Fine-Tuning the Clarinet Section - by Brent Coppenbarger (Paperback)

About the Book

his book is an attempt to give the band director additional information or different ways of thinking about particular areas of interest with regard to the clarinet section of the band. Clarinets are prominent melody instruments, and a strong clarinet section can make the difference between a good band and a great band. Because of the different levels of abilities and different areas of interest by students, not every part of this book may be appropriate for every student; some chapters are intended to help beginners develop good habits from day one and will be useful for the middle school band director, as well as for the high school band director whose clarinets need to review the basics. Others are intended to help intermediate or advanced students improve their skills. The aim of this book therefore, is to give the band director some additional tools to improve the clarinet section. - Introduction.

Book Synopsis

The amount of knowledge that the band director is expected to know can be overwhelming. He or she is expected to be a teacher, a conductor, an artist, a musician, and an expert on every instrument in the band. This book condenses and organizes the information needed to improve the clarinet section in a single convenient resource.

Review Quotes

Coppenbarger's writing is clear and he provides numerous examples that give further insight into teaching the clarinet, with additional helpful hints for the entire woodwind family.... This book is a valuable resource for any band director or instrumental music teacher. Recommended!

As a high school band director for thirty-six years a constant concern with our Symphonic Band was to maintain proper intonation and tone quality with our woodwind section and more especially the clarinets. Dr. Coppenbarger has written a very concise method for solving those sticky problems of intonation that plague our bands in his Fine tuning the Clarinet Section: A Handbook for the Band Director. This handbook covers topics from embouchure development to proper preparation for solo performance. You will find his handbook a valuable resource to improve the sound of your ensemble. This is now my go to guide for my clarinet section.

Dr. Brent Coppenbarger has given both the band director and aspiring student a clear and concise guide to becoming proficient on the clarinet. His discussions on the woodwind section in particular makes "Fine Tuning the Clarinet Section" an invaluable resource.

I was very impressed with Dr. Coppenbarger's new book, Fine Tuning the Clarinet Section. Early in the text, he states that it is a daunting task for a band director to know all of the nuances for teaching every instrument. In this way, I think that this text does an outstanding job of giving the non-clarinetist director helpful teaching hints for improving the quality of his clarinet section. What is most helpful is that there are specific problem areas that are unique to playing the clarinet that are targeted and given specific teaching techniques to address these issues. I was particularly impressed with the chapters on improving articulation and intonation within the section. This text will certainly become an invaluable resource for both the novice teacher and the experienced music educator.

About the Author

Brent Coppenbarger is professor of Music at the Cline School of Music at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina, where he has taught woodwinds since 1995. He is the author of Music Theory Secrets, 94 Strategies for the Starting Musician, and his articles have appeared in The Clarinet, NACWI Journal, and The Instrumentalist.