The following is an alphabetical list of recommended etude books, with notes relating to their specific use. Since there are so many exercise and method books available,here are some great ones preselected for students. The only way to find out if you “like” a method book is to use it with a student so you can evaluate its effectiveness in teaching, pace, and information included. Good luck putting together your own etude resources. Note: The number next to the title of the Anderson Etudes indicates the order in which they should be studied.
17 Grands Exercices Journaliers de Mècanisme
17 Big Daily Finger Exercises for the Flute – Free download
P. Taffanel et Ph. Gaubert; Editions Musicales Alphonse Leduc; 1923;
+The absolute best basic technique exercises, in all keys and with suggested articulations.
+Great photograph of Paul Taffanel from the Samaran Collection
+Great photograph of Philippe Gaubert by Roger Viollet
Start with this method and then move to the Maquarre.
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
24 Caprices for Flute -Purchase
William Schade; Southern Music Company; 1965;
+Excellent variety of etudes
+Well printed
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
24 Concert Studies – Purchase Print CD
J. S. Bach; Print from: CD Sheet Music Flute Methods, Studies and Ensembles
Level: Intermediate
24 Petites Etudes Melodiques avec variations (Facile) pour Flûte – Purchase
24 Little Melodic Studies with Variations (Easy) for Flute
Marcel Moyse; Alphonse Leduc, Paris; 1932;
+ Excellent variations on the basic simple melody involving different meters, articulations, key signatures. To complete this method the student needs to know all fingerings.
Level: Beginning, Intermediate [Use this in conjunction with Taffanel-Gaubert 17 Big Daily Finger Exercises for Advanced students.]
30 Caprices for Flute Solo, Op. 107 – Purchase Print CD
Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Southern Music Company
Part of The Modern Flutist which also includes 8 etudes by Donjon and 30 orchestral excerpts. A great edition. Karg-Elert studies are printable from the CD Sheet Music Flute Methods, Studies and Ensembles CD.
Level: Advanced
40 New Studies for Flute, Op. 75 – Purchase
Free Huges Op. 75 Download No. 13-24
Luigi Huges; Belwin Mills Publishing Co.;
+ Excellent variety of technical etudes in multiple meters and keys
+ Very clearly printed
Level: Intermediate
Amazing Studies for Flute – Purchase
Selected and arranged by Howard Harrison. Published by Boosey & Hawkes.
Musically interesting pieces with a great index, indicating focus on specific learning in each piece. Some studies include harmonics!
Level: Intermediate Adult
Anderson Op. 15 24 Etudes Artistiques for the Flute (4)
Revised by: Alfred E. Fenboque; Southern Music Company; 1958
All key signatures with and increase in difficulty.
Level: Advanced Intermediate
Andersen Op. 21 Twenty-Four Studies: In All Major and Minor Keys (2)
Edited by Georges Barrére; G. Schirmer, Inc.; 1944
Excellent introduction to advanced rhythms, ornaments and articulations.
Level: Advanced Intermediate
Andersen Op. 30 24 Instructive Studies (3)
Revised by: Robert Cavally; Southern Music Company; 1942;
All key signatures; Increase in difficulty;
Level: Intermediate
Andersen Op. 33 Twenty-Four Etudes: In All the Major and Minor Keys (1)
Joachim Andersen; Southern Music Company; 1941;
All key signatures; Increase in difficulty;
Level: Intermediate
Andersen Op. 41: 18 Studies
Edited by Georges Barere; G. Schirmer; 1941;
Also see Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book 1.
+ #16 Double Tongue exercise
Level: Intermediate
Anderson Op. 60 Twenty Four Virtuosity Studies for Flute (6)
Joachim Anderson; Revised by Robert Cavally
Southern Music Company, San Antonio, Texas
Level: Advanced
Andersen Op. 63 24 Etudes Techniques for Flute (5)
Revised by Robert Cavally; Southern Music Company; 1942;
All key signatures. Increasing in difficulty. Level: Intermediate
Bona Rhythmical Articulation: A Complete Method – Purchase
Pasquale Bona; G. Schirmer; 1897; Exercises in multiple time signatures, key signatures and various rhythms. Good choice for someone beginning to learn the counting breakdown of more complex rhythms. Also for a more advanced student learning how to move through rhythms to make a piece musical. Level: Beginning, Intermediate
Casterede 12 Etudes for Flute
Jacques Castérède; Editions Musicales Alphonse Leduc; 1962
Various unusual time signatures; includes etudes with long, sustained melodies and fast technique. Level: Advanced
Theresa Albalos Casterede No. 5
Elizabeth Gaston Casterede No. 5 Modern Wood Flute
Casterede No. 5 Follow along with Sheet Music
Daily Exercises for the Flute – Purchase
André Maquarre; G. Schirmer, 1899 Edition; Boston Symphony Orchestra (1893-1918)
Technical exercises repeated in all major and minor keys. Excellent.
Level: Advanced.
Etudes de Salon and Solos ou Caprices
Free Download
Francois and Johannes Donjon
Edited by Ervin Monroe; Little Piper 1992
Very interesting and challenging etudes.
Level: Advanced.
Dix Etudes D’Apres Wieniawsky – Purchase
10 Studies Based on Wieniawsky, Adapted for Flute
Marcel Moyse; Alphonse Leduc; 1935
Professor of the National Conservatory of Music (France)
Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) : Often compared to Paganini, Wieniawski was one of the greatest violinists of the Romantic era. As a performer, he dazzled audiences with his stupendous technique, expressive phrasing, and rich tone. As a composer, he succeeded in blending brilliant virtuosity with true Romantic inspiration. A work by H.Wieniawski that every music lover should explore: Polonaise No.1 in D, for violin and orchestra, Op.4 , Violin Concerto No.2 in D-, Op.22 ]
Level: Advanced Intermediate.
Fifty Melodic Studies by J. Demersseman for Flute Alone
Marcel Moyse; Alphonse Leduc; 1937;
+ Very approachable etudes, with an all encompassing scope.
Level: Intermediate
Koehler 35 Exercises for Flute, Op. 33, Book II Twelve Medium Difficult Exercises
Ernesto Koehler; Carl Fischer; 1950; Level: Intermediate.
Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book I
Revised by Robert Cavally; Southern Music Company; 1984;
Beginning etudes – for those student advanced enough to begin etudes. Various composers. Major and Harmonic Minor scales with five different rhythms. Includes: 18 Studies for Flute, by Joachim Andersen, Op. 41.
Level: Advanced Beginner.
Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book II
Revised by Robert Cavally; Southern Music Company; 1944;
Etudes from various composers, covering varying keys, articulations, tempi and rhythms.
Advanced Intermediate.
Rubank Elementary Method Flute or Piccolo
A.C. Petersen; Rubank Educational Library No. 38; Published in 1934
+ Fingering chart: Separates main fingerings and accidentals into two charts, very clear.
+ Addresses reading music and tonguing immediately.
+ Each page is set up to be a lesson.
+ Shows an excellent way to teach counting with multiple lines of music written above each other, so you can easily see the counting relationships.
+ Excellent introduction to triplet counting. Lesson 25
+ Excellent introduction to trills. Lesson 25
+ Excellent introduction to syncopation. Lesson 26
- This method book moves along very fast. Too fast for most young beginners.
- There are no pictures or colors used as in more recent method books.
- There are no descriptions or definitions for musical symbols. All must be explained by the teacher. Student would need their own music dictionary or other resource. Level: Beginner
Rubank Intermediate Method Flute or Piccolo
J.E. Skornicka & A.C. Petersen; Rubank Educational Library No. 74; Published 1939
+ Introduction to trills, turns, single, double and triple grace notes
+ Good introduction to triple tonguing
Trill fingering chart is included but hard to read. Level: Intermediate
Rubank Advanced Method Flute Vol. 1
H. Voxman and Wm Gower; Rubank Educational Library No. 95, Published 1960
+ Includes a fingering chart which goes up to F4! (no gizmo indicated in fingerings)
+ Includes an outline for weekly lessons, which includes scales and arpeggios, melodic interpretation, articulation, finger exercises, ornaments and solos. These are laid out over 36 weeks = school year.
+ Good triple tonguing page
+ Excellent introduction to Appoggiaturas vs. Grace notes, Page. 61
Level: Advanced Intermediate
Selected Studies for Flute
H. Voxman; Rubank; 1958;
+ Great selection of Intermediate to Advanced level etudes from many major composers from Bach to Karg-Elert.
+ Excellent Major and Minor scale Pages 65-67 Includes articulation practice suggestions
+ Excellent Major and Minor scale Pages 65-67 Includes articulation practice suggestions
+ Scales in Thirds exercises Pages 68-73
+ Arpeggios Pages 74-76
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
The Modern Flutist: 8 Etudes by Donjon, 30 Caprices by Karg-Elert – Purchase
Southern Music Company; 1941; Also includes some orchestral excerpts.
Level: Advanced
Tango Etudes pour flute solo – Purchase
Astor Piazzolla; Editions Henry Lemoine; 1987;
+ Six Etudes in a very specific tango style. A good choice for advanced study.
Level: Advanced
Astor Piazzolla, Six Tango Etudes for Flute Performed – Score Video
Thirty Easy and Progressive Studies for Flute, Volume II, Nos. 16-30
G. Gariboldi; Little Piper; 1989; also printable from CD Sheet Music Flute Methods, Studies and Ensemble, The Ultimate Collection;
Level: Easy
Thirty Studies for Solo Flute – Purchase
Nicholas Platonov; Little Piper; 1990;
Revised and Edited by Ervin Monroe
Major and Minor key etudes to 6 sharps and 6 flats.
Each exercise is one page. Breaths and tempos are marked.
+ Basic rhythms and patterns.
+ #3 G Major, #11 c minor good Single Tonguing exercises
+ #15 b minor, #18 f minor Triple Tonguing exercises
Level: Intermediate
Twelve Daily Exercises for Flute in all Major and Minor and Keys
John Wummer; R.D. Row Music Company; 1957;
+ Whole tone scales Page 17
+ Finger dexterity exercises Pages 18-21
+ Intervals exercises Pages 29-41