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Putting It Together: Beginner Clarinet Pieces Using Tone, Fingerings, and Reading Skills

Capítulo 11

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

How This Chapter Works: Mini-Repertoire That Builds One Reading Skill at a Time

You already have a small set of familiar fingerings, a basic ability to read notes on the staff, and experience making a steady low-register sound. Now you will combine those skills into short pieces that feel like real music while staying within a limited note range and simple rhythms.

Each mini-piece below follows the same idea: keep the fingerings familiar and introduce one new reading element (a rest type or a rhythm pattern). Your job is to learn a repeatable practice routine that you can use on any new beginner piece.

The 4-Step Performance Routine (Use This Every Time)

Identify notes: Say the note names out loud while pointing to them. Also notice repeated notes and stepwise motion (up/down by one note).
Finger silently: Without blowing, place fingers for each note in time. Focus on full key coverage and relaxed motion.
Clap and count: Clap the rhythm while counting steady beats. If there are rests, show them by keeping your hands still (silence is part of the rhythm).
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Play: Keep the sound in the low register steady and even. Aim for smooth note changes and clean starts/ends.

Tempo rule: Start slow enough that you can do it correctly twice in a row. Then increase slightly.

Mini-Piece 1: “Steady Steps” (New Element: Quarter Rest)

Goal: Learn to read and perform a quarter rest (one beat of silence) without losing the beat.

Time signature: 4/4 (4 beats per measure; quarter note gets 1 beat).

Notes used: Use your familiar low-register notes from earlier chapters (keep the range narrow). If you prefer, write the note names above the staff the first day, then erase them later.

Rhythm Cell

Count: 1 2 3 4

Quarter notes: clap on each number.
Quarter rest: stay silent for that beat while continuing to count.

Music (Rhythm + Note Letters)

Play each letter as a quarter note unless marked R (rest).

4/4  | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 |     | E  D  C  D | E  R  E  R | D  D  E  R | C  R  C  R |

Step-by-Step Practice

Identify notes: Notice the repeated E’s and C’s and the stepwise motion E–D–C–D.
Finger silently: Keep fingers close to the keys during rests; don’t lift extra fingers.
Clap-count: Clap beats 1,2,3,4; on R, freeze hands but keep counting.
Play: On rests, keep the embouchure stable and the instrument position steady; don’t “reset.” Re-enter on the next beat with the same tone quality.

Mini-Piece 2: “Two-and-Two” (New Element: Half Note)

Goal: Hold a half note for 2 beats with steady tone and consistent air.

Time signature: 4/4.

Notes used: Same familiar notes as Mini-Piece 1.

Rhythm Focus

Half note = 2 beats (count 1-2 while holding).
Quarter note = 1 beat.

Music

4/4  | 1   2   3  4 | 1   2   3  4 | 1  2   3   4 | 1  2  3   4 |     | E---    D  C | D---    E  R | C  D---    E | E  R  D---   |     | (half) (q)(q)| (half) (q)(R)| (q)(half)(q)| (q)(R)(half) |

Step-by-Step Practice

Identify notes: Circle the half notes so you remember to sustain them.
Finger silently: Practice holding the fingering still for the full 2 beats (no “wiggling”).
Clap-count: Clap on beat 1 for the half note, then keep hands together (no second clap) while counting beat 2; resume clapping on beats 3 and 4.
Play: During half notes, aim for an even sound from start to end (no fading early). Keep the throat relaxed and the air moving steadily.

Mini-Piece 3: “Walking Pairs” (New Element: Eighth-Note Pairs)

Goal: Read and play two eighth notes in one beat (counted as 1-and), while keeping fingers coordinated and tone stable.

Time signature: 4/4.

Notes used: Same familiar notes; the challenge is rhythm coordination, not new fingerings.

Counting Method

Count each measure as: 1-and 2-and 3-and 4-and

Each eighth note lands on a number or an “and.”
Keep the beat steady; do not rush the “and.”

Music

4/4  | 1-and 2-and 3  4 | 1  2-and 3-and 4 | 1-and 2  3-and 4 | 1  2  3-and 4-and |     | E  D   C  D   E  R | D  E   D  C   D | C  D   E  D   C | E  R   D  C   D  E |

Step-by-Step Practice

Identify notes: Mark where the eighth-note pairs occur (the 1-and style beats).
Finger silently: Move only the fingers that must change; keep unused fingers hovering close to the keys.
Clap-count: Clap on every number and every “and” for one full run. Then clap only the numbers while whispering the “and” to feel the beat underneath.
Play: Keep the air continuous through eighth notes; avoid “puffing” each note. Think of one smooth stream of air with quick, light finger changes.

Mini-Piece 4: “Breathing Spaces” (New Element: Half Rest)

Goal: Perform a half rest (2 beats of silence) and re-enter cleanly without tension.

Time signature: 4/4.

Notes used: Same familiar notes.

Rest Strategy

Half rest = silence for beats 1-2 (or 3-4, depending on placement).
Keep counting through the rest.
Use the rest to prepare: fingers ready, posture steady, calm inhale if needed.

Music

4/4  | 1   2   3  4 | 1  2   3   4 | 1   2   3  4 | 1  2  3  4 |     | R---    E  D | C  D---    R | R---    D  C | E  D  C  R |     | (half) (q)(q)| (q)(half)(R)| (half) (q)(q)| (q)(q)(q)(R)|

Step-by-Step Practice

Identify notes: Locate the half rests and decide whether you will breathe there (if needed).
Finger silently: During the rest, set up the next note’s fingering early (quietly), then hold still.
Clap-count: Count 1-2 silently during the half rest, then clap on beat 3 to practice the re-entry point.
Play: Re-enter with a controlled start: steady air first, then the note speaks cleanly. Avoid biting or squeezing to “force” the entrance.

Mini-Piece 5: “Mixed Meter Feel” (New Element: 3/4 Counting)

Goal: Adjust to 3/4 time (3 beats per measure) while keeping familiar notes and simple rhythms.

Time signature: 3/4.

Notes used: Same familiar notes.

Counting Method

Count each measure: 1 2 3

Feel beat 1 as the strongest beat.
Keep the tone consistent even as phrases feel shorter.

Music

3/4  | 1  2  3 | 1   2   3 | 1  2  3 | 1   2  3 | 1  2  3 | 1  2  3 |     | E  D  C | D---   R  | E  E  D | C---  R  | D  C  D | E---  R |

Step-by-Step Practice

Identify notes: Mark the long notes (half notes) so you hold them for beats 1-2.
Finger silently: Practice the measure transitions (end of one bar into the next) so the beat 1 entrance is ready.
Clap-count: Clap only on 1 at first while counting 1 2 3 out loud; then clap all three beats.
Play: Keep the low-register tone steady; don’t let beat 3 get weak. Aim for smooth connections between measures.

Clean Run Checklist (Use Before You Record or Perform)

Stable embouchure: Same mouth position from first note to last; no extra pressure added on harder spots.
Consistent air: Even airflow through long notes and through eighth-note pairs; no stopping the air during rests (only stop the sound).
Accurate finger coverage: Fingers close to the keys, holes fully covered, minimal extra motion during changes and during rests.
Controlled starts and ends: Clear first note (prepared air), clean releases (no accidental extra sound), and steady timing into and out of rests.

Now answer the exercise about the content:

While practicing a beginner clarinet piece that includes rests, what should you do during a rest to keep the rhythm and tone quality consistent?

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Rests are part of the rhythm. Keep counting through them, stay steady in embouchure and instrument position, and re-enter on the next beat with the same tone setup.