Here’s a 4-part series covering repertoire ideas for clarinetists of different levels. Each piece has a link/button for easy access to further information such as YouTube performances and sheet music sources. Links to the four parts:
FAQ – Advanced – Intermediate – Emerging
What are these lists for?
- To find some new music to play. As a member of Clarinet Transformation Community, I need to prepare new material for a monthly masterclass. This list gives me a source to pull ideas from.
- To assess my development — how much of the Advanced material is within my reach?
What are emerging, intermediate, and advanced clarinetists?
Emerging: total beginners up to about 2 years of experience. In ABRSM/RCM grading terms, that’s about grade 3.
Intermediate: up to about 5 years experience; typical high-school Allstate band; ABRSM 4-6; RCM 4-7.
Advanced: university performance major and beyond.
How were the pieces graded?
Very subjectively! Music I could play comfortably after 1 year back from a 50-year layoff was “Intermediate”. Anything harder was “Advanced”. Most of what’s listed as intermediate or advanced in the initial version is stuff I have played or studied a bit. Or put on my wish list — things I wish I could play.
The “Emerging” group, on the other hand, is mostly material I haven’t seen, so I graded that based on catalog descriptions. The exception is Lester’s 60 Rambles — I have played and recorded every one of those, and I love them!
Where can I find the sheet music? Is it free?
Clicking the Google Info link often shows you options for sheet music. If you see a list of vendors like Groth Music, Ficks, and Sheet Music Plus, the piece is most likely still under copyright. Sites like IMSLP offer downloads of out-of-copyright works.
What are the categories?
- Clarinet Alone – unaccompanied clarinet solo
- Accompanied – clarinet solo with accompaniment (piano, orchestra, chamber group). Includes sonata and concerto. Duets are not currently included. They may be added as a separate category in the future.
- Collections – books of multiple solos and/or accompanied pieces. For example, collections of popular music like Star Wars Instrumental Solos or Strommen’s Broadway by Special Arrangement. Or books of shorter classical solos like Rubank/Voxman Concert and Contest Collection
- Etude Books – the difference between a Collection and an Etude Book is a bit fuzzy. The intent is that ‘Collection’ contains solo performance pieces, while ‘Etude’ contains technical studies.
- Scale Books – the primary focus of these books is scales, arpeggios, mechanism exercises, and articulation. They may include a few etudes also. Method books would usually be listed here.
Where did the data come from?
- Syllabuses from Kansas State University, University of Minnesota, Nichols State University, Northern Illinois University, University of North Texas, Trinity College, ABRSM, and RCM
- Various US state public school lists
- Vendor catalogs, particularly CAMCO and Sheet Music Plus
- Publications by Burnet Tuthill, Jenny Maclay, Cindy Renander, James Gillespie and others
- Internet Archives: IMSLP, Clarinet Institute
- Composite list of music owned by Katherine Carleton and me. plus maybe a few other friends.
What does the Info button do?
Info does not go to a specific website. Instead, launches a Google search for the composer and title. Since it’s a live search, it can produce some “interesting” results. For example. when I asked for Info on “Williams, John Victor’s Tale Clarinet”, Google showed me a 2022 obituary for John Victor Williams. The actual composer of Victor’s Tale is John Towner Williams, and he’s still living as of 2023.
Version history
- 2023-12-22 Initial Release Emerging (12), Intermediate (30), Advanced (52)
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