This book provides students and music teachers with a comprehensive overview of the clarinet from its origin to its use and important facts not covered in traditional method books. It can be used concurrently with any method book, expanding the learning experience beyond "learning how to play" to include all topics relevant to the clarinet. These topics include:

The parts of the instrumentHow it worksThe different kinds of clarinetsHow to care for itPlanning a practice sessionA survey of the history of woodwind instrumentsThe accessories needed to play the instrument
An appendix includes a discussion of the science of sound, a glossary of woodwind instrument terms, a dictionary of the subject instrument terms, an illustrated index of the subject instrument parts, and an instrument ownership record. This provides greater insight into that instrument's relationship to others in its family and to those companion instruments with which the player will be working. The enrichment results in a well-rounded musician instead of one who can just play an instrument.