December, 2007 review of "Advanced Clarinet Technique in The Clarinet magazine of the International Clarinet Association:

Although there is no shortage of original study material for clarinet, clarinetists have long realized that there is excellent music from other sources that is invaluable and interesting to play.  One has only to examine Frederick Thurston's Passage Studies, Allen Siegel's Clarinet Articulation (unfortunately long out-of-print), or editions by Victor Polatschek, Auguste Perier, Jean-Francois Verdier, or Himie Voxman to discover the joys and challenges of music originally written for other instruments.

John Gibson, through the publications of JB Linear Music, has provided many superb collections of music not normally available for clarinet, and this book is an instructional compilation of music from previous editions (the reader would do well advised to check out the entire JB Linear catalog at www.jb-linear-music.com for all of those editions.

The book is divided into sections addressing specific concerns: Speed and Agility, Tone Control and Expression, Orchestra Solos in Context, High Register Studies, Chromatic Passages, Trills and Ornaments, Tonguing Challenges, Articulation Patterns, Repetitive Figures, Wide Intervals, and Flexibility/Warmup Exercises. It concludes with a "bonus" section of extended sections of music by Bach and Beethoven, as well as the complete Overture to the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. Each section contains several passages from the standard orchestral repertoire and each passage is preceded with a paragraph stating the goal of the exercise and performance notes about how it should be studied and performed. There are 41 examples total, including both the clarinet solo parts from the music being studied and difficult passages from the other instruments. All of the chosen examples are carefully aimed at the problem to be solved, although the examples are not presented in order of increasing difficulty.

This is not easy music and will provide a challenge for even advanced players. The music is, however, very rewarding to prepare and working on it never feels like routine practicing. In fact, the stated goal of several of the examples is simply "To have fun." This is a study book that you won't regret buying (emphasis added). ---Joseph Messenger, review editor