I am new to teaching the flute, and have begun with 13 brand new beginners (aged 7-11). I have started them on the Fife, using Liz Goodwin's Fife Book ( which seems fantastic, when supplemented with a few duets!). However, many are starting to reach the 'think about getting a flute' stage and I'm wondering what the best transition method/books might be... does anybody have any suggestions? So far, the best I can find is to move on to the Boosey Woodwind Method book 1, to fill in the gaps fo #'s and b's that the Fife doesn't use. This does require skipping through the book somewhat though, wondered if anybody had any other suggestions/advice?

Well.........um I dont think it will really matter which flute method you go for! As they will hopefully find note reading easy by this stage they will be able to concentrate more on their sound and also moving fairly quickly through the chosen book may motivate them.I also teach fife and will be in the same boat shortly - Id probably go for Abracadabra. I wouldnt miss anything out as its all good practice!

Good luck!

I really like Flute Time 1 by Ian Denley. IMy fife pupil isn't yet ready for the transition so I can't advise you on that, but I use it with my other beginners. It is very good at providing fun tunes with lots of chromatic sequences to help with G#, F# and B flat, so it will help in introducing those notes.

I particularly like the clear way in which it explains how to produce middle register notes and how to play at different dynamic levels, and it contains some very good photographs and some troubleshooting hints. It also gives equal weight to thumb B flat and long B flat fingerings, unlike some of the older tutor books.

It also has the benefit of a CD which contains playalong tracks and some of the pieces played in full.

That sounds like it might be worth investing in. I find it hard to explain stuff like that because I wasn't really taught it - self taught - and by the time I did it with a teacher it was teaching me how to refine it, not how to do it in the first place.

There is also a Flute Time Book 2, Sarah-flute, which covers the top register and various other topics. It's rare to find a book which tackles these issues in the same way as a beginner tutor.

There are two accompanying books of pieces: Flute Time Pieces 1 & 2 - not to be confused with Time Pieces by the same editor - which have an interesting selection of material. They don't really overlap with the tutor books: Flute Time Pieces 1 starts at around Grade 2 level; Flute Time Pieces 2 is Grade 6-8 level.

QUOTE (andante_in_c @ May 11 2005, 08:20 AM)

There are two accompanying books of pieces: Flute Time Pieces 1 & 2... Flute Time Pieces 1 starts at around Grade 2 level; Flute Time Pieces 2 is Grade 6-8 level.

Do these have accompanying CD (I wish they all did these days!)?

I'd also recommend both these two books particularly - the explanations in Denley, as well as the enjoyability of the selection of music (which is Abracadabra's winning feature) does make me wonder about sticking with the Denley now..........

They sound very very useful...

Yes, the enjoyability of the music in Abracadabra is a big plus, but so little in the way of helpful explanations, not even a nod at how one reaches the 2nd octave - I was fortunate when learning that it came pretty naturally, but I'd never recommend it to someone learning by themselves.

QUOTE (DomRUK @ May 11 2005, 11:52 AM)

Do these have accompanying CD (I wish they all did these days!)?

Unfortunately not.

Thankyou for the new book suggestion. I am currently using the abracadabra flute with a couple of pupils, and the pieces actually having a clear melodic line is a major bonus! This is one of the difficulties I find with the Boosey Woodwind method. Yes, the CD backing is great, but some pieces simply sound like nothing when played on their own which is very unhelpful... Do any of you use this tutor, and if so how do you find it?