Description
A thorough and meticulous clarinet warm-up addressing all fundamental components establishes the foundation necessary for both technical success and the freedom to engage in the artistic process of music-making in practice or performance. Clarinet Conditioning: Warm-Ups and Perspectives presents a series of engaging, insightful interviews with clarinetists from a wide variety of specializations, pedagogical lineages and career paths alongside a robust collection of exercises and materials for study, many of which come directly from the interviewees. In these conversations, learn how some of today’s leading clarinetists condition themselves to perform at the highest level on a daily basis through a carefully considered warm-up routine.
A well-planned warm-up routine prepares both the body and the mind for the act of creative music-making, simultaneously reinforcing proper fundamentals and removing any technical barriers. This allows the performer to devote their full attention to actualizing their own expression and interpretation. With chapters devoted to Stretching, Breathing and Airflow, Tone, Voicing, Intonation, Technical Patterns and Articulation, Clarinet Conditioning presents practical exercises in an à la carte format that can be applied to any level of clarinet study and performance. With such a wide assortment of exercises to choose from, the clarinetist can easily customize a daily course of study that best serves their current abilities and needs.
A recurring theme across the interviews in this book is that a warm-up routine should continue to grow and evolve with the musician, reinforcing fundamentals and providing new challenges. The material in this book can do just that. The numerous exercises are enough to occupy many years of rigorous study, while the insight and advice shared by some of the finest orchestral and military band musicians, chamber musicians and university professors will last a lifetime.
See The TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chad Burrow –
I have spent my teaching career compiling, buying, writing, and borrowing warm-up material, studies, and exercises for students. There was never one place that had everything I felt necessary to cover with my students. David Cook has now changed all of that. I am not aware of another resource that has so thoughtfully and comprehensively collected and rethought the fundamental exercises of our craft. The breadth of insight and multi-perspectival approach from noted artists and teachers in our field is a gold mine for the aspiring artist or seasoned professional. Clarinet Conditioning should be on every serious clarinetist’s music stand. It will shortly be on mine.
Chad Burrow, Associate Professor of Clarinet at the University of Michigan, Principal Clarinet of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and Clarinet Faculty at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival
Paula Corley –
Clarinet Conditioning is a powerful tool for the aspiring professional clarinetist. This extensive collection provides advice and exercises from masters of the instrument. Up for a challenge? This is it. Clarinet Conditioning will erase the word “boring” from your practice vocabulary.
Paula Corley, Education Advisor – Buffet Crampon North America
Alexander Fiterstein –
Clarinet Conditioning by David Cook goes beyond warm-ups and digs deep into what really matters when playing the clarinet. A dialogue with eight insightful clarinet players and teachers who share their unique recipes for what they do each and every day to play at their best is followed by actual tools you can use to become a more complete clarinetist.
Alexander Fiterstein, Associate Professor of Clarinet and Chair of Winds at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
Eva Wasserman-Margolis –
Clarinet Conditioning is a unique culmination and abundance of information, covering every aspect of clarinet technique. It is a new idea because not only do we have David’s innovative ideas, but he has taken clarinetists who are professional players and teachers and added their thoughts, personal interviews, and examples of exercises they believe work for them and their students. The wisdom that these players give sometimes comes from their teachers. So you have knowledge included from three generations of players!
This book is an indispensable tool for students, teachers, and performers. My attitude, in a nutshell, is that this book frees us from believing one teacher has all the answers. I love it! Bravo to David Cook for such a brave undertaking.
Eva Wasserman-Margolis, former Clarinet Instructor at the Givatayim Conservatory of Music (1984–2019) and author of Time for Tone and Thinking Tone