There is not currently a standard process for teaching someone to play the flute. Private flute teachers start by working from their teacher’s studio curriculum plan. However, there will always be personal questioning about what to teach and the need to intuit what should be addressed next in a student’s lessons. Piano teachers are way ahead in this area, with accepted method books for all levels, allowing students to learn in a planned, step-by-step process.
Here is a suggestion for those of you who are looking for some seasoned ideas regarding the structure of the curriculum in your studio. Information that can help you feel secure about what you are including in your teaching.
You did not walk into this endeavor with a library full of resources. You will need to acquire them. Find the music that fills in each of the points below whether for a beginning, intermediate or advanced student. Whether you are working with a 5th grader just starting band, a high school flutist going on to college or an adult whose goal is to be a better flutist, you need to be prepared. At least know of flute literature, books, CD’s, websites, other music teachers, and other local music studios which can all help with this process. It is yours to design.
Flute Curriculum Plan
Scales and Arpeggios
In all keys, with all possible articulations and multiple different rhythms. Start here with Scales and Arpeggios Sheet Music.
Exercises
Repetitive exercises that focus on one technique like a rhythm or fingering pattern, to make eyes, fingers, air and brain accurately learn and store this information. These exercises will always need to come back at the next level of difficulty.
Etudes
Studies in multiple keys, which are more musical then technique exercises. These isolate rhythms, key signatures, time signatures, and articulations. See Etude Books on this website.
Solos
These should include flute alone, and flute and piano in many different styles and periods of music. If you do not play the piano, consider hiring a studio pianist, especially for recitals and local contests.
Duets
You need to play duets with your students to work on pitch, counting, tone and musicality. You keep the beat going for them and help them learn to play through mistakes. This is also a start on playing your own part while other instruments are playing. See Music for Lessons on this site.
Ensembles
Whether a trio, a quartet or a flute choir, be sure that students have the experience of playing with multiple other flutes. It enhances their learning in the areas of pitch, accuracy, teaches them to play an individual part by themselves and teaches the differences in musicality when playing in an ensemble – it is as a team working together, not a soloist playing alone. If you know of a local clarinet or oboe teacher, try forming some small ensembles and having your student learn what it is to match pitch, breathing and musicality with an instrument with a different timbre.
Listening
This is so easy now. No need to buy records as I did when I was a student. Listen to different flutists to hear the differences in a good flute tone. Listen to different flutist play a certain piece to gain insights into musicality and style. Listen to different flute music to find new music you might like to play. This includes CD’s, YouTube and hopefully live performances.
Basic Music Theory
Look online for theory page worksheets you can print.
Young Beginning Student: Here is a Music Theory Worksheet that might work.
Intermediate Students: Here is a link for Intermediate students which has 40 separate theory work sheets, plus seven music related mazes, a puzzle and four simple songs for keyboard practice.
Advanced Students: From the COLLEGE OF MUSICAL ARTS AT BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
“Basic elements of musicianship (written theory and aural skills) are an important part of your musical training. You can get a head start on your academic musical studies if you work through these work sheets with your orchestra director, private music teacher or music specialist in your school. This basic musical information and skill development is not exclusive to Bowling Green State University. Music schools in universities across the country require their music students to know this information and have the skills to notate and identify intervals, triads and seventh chords as well as be able to sing melodies and perform rhythmic patterns. It is our hope that the following worksheets will assist you as you strive to become an independent musician.”
from the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University
Basic Piano
Students should be able to picture the piano keyboard in their head. This helps immensely when thinking about key signatures let alone double sharps and double flats. Hopefully you have a piano in your studio to help with this.
Here is a link to three different piano keyboards that can be downloaded and printed.
Performance
A studio recital will enhance learning by setting a goal for music preparation. Students and parents both need the accomplishment of playing in a recital. Students to have worked at learning and parents to be able to hear their improvement. It is nice for parents to finally hear the whole piece with accompaniment. See Giving a Recital on this website.
Individualizing Curriculum
Now you need to design a lessons plan for each of your students, who will all come to you with different skills and different learning needs and styles. You must use a lot of intuition and trial and error until you find what works for you as a teacher and for your individual students.
Keep track of all the music you like to use in your own teaching. From what fingering charts you like to what solos you recommend at different levels or for a specific learning purpose. Ask yourself what exercises are you going to use to teach double tonguing and when do you think it should be introduced.
Summary
A final thought, do not close yourself off in your own studio. I understand that you need every hour to earn money but you need contact with the outside world. Use the internet. Talk over teaching ideas with other music teachers. Be part of community performances. Work at improving your own playing. Join the National Flute Association and use their many valuable online resources. You and your teaching will go stale if you do not keep up with current thought, music, teaching ideas and the others in our flute world.