When the Educator's Guide to the Clarinet first appeared in January of 2000 its publication instantly met wide acclaim from both educators and performers. It received the highest possible reviews in both major clarinet periodicals, The Clarinet and The Clarinet and Saxophone Society. Prof. John Scott wrote, "For over thirty years I recommended Keith Stein's book 'The Art of Clarinet Playing'. But now I can say if you buy one book on how to play the clarinet make it 'The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet'. Here is Stein and much, much more." Reviewer Leslie Craven wrote, "It is so readble I could hardly put the book down. I only wish I had had this book as a student. It would have saved me so much time."
The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet has been praised by many of the nation's most outstanding educator's and performers alike for both its comprehensiveness and its clarity. With it the would-be clarinet teacher will have all he or she needs to effectively and confidently teach the clarinet on any level. The first six chapters concern themselves with playing techniques, and are filled with drawings, exercise, descriptions and methods which will help the teacher and student understand how each playing technique works, how each relates to the whole and tried and true methods of teaching these techniques to young players. The last half of the book deals with equipment and gives the teacher the objective knowledge about clarinets, mouthpieces, reeds and accessories he or she needs to select the very best and most appropriate equipment for his or her students. The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet is already being widely regarded as a classic in the field of clarinet pedagogy and! should be in the library of every one who must teach the clarinet on any level.
Thomas Ridenour received his bachelor's and master's degrees in clarinet performance, from Murray State University and Yale University respectively, graduating with honors from both institutions. Mr.Ridenour taught clarinet at the University of Georgia, the University of Connecticut, Hartt College of Music and Wesleyan University. He performed widely in the New England, New York area for over a decade and a half and gave many solo and chamber music performances on Boston and Connecticut public radio. He and pianist Allan Lurie gave the North American premiere of Robert Muczynski's well known "Time Pieces" for Clarinet and Piano. Mr. Ridenour has also been involved in clarinet design and is well known for his work in clarinet acoustics. Over the years he has written numerous articles on virtually every aspect of the clarinet and has lectured in countless colleges, universities and at music conventions throughout the US and Canada. Presently he lives in Dallas Texas! with his family where he serves as clarinet specialist for Brook Mays Music Company.
