ESM > Eastman Community Music School > Handbooks > ECMS Student Handbook >ECMS Instrumental and Vocal Curricula > Flute Curriculum

Flute Curriculum

Jan Angus and Sophia Gibbs Kim

Senior Instructors

Introductory Level

(for beginning students with no prior exposure to music reading or school music instruction on the

flute)

Introductory Skills

Sound production on the head joint

Formation of embouchure/aperture and placement of flute on lips

Learning to breathe correctly

Correct assembly and cleaning of the flute

Learning correct hand position as well as good posture when standing or sitting

Introduction of musical notes and corresponding fingerings

Introduction of music notation, the concept of time and key signatures as student is able

Suggested Methods as student is able

Anzalone -Breeze-Easy Method Books 1

Steenland & Weber – Flute Student Books 1

Rubank – ElementaryMethod

Wye – A Beginners’ Book for the Flute, Part One and Part Two

Sample Solos

L. Moyse – Forty Little Pieces

Level I

(beginning students with prior school music instruction)

Musical Skills

Proper breathing

Sound production and the formation of embouchure/aperture and placement of flute on lips

Introduction of long tones

Understanding time signatures and basic note values

Begin to verbalize rhythmic patterns

Understanding key signatures and their relationship to major scales

Technical Skills

Good hand position as well as good posture when standing or sitting

Introduction of basic articulation (single tonguing, slurring, staccato, accent)

Range: D1 to D3 (to G3 if able)

Scales, thirds and arpeggios in the major keys of C, F, G, Bb, D, Eb, A, one octave, memorized

Chromatic Scale C2-C3

Consistent fingering of D2 and Eb2 with no left hand first finger; use right hand pinky consistently on

all notes but

D1 and 2

Ensemble Skills

Be able to count independently and stay with a conductor

Suggested Methods

Anzalone -Breeze-Easy Method Books 1

Steenland & Weber – Flute Student Books 1

Rubank – ElementaryMethod

Wye – A Beginners’ Book for the Flute, Part One

Sample Solos

Burgstahler – Flutella

Gretchaninoff – First Waltz

Lewallen -Petite Poem

Mendelssohn – On the Wings of Song

L. Moyse – Forty Little Pieces

Level II

Musical Skills

Continued attention to the mechanics of tone production

Continued close attention to good body, hand (curved fingers) and head position

Learning to hear and produce a focused tone

Understanding the aperture and the angle of the air stream and its relation to producing a clear

and projecting tone

Strengthening the embouchure

Understanding related diaphragmatic support and breath control

Introduction of harmonics and their role in playing high register notes

Introducing the concept of control through crescendo/diminuendo

Technical Skills

Begin removing corks from open hole flute as student’s hand position allows

Range: C1 to G3 (B3 as able)

Scales, thirds and arpeggios in major keys up to 5 sharps and 5 flats

2 octaves in quarter notes

Memorized

Begin minor scales

Chromatic scale D1 – G3 (higher if able)

Use of the thumb Bb

Intonation of C#2

Methods and Etudes

Anzalone -Breeze-Easy Method Books 2

Garibaldi – 32 Instructive Studies for Flute

Rubank – Intermediate and Advanced Volume 1

Steenland & Weber – Flute Student Books 2

Wye – A Beginners’ Book for the Flute, Part Two

Sample Solos

Burgstahler – Spinning Wheel

Dick – Dorset Street and Sun Shower

Faure – Berceuse from Dolly Suite

Gossec – Gavotte

Handel – Sonata in g minor

Masson – March of the Buffoons

L. Moyse – First solos

Voxman – Concert and Contest Pieces

Level III

Musical Skills

Begin setting performance goals (ECMS recitals, NYSSMA solo festivals)

Discuss good practice habits and performance mindset; learn how to deal with nerves and stress

Sight reading practice

Focused work on tone production using T. Wye: Tone

Concentration on building smooth, even finger technique

Understanding simple phrase structure

Use breathing that clearly communicates the phrase

Using articulation that helps shape a phrase

Introduction of vibrato

Harmonics, whistle or whisper tones

Introduction of odd meters

Technical Skills

Range: 1C to B3 (C4 if able)

Facility with foot joint notes

Scales, thirds and arpeggios in major keys up to 6 flats/sharps

2 octaves in quarters notes, eighth notes as able

Memorized

Played with varied articulation groupings

Begin memorization of minor scales

Chromatic scale, C1 to B3

Introduction of double tonguing; flutter tonguing

Methods and Etudes

Bona – Rhythmic Articulation

Cavally – Melodious and Progressive Studies, Bk 1

Gates – Odd Meter Etudes

Guenther – Book 2

Lester-Terry – 60 Rambles

Reichart – Seven Daily Exercises

Rubank – Advanced Method Vol. 2

Wye – Practice Book for Flute, Tone, Volume 1

Zachert – Melodic Studies

Sample Solos

Gaubert, Madrigal

Handel – Sonatas in F Major and G Major

Telemann – Sonata in F Major

Continuation of Voxman – Concert and Contest Pieces Ex: Anderson, Scherzino, Gluck, Menuet and

Spirit Dance; Bach, Polonaise or Cavally – 24 Short Concert Pieces

Level IV

Musical Skills

Develop good practice habits

Continue vibrato work

Develop tone through use of crescendo, diminuendo

Whisper (whistle) tones

Tone bending and intonation work

Technique

Memorization of all major scales, thirds and arpeggios, 2-3 octaves

Memorization of minor scales, 2 octaves

Chromatic scale, C1 – C4

Facility in using various articulations

Develop speed and evenness of double tonguing; triple tonguing

Develop facile finger technique

Etudes

Continue previous studies.

Taffanel et Gaubert – 17 Daily Exercises

W. Kujala – Vade Mecum

Maquarre – Daily Exercises

Cavally – Melodious and Progressive Studies, complete Book 1; Book 2

Hugues – 40 Studies

Sample Solos

Bach – Sonatas in Eb Major and g minor

Debussy – Syrinx

Faure, Morceau de Concours

Selected sonatas by Blavet, Handel, Quantz, Vivaldi

Mozart – Andante C Major

Quantz – Concerto in G Major

Level V: Diploma Level

Musical Skills

Focus on the development of critical faculties

Learn to diagnose musical and technical problems

Encourage the evolution within the student of her/his own concepts of musical expression, style and

tone (refining the interpretation of musical terms)

Maintenance of vibrato, developing different speeds

Technique

Range development with greater facility, incorporating C#4, D4

Maintenance of all scales played the entire range of the flute and played in varied rhythmic grouping

(3, 4, 5 notes/beat)

Diminished and augmented arpeggios

Maintenance of facility with articulation groupings

Add triple tonguing

Multiphonics and “singing and playing”

Etudes

Continuation of previous daily exercises.

M. Moyse – Exercises Journaliers

M. Moyse – De La Sonorite

Anderson, 24 Studies Op. 33

Berbiguier – 18 Studies

Cavally – Melodious and Progressive Studies 11and III

Voxman – Selected Studies

Sample Solos

CPE Bach, Sonata in a minor

Bach -, E Major, C Major, A Major

Boccherini – Concerto in D Major

Morlacchi – Swiss Shepherd

Muczynski – Three Preludes

Telemann – Suite in A Minor

Hoover – Kokopeli

Level VI: Honors Level

Preparation for potential conservatory education

Preparation of a compelling college audition (if applicable), including four contrasting works including

a major concerto, sonata, French Paris Conservatory Piece and contemporary work

Familiarity with the piccolo

Etudes and Studies

Mastery of Daily Exercises

Continuation of the previous studies

Gilbert – Sequences

Gilbert – Technical Facility

Altes – 26 Selected Studies

Anderson – 24 Studies, Op. 15

Karg-Elert – 30 Caprices, Op. 107

Baxtresser – Orchestral Excerpts for Flute

Sample Solos

Bach – Sonata in a, e, b minor

Dutilleux – Sonatine

Hue – Fantasie

Martinu – Sonata

L. Moyse – Music of French Composers

Mozart – Concertos in G and D Major

Varied solo literature of all periods

NFA commissioned works for the high school competition, e.g.

Brown – Trillium

Dick – Lookout

Offermans – Honami

Colquhoun – Charanga

Musical Skills

Development of musical style and artistry

Demonstrate the highest musical potential, pushing boundaries of technique and musical expression

Demonstrate facility in entire range of instrument with greater ease

Knowledge and application of musical terms

Technical Skills

Continue all scales, major and minor, 3 octaves incorporating C#4, D4

All arpeggios – major, minor, diminished, augmented

Chromatic and whole tone scales including C#4, D4

Demonstrate facility with all articulation groupings including double and triple tonguing

Alternate fingerings for intonation and facility

The student will be expected to exercise initiative in gaining orchestral and chamber music

experience, both in school and in the community.

Prepare for Honors Jury to be played in January of senior year.

The student may wish to enter one or more of the following competitions:

Rochester Flute Association Recital or Master Class Competition

Penfield Symphony Concerto Competition

Hochstein Recital Competition

Geneseo Concerto Competition

Greer Young Artist Competition (Rochester Philharmonic League)

National Flute Association High School Flute Choir or Soloist Competitions

In addition, students may wish to attend various summer festivals and workshops for flute or piccolo

performance. These are listed annually in the Flute Talk magazine, the National Flute Association

magazine and published by the Rochester Flute Association in a spring newsletter.

Last updated: 5/30/08

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Eastman School of Music • 26 Gibbs St. • Rochester, NY 14604 • 585.274.1000

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