Karen Opperman Elementary Velocity Studies - Clarinet - Music Book Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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Saxguy
Skokie, IL

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Excellent clarinet book for midle school and early high school s

a clarinet player and teacher, always looking to improve my playing, always looking to help my students

Pros

Nice progression of exercises, notes range to E above the staff, excellent exercises for register break

Cons

some exercises are extremely demanding, this book does not have an example CD

AUG

2007

I first heard about this book about a month ago, having read about in another book on clarinet pedagogy. I checked out the series at my local sheet music store, and was very impressed.

This book is the first in a four part series of "Velocity Studies" by Kalman Opperman, a well known and influential clarinet educator based out of New York City. The series as a whole is designed to encourage students in proper hand and body positioning, developing solid finger technique and speed and proper breathing habits.

This book has 33 exercises over 39 pages. Each exercise is presented with a tempo range for performance. Several exercises have suggestions for several articulations (tongues short or long; slurred).

The elementary in the title is a bit of a misnomer. Most of the exercises in this book are geared toward students at least at good middle school level, who have been playing successfully for at least 3 years. Some exercises are challenging for high school students, particularly one ranging up to high E.

There are several exercises designed to deal with two of the major challenges for the developing clarinetist: first, navigating the register break smoothly. The second id maintaining an appropriate embouchure over the full range of the instrument.

I myself use some of the exercises in this book occasionally as a warm up.

This is really an outstanding clarinet study book and I recommend it.

At $9.95, and published by Carl Fischer & Co., it is readily available online and in music stores.