This document discusses the pedagogical pieces using extended techniques for the clarinet that I have commissioned from Canadian composers. My intention was to develop a resource to introduce the undergraduate clarinetist to extended techniques through works intended for performance. While they focus on one technique per piece and minimize the technical challenges, these pieces nevertheless explore diverse techniques and are musically interesting for performers and audiences. The techniques, pieces and composers included in this collection are: timbre trills in “Teco-Teco” by Sylvia Rickard; microtones and vibrato in “A Micro Tale” by Richard Désilets; glissando in “Sometimes Doing Nothing Leads to Something” by Shane Krepakevich; multiphonics in “Speak Out” by Chan Ka Nin; vocalization while playing in “All Good Children” by Lori Freedman; key sounds in “Clap” by Robert Lemay; air sounds in “Almost There” by Don Ross; flutter tonguing in “flutterby” by Joel Hoffman; double tonguing in “VAV” by Jérôme Blais; playing pieces of the clarinet in “Duo for one, (hand)” by Elma Miller; buzzing into the clarinet in “Leaving” by Evan Ware; and moving while playing in “Nimbly” by Melissa Hui. Because it consists of études intended for performance by a diverse group of artists, this collection provides a new approach for students and teachers to study extended techniques.
This document provides commentary and context for these new works that will give teachers and students guidelines about how best to use this new resource. In each chapter, the first section considers the composer’s other pieces for clarinet, uses of extended techniques, and pedagogical works as well as the composer’s compositional process. The second section explains the extended technique, including its sound, execution, potential, notation, history, and pedagogy. The third section is a practical guide to learning and teaching the piece in the collection. It also discusses how learning these techniques and playing these pieces may benefit other aspects of technical and musical development. This contextual information will be useful both to students and teachers in not only learning the pieces in this collection, but also investigating other contemporary works and techniques.