Forums > Beginner Flute Music

jenny72

Sep 21 2005, 07:43 PM

hello all

i am starting up teaching again after a long period away from it- having a family-
i have been asked to teach an 8 year old flute- im a bit uncertain as to whether she is a little young but i will give it a go.

anyway..........my question to you all is what are your suggestions for a begginer book?- i have "learn as you play flute" in mind, but is there anything better out there?- i know that book has everything needed in it but is there anything more aimed at the younger child?

Also, what do you all think to the pre- grade one exams ABRSMdo?- anyone put a pupil through one?- im wondering if they are good for the younger children??

if possible can you reply as a mail to me?-i think you should be able to mail to my private email, but as i cant type it in here im not so sure!- technology.......ha ha!!

many thanks

jenny

nicki_flute

Sep 21 2005, 08:02 PM

I emailed you

elliewelly

Sep 21 2005, 08:43 PM

Eight isn't too young, but if she's small it will be worth using a flute with a curved head piece at first. Some of them aren't keen on this - they want to use the straight version right away

but you can tell if they're not quite ready for that - their head and upper body has to twist uncomfortably to the side.

I think Learn As You Play has some really good elements to it, but it goes a bit fast for someone who hasn't read music before - 8 units of work are followed by grade 1 pieces! Abracadabra is quite nice as it goes a little bit slower and contains loads of familiar tunes. I know there's also a flute book out there especially designed for 6-8 year old beginners. It goes really slowly and has lots of repetitions and consolidation at each stage, but unfortunately I'm not a specialist flute teacher (just teach one little girl - the rest are clarinet, sax and piano) and have only seen it once. I'm sure someone else on here will know the one I mean though!

And yes, there's a flute prep test. I have used the prep tests for piano, clarinet and sax - sometimes with very young children after a year or so, and once with a very unconfident adult, who enjoyed it so much that he then took grade 1 the next term and got merit.

jenny72

Sep 21 2005, 08:56 PM

thank you elliewelly (love the nick-name!!) thats very helpful...
jen

QUOTE(elliewelly @ Sep 21 2005, 08:43 PM)

Eight isn't too young, but if she's small it will be worth using a flute with a curved head piece at first.Â Some of them aren't keen on this - they want to use the straight version right awayÂ

Â but you can tell if they're not quite ready for that - their head and upper body has to twist uncomfortably to the side.

I think Learn As You Play has some really good elements to it, but it goes a bit fast for someone who hasn't read music before - 8 units of work are followed by grade 1 pieces!Â Abracadabra is quite nice as it goes a little bit slower and contains loads of familiar tunes.Â I know there's also a flute book out there especially designed for 6-8 year old beginners.Â It goes really slowly and has lots of repetitions and consolidation at each stage, but unfortunately I'm not a specialist flute teacher (just teach one little girl - the rest are clarinet, sax and piano) and have only seen it once.Â I'm sure someone else on here will know the one I mean though!

And yes, there's a flute prep test.Â I have used the prep tests for piano, clarinet and sax - sometimes with very young children after a year or so, and once with a very unconfident adult, who enjoyed it so much that he then took grade 1 the next term and got merit.

ringaringa

Sep 21 2005, 10:48 PM

Eight is fine - but please encourage use of curved head joint, a much better tone is acheived if they can hold the thing up!

Learn as you play I find best if a child can't already read music. I like Abracadabra for kids who have learnt recorder or dino flute. LAYP has more theory information - handy if they don't play piano.

LAYP has lots of pieces with piano accompaniment - important for exam prep. It also forces note learning, rather than guessing (if you know the tune) and correct rhythm.

Using Trever Wye with 2 pupils - very boring, but good for teaching all 13 notes equally. Stops the "what's d#, is it the same as Eflat" conversations. Won't use it again though.

I don't do exams until Grade 3. The entry date is such a way from the exam date some pupils could have steamed ahead and be ready for the next grade! Also they don't seem to expect anything until LAYP is finished.

Mike Mowers Junior Musical postcards are great for halfway through the book, when the pupil needs some consolidation before moving on.

andante_in_c

Sep 22 2005, 07:47 AM

I would start with a Yamaha fife, rather than a curved head joint flute. All fingerings are transferable, and the fife is much easier to manage as it's the same size as a descant recorder. The Liz Goodwin Fife book is an excellent starter book for an 8-year-old.

If you decide to follow the flute option, I recommend Ian Denley's Flute Time as the best current tutor book, with Sally Adams's Flute Basics a close second.

Juze

Sep 23 2005, 03:08 PM

For year 3 and 4 pupils I have recently use Let's Play Flute by Amanda Oosthuizen. It does go quite slowly, but you can always miss out pieces and tell the kids it's because they're progressing so quickly, which is preferable to not having enough material so having to keep them on the same pieces for weeks. Also if they need lots of different tunes to reinforce every new note it's good. lots of puzzles, games etc as well.

elliewelly

Sep 23 2005, 06:29 PM

That's the one!!! I knew someone would mention it eventually!

Juze

Sep 24 2005, 11:55 AM

Brilliant, isn't it! There are 4 books, although you can go on to other stuff obviously at any stage you choose. I wish there was a piano accompaniment book too, although lots of the pieces are so simple I make up my own chords to fit.

This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.