Customer Reviews

Complete Method for Clarinet: Third Division

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The basis of all classical clarinet playing is knowing your scales. Not just knowing how to play each major scale but understanding the various permutations of all of the major and minor and chromatic scales. You need to have these drilled into your brain and your fingers backwards and forwards inside out and upside down until you don't have to think at all about them. They just will flow effortlessly out of your horn.

To learn how to do this, I highly recommend this collection of exercises. I started using it when I was in the 8th grade and I continued to practice out of it daily until I finished my collegiate playing days. When I decide to return to the clarinet (I am on an extended hiatus), this will be the method book I use to get back into the instrument.

The third volume of the Baermann Method is perfect for daily warm-up and scale practice. This book covers all of the major and minor keys in all three registers. Studies include broken chords, interrupted scale patterns, the chromatic scale, and interval studies, most with tonguing variations.

Unlike the combined edition of the first and second divisions, this division has a saddle stitch binding so that it lays flat on your music stand.

There's not much to say that hasn't already been said about Baermann's Third Division. It is a necessary book to work from. Stranded on a desert island with only your clarinet and one method book, this would be the one to have. If you ever mastered it, you might consider yourself a fairly good player.

The one and only method book for learning the clarinet. If you want to learn scales and get your fingering faster this is the best book out there. it is music history.