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: 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.