Deep Dive: More Graded Studies

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about the More Graded Studies books, and these are a continuation from the 76 Graded Study books.

Even though the More Graded Study books are a continuation from the 76 Graded Study books, they are ever so slightly different.

As well as offering the player a range of studies to choose from in varying difficulty; it now includes little 'prompts' at the top of each study. These little 'prompts' tells the player on what to do to get the best out of each study, whether that be on the tone, fingers, phrasing, dynamics, style and key signatures.

Book One: Grades 1 - 5

Book Two: Grades 6 - 8 

It's the same across both both books, and each book progresses in varying difficulty. You don't have to work through each book; you can just pick a study or two to focus on to help you to develop and work on whatever it is that you would like to improve upon.

Deep Dive: Rubank Intermediate Method

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to be talking about the Rubank Intermediate Method.

This is a continuation from the Rubank Elementary Method book, and its in a similar format. The Rubank Intermediate Method introduces you to some new pieces to help you to further to develop your techniques and phrasing, while still being approachable and not overwhelming.

The Intermediate Method expands on expressive studies, studies in different key signatures and staccato and articulation studies. But it also introduces daily exercises to help you to improve on your technique, pieces to help you to familiarise yourself with different time signatures, major and minor scales in thirds, triplet studies, technical studies, chromatic studies, trill studies and exercises to help you to develop your triple tonguing. It also includes short pieces throughout the method to help you to gain a better understanding on how the technique relates to playing that technique in a piece of music.

The Rubank Intermediate Method packs in just as much as the Rubank Elementary Method. Even though it's aimed at intermediate players; it's also suitable for players around Grades 2 - 3 as its still approachable. What I also like about these method books is that you can use them both interchangeably, depending on what it is that you are looking for to help you to improve your learning and playing.

You can use both the Rubank Elementary Method and Intermediate Method as methods in their own right, or you can combine these books with other tutor books and just focus on certain exercises and pieces that you know to help you to develop your playing.

I would highly recommend both the Rubank Elementary Method, and the Rubank Intermediate Method to anyone whose learning a musical instrument, as both of these methods are available across a wide range of instruments.

Deep Dive: Boosey & Hawkes Woodwind Method

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to talk about the Woodwind Method by Boosey & Hawkes.

The Boosey and Hawkes Woodwind Method is split up across two books. The first book has 8 stages, while the second book has 6 stages. Both books also come with CDs.

Book One starts off by introducing you to understanding the basics of the flute such as putting your flute together, holding the flute, breathing and tonguing; as well as trying to produce a sound out of the flute.

Throughout each stage you will get introduced to new notes, along with rhythm exercises using your flute. The rhythm exercises focus on different note lengths using the notes that you have been introduced to. There's also short pieces and games throughout each stage, and games just add a little fun and interaction with your flute teacher while at the same time helping you to develop your aural skills. The echo games look really fun to do, and they give you a few different options on how you can play these echo games. 

Book two has a similar feel to the first book, it's just a little harder. Both of these books are broken down into 'bite size' chunks throughout each of the stages to make it easier for the learner to digest.

The downside I have found is that this series does not include any scales and arpeggios, and I have double checked both books to make sure that I hadn't missed them. The only way I can think to get around this is to introduce scales and arpeggios book from a recommended exam board, or to work this method alongside another method book such as 'Learn as You Play' or 'A New Tune a Day'. This is also the first tutor series that I have come across that doesn't include scales and arpeggios, as these form part of learning a musical instrument.

It's a nice method of learning to play the flute, and its also a different way of learning to play your flute as its very interactive between the tutor and the student. But, I'm not too sure if I would recommend this method as a stand alone flute method due to the fact that there's no mention of scales and arpeggios in either book; but I could recommend it as method for additional material and the games to help your students develop their aural skills.

Deep Dive: Learn as You Play by Peter Wastall

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to talk about flute method 'Learn as You Play' by Peter Wastall.

'Learn as You Play' by Peter Wastall is flute method book that has been around for years, and I've just treated myself to an updated copy of the book as the layout has improved a lot since the last edition.

'Learn as You Play' starts off with an introduction to the flute and it introduces the learner to the names of part of the flute, a diagram on how to produce a sound from the lip plate, and an introduction of the flute finger chart. It also starts off with some very basic music theory to give you a basic understanding. Music theory is also spread throughout the book, and its broken up into smaller chunks to help the learner digest the information easier.

You are then introduced into playing notes on the flute, and again this is done gradually throughout the book so to not overwhelm the learner. Along with being introduced into learning and playing notes on the flute; the learner is also introduced into learning small pieces that correspond to the notes that the learner is currently learning and developing.

The book is subdivided into 24 units, and each unit focuses on introducing new notes and different time values. There's also hints and tips throughout the book on tonal development, musicianship, and reading music. At the end of some of the units there is a small collection of concert pieces to choose from and work from; and these pieces focus on what you have learnt either throughout the book or just from that unit. It also includes scales and arpeggios throughout the book, and it does emphasise that these should be played by memory once you have learnt them.

This book is great for anyone whose interested in learning and understanding classical music, as it offers a wide range of pieces by well known classical composers, as well as some classical studies.

I really like the updated edition of 'Learn as You Play', as not only has the book been made to standard sheet music size, but it's also been given a modern day make over so it looks a lot cleaner. This book was originally about a third smaller in size compared to the new edition. The fact that this method has been made into a larger format means that they have been able to enlarge everything from the pictures, flute finger charts and also sheet music; and these changes make it so much easier for someone whose just starting out learning the flute.

Deep Dive: Rubank Elementary Method

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to be talking about the Rubank Elementary Method.

The Rubank Elementary Method is a brilliant method to include if you are looking to add something to your music practice, and that will also push you in developing your embouchure, technique and tone while still being manageable enough to go alongside your other tutor method.

This book starts you off in developing your long tones, but this is to get you used to forming your embouchure, and slowly reading from the stave. It also tells you which note you will be focusing on developing over a period of time, and then it steadily progresses onto short pieces.

As you make your way through the Rubank Elementary Method you get introduced into technique exercises, studies around different key signatures, chromatic studies, articulation exercises and studies along with short pieces to learn along the way. 

The Rubank Elementary Method also includes a finger chart to help you on where you are supposed to place your fingers on your instrument to sound a note correctly.

This book packs in a lot, even though its only the elementary method. Its also a really well thought out book, as it still takes you though your learning at a gentle pace but it also does things a little bit different. The variety that it offers for you to explore and develop on your instrument is brilliant.

I can't say enough good things about the Rubank Elementary Method book, as it challenges you while at the same time still being approachable. The scale exercises are great to help you to get to grips with a new scales while at the same time have a bit of fun.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone whose after some additional learning material, and who wants to explore their instrument a bit. Or you can also use this book to dip in and out of for certain things such as scale and arpeggios studies, or help with articulation and techniques.

Deep Dive: A New Tune a Day

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to talk about the tutor book 'A New Tune a Day'.

'A New Tune a Day' is one of my favourite tutor books, due to how much variety it offers throughout both books. You also get a flute finger chart also included in the book, as well as advice on putting your flute together and looking after your flute. I also like the fact that the series uses actual photography throughout the book to demonstrate what it is that you are supposed to be doing for either finger placements and looking after your flute.

Format

'A New Tune a Day' has a beautiful format due to the use of photographs to demonstrate how finger placements look on the flute, and how to look after your instrument; and the format itself is really easy to follow. The music, hints and tips as well as music theory is laid out in a really approachable format; and its done in 'bite size' chunks to make it easier for you to understand what you are learning. The staves are also in a large format to make it easier to read from the stave. There's also goals for you to achieve throughout both books to give you something to aim for, while you are still developing and progressing at the same time.

You get a mixture of exercises and pieces throughout the books, along with developing your scales and arpeggios and techniques. 

As for the pieces they start off really short, and then steadily get longer as you progress through both books. But, the pieces are mostly well known pieces that have been simplified for someone whose just starting learning a musical instrument.

'A New Tune a Day' is such a well thought out tutor method, and I love how everything is broken down into manageable chunks to make it easier to understand. Also 'A New Tune a Day' is available for a number of different musical instruments, and in some cases books 1 & 2 have now been compiled into one book so it works out a little cheaper than buying both books individually.

Deep Dive: Graded Studies

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about the Graded Studies Compilation books.

These books offer a range of different studies for various instruments and composers, and these books are arranged and compiled in level of difficulty.

Book One - Grades 1 - 5

Book Two - Grades 6 -8

For the flute it's 76 studies across both books, not 76 studies per book. I'm not too sure about other instruments, but I am aware that the violin has at least one Graded Study book.

The studies which are in these books offer a range of different studies, and a variety of studies from a number of composers. 

The range that these studies cover are as follows :-

- Technique

- Time Signatures including some unusual ones

- A mixture of classic old school studies and modern studies

They also progress in difficulty as you go further through each book, but it will gently push you in whatever it is that your working on. Whether that would be working on your staccato, slurred, tonguing, bowing, tone, dynamics as well as unusual time signatures.

Also the studies start off relatively short, and then they start to get progressively longer.

The Graded Study books are a great way to introduce studies into your collection, and to also give you a variety of studies for you to choose. You also don't need to work through the book - you can just pick one or two manageable studies that will benefit your learning and include them in your practice routine as a little extra.

Deep Dive: Abracadabra

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to be talking about the Abracadabra Tutor Book, which is available for a variety of different instruments.

The Abracadabra book is a great for starting out, if you fancy learning by using small pieces of music. There's also a separate Abracadabra Technique book to help you to develop your instrument techniques in an approachable manner.

Format

Throughout this method, it gradually introduces more notes for you to learn alongside short pieces of music for you to learn so then you can get used to playing those notes and what they sound like.

With the introduction of each new note that is introduced there is a finger chart to show you where to place your fingers on the instrument to get the corresponding note to sound.

Along with the introduction of learning and developing new notes, and pieces; you also get music theory included in small bursts explaining notes and their time values, time signatures and their time values, the stave, musical terms and what they mean, and techniques.

This is really approachable method if you fancy learning and exploring your instrument through short pieces and songs. Everything is also clearly laid out, and the explanations are short and to the point.

I would recommend the 'Abracadabra' method to younger learners, due to learning being through songs and short pieces and this will make learning a musical instrument an enjoyable experience.