Can anyone tell me some GOOD books for a 7th grade bass clarinet player to practice this summer? She would be a pretty good player, having played in band in 5th and 6th grade, and she made the advanced combined 7th/8th grade symphonic band at our middle school as a 7th grader. Her mother asked my advice as her band director is out of town. They're looking for some good material for her to practice.

Suggestions??

What a coincidence! I'm a bass clarinet going into 8th grade next year. here's a really great book to use: Accent on Achievement book (1,2,or 3) depending on what level she's at. I used book 2 last year because thats what we were required to have in class every day, and it worked great. Good Luck!

For the most part, nothing worthwhile exists for bass clarinet specifically, unless you just want to stick in the lowish area. I reccomend getting Bb soprano clarinet books- they will actually go high enough to be challenging. Personally, I think the high register sounds better on bass than soprano, because it's not nearly as shrill. That's just personal preference though. However, don't fall for the theory that bass clarinet's can't play high stuff- anything that can be played on soprano can be played on bass. (Minus uber-fast runs that the longer key mechanisms just can't handle.)

However, if the player has recently started, or recently switched over, the low range is the place to start, as it is more commonly encountered in ensemble playing.

I'm with Laeta on this one. There aren't really any limits on a well set-up bass. Klosé is good, Rose, all that typical Bb-soprano stuff. Rubank is always a good choice for lessons, as mentioned above. The Klosé mechanism excercises are quite good for beginning bass because of the range.

BH

Baermann is not bad also... I like is fingering exercises from tiime to time.
Klose and Lazarus are the best I think.