In solo works, ensemble literature, and études, shifts between major and minor tonalities are common and musically significant. These shifts are often found “connecting” a major key to its relative minor or parallel minor which enhances musical expression and structural depth. For example, in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, the opening theme transitions from C major to C minor and then to E-flat major, demonstrating these interconnected tonal pathways.
Finger Fitness Scale Connections is designed to strengthen both the technical and theoretical understanding of fundamental music theory relationships with the goal of bridging the gap between music theory and applied technique. Through structured scale and pattern studies that connect major keys to minor keys, players will explore and internalize the musical logic of key changes while developing fluency that supports sight-reading, pattern recognition, and faster learning of new musical materials.
Finger Fitness Scale Connections includes the following:
- A “First Things First” page offering guidance on how to approach the book along with technical considerations regarding breathing, simplifying the chromatic studies, addressing common fingering issues, and applying a variety of articulation patterns (5 pages).
- A music theory introduction that covers the building blocks of the chromatic scale, major scales, and all three forms of minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic) - (2 pages).
- Advanced music theory concepts that explore intervals, chord construction, harmonic functions, Roman numeral analysis, and essential terminology to deepen musical literacy (3 pages).
- Part 1 (65 pages): Connects major to relative minor by focusing on traditional scale study materials (scales, thirds, arpeggios, chords) and includes chord progression studies. “Bonus” studies blend patterns together for comprehensive skill-building. Also included are two chromatic studies and three articulation studies that gradually increase in complexity (23 studies/5 pages per key set).
- Part 2 (39 pages): Connects major to parallel minor and mirrors the structure of Part 1, offering similar scale and chord patterns, minus the bonus materials (14 studies/3 pages per key set).
- Part 3 (32 pages): Selected studies adapted specifically for low C clarinets (23 studies per key set in Part 3A, 14 studies per key set in Part 3B).
- Appendix A (9 pages): Long tone studies that build tone quality, breath control, and consistency (long tones introduction and 12 long tone studies).
- Appendix B (13 pages): My own comprehensive daily warm-up routine for developing embouchure strength, finger agility, and musical focus (includes my daily long tone study, register connection exercises, chromatic scale, and scale and chord pattern routines).
- Appendix C (5 pages): Supplemental materials including introductory chromatic scale studies, reed buzzing drills, and beginning staccato exercises.