The Best of "Shorties": B-flat Clarinet Book

These 16 arrangements solve a real logistical need every marching band faces: reliable music that works for stands, time-outs, and pep rallies without eating up valuable rehearsal time. López knows what students want to play, and he's written every note with quick preparation in mind. The B-flat clarinet parts sit comfortably and sing throughout the collection.

Energy, familiarity, and fun. These are the songs audiences hum on the way out, the ones that get people on their feet during time-outs. The clarinet writing captures the personality of each tune, whether it's the menacing groove of 'Bad to the Bone,' the celebratory brightness of 'Happy Birthday to You,' or the pure rock momentum of 'Rock Around the Clock.'

Marching band clarinet sections looking for quick-turnaround repertoire that connects with students and audiences alike. This collection works for groups of any size and experience level, from emerging high school bands to college and community ensembles.

• Keep the rhythmic drive steady in funk-based tunes like 'That's the Way (I Like It)' and 'Soul Man' by locking the subdivisions with your section mates, even at slower tempos.
• Balance your tone between the melody features and supporting harmony parts. Many of these arrangements rotate the spotlight, so be ready to step back or step forward as the music demands.
• Work the syncopation in 'Louie, Louie,' 'Wipeout,' and 'Land of a Thousand Dances' separately before putting it in tempo. Nail the rhythmic accuracy first, then build speed.
• When doubling melodic material with trumpets or saxophones, match their articulation and phrasing exactly. These are rock and R&B tunes; precision in the section enhances the groove.

Load these onto your stands during football season for pre-game pep rallies and halftime moments when you need high-impact, crowd-pleasing music ready to go. The 12-page format makes them ideal for sectional warm-ups or as transitions during marching rehearsals. Several of the more traditional titles (like 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and 'Happy Birthday to You') also work for special events and ceremonies throughout the year.

• Reading and performing syncopated rhythms in rock and funk idioms
• Playing both melody and harmony parts with equal musicality
• Responding to quick rehearsal cues and directional changes
• Balancing blend when doubling with other woodwind and brass sections
• Sustaining rhythmic precision in groove-based arrangements