice that doesn't overwhelm intermediate clarinetists while building real facility.

Straightforward and purposeful. These are working exercises designed to build confidence with scales, intervals, and rhythmic patterns rather than showcase pieces. Students encounter familiar technical challenges presented in clear, manageable sections that reward consistent daily practice.

Intermediate clarinetists working through Band Today, Part One who need structured technical reinforcement beyond their primary method. Directors managing mixed-ability bands benefit from having students on the same book and supplement system, which simplifies rehearsal planning and assessment.

• Work through the exercises at a tempo where articulation stays clean and consistent. Push tempo gradually across multiple practice sessions rather than attempting fast passages immediately.
• Isolate problematic intervals or rhythmic figures by extracting them into separate practice blocks before returning to the full exercise.
• Use a tuner to monitor intonation during technique work. Many clarinetists unconsciously flatten on lower notes or sharp on altissimo figures; catching these habits early prevents them from becoming entrenched.
• Pair these exercises with long tones and slow scales from your primary method. Technic Today builds on that foundation best when fundamentals remain strong.

Assign Technic Today as the home practice companion to your band method work. Students tackle one or two pages weekly alongside their Band Today assignments, using rehearsal time to address technique questions that emerge. This arrangement keeps clarinet section development steady without requiring dedicated sectional time.

• Major and minor scale execution across the clarinet range
• Interval jumping accuracy in stepwise and disjunct passages
• Articulation consistency across varying rhythmic patterns
• Finger facility and independence in technical passages
• Reading and executing rhythms aligned with Band Today, Part One curriculum