Technic Today, Part 2: B-flat Clarinet Book

Ployhar built this supplement to address the specific technical needs intermediate clarinetists face, avoiding the trap of generic exercises. Because it directly reinforces Band Today, Part Two, your students encounter the same musical language and difficulty progression they're already working through, making every page feel purposeful rather than disconnected. At 24 pages, it's lean enough to integrate into rehearsal without overwhelming your prep load.

These exercises maintain the straightforward, musical approach Ployhar is known for rather than drowning you in sterile drills. You'll recognize melodic shapes and rhythmic patterns that echo the band repertoire you're learning, making technique feel connected to real music-making rather than abstract mechanics.

Intermediate B-flat clarinetists working through Band Today, Part Two or any intermediate band method benefit from this focused technical supplement. Band directors will find it especially valuable for students who need extra reinforcement in fingerwork, articulation, and scale facility without stepping away from the method's musical context.

• Work through each exercise with a metronome, starting at a comfortable tempo and gradually increasing speed only after the articulation and fingering patterns feel secure.
• Isolate passages that appear in your concert band repertoire and review them in this book before the piece arrives in sectionals, giving students a confidence boost.
• Use these exercises as a warmup routine during the first five minutes of rehearsal rather than as homework-only material, so you can address common technical stumbles immediately.
• Have students mark fingering charts or alternate fingerings in the margins as they discover which approaches work best for their hand size and embouchure.

Pair this with Band Today, Part Two assignments to keep your clarinet section on track during the intermediate level. Dedicate the first five minutes of rehearsal to one page per week, or assign specific exercises as targeted homework for players who lag behind the section in agility or articulation.

• Facility across the clarinet's range with controlled articulation and finger dexterity
• Scales and arpeggio patterns in multiple keys with rhythmic variety
• Technical passages common to intermediate band repertoire
• Coordination of tonguing and fingering at increasing tempos