School Band Flute Tutorials

Please note that all of the below goals are based on use of the Flying Start Band method book.  Additionally backing tracks for all of the 'band' songs in this book can be found here

This section is a high level overview only.  Weekly homework goals for each school are specified here.

Term 1

Students should be working towards achieving following goals by the end of term:

General goal

• Jingle Bells (p9)

Extension Goal 

• London Bridge(p13)/Twinkle Twinkle(p15)

Technical Goals

• Scales - 5 note Bb Major scale(p9)

• 1 bar rhythm drills (p47)

• Articulation - beginning every note with the tongue (all tongued)

Term 2

Students should be working towards achieving following goals by the end of term:

General Goal 

• Swallow Dance(p17)

Extension Goal

• Bingo(p19)/page 21 songs

Technical Goals 

• Scales - Bb Major scale & Arpeggio (p47)

• 1 & 2 bar rhythm drills (p47)

• Articulation -  - All Tongued, All Slurred 

Term 3

Students should be working towards achieving following goals by the end of term:

General Goal 

• Inanay/Penguin March(p27)

Extension Goal 

• The Dove Flew Out(p29)/Pirate Dreams(p31)

Technical Goals 

• Scales - Bb & F Major scales & Arpeggios (p47)

• 1 & 2 bar rhythm drills (p47)

• Articulation - All Tongued, All Slurred, Slurred in groups of 2 or 4

• Octave Study (p28)

Term 4

Students should be working towards achieving following goals by the end of term:

General Goal 

• Waltzing Matilda(p37)/Christmas Carols

Extension Goal 

• Any of the songs toward the end of the book

Technical Goals 

• Scales

  • Bb & F Major scales & Arpeggios (p47)

  • C Major scale & Arpeggio (p40)

• All rhythm drills (p47)

• Articulation - All Tongued, All Slurred, Slurred in groups of 2 or 4, Two Slurred & Two Tongued

• Octave Slurs (extended over full known range)

Technical Extension 

• All of p47

Repertoire

• Repertoire for concert bands is determined by conductors and is listed under your school band below as and when teachers are made aware of the conductors choices

Technique

• All technical work will be from the book 'Grow Your Technique Flute' - this can be purchased here as an e-book and required pages printed as specified by you schools current goals below

• Technical Goals for concert band students will relate to specific repertoire however all students are expected to:

  • practice regularly between classes and rehearsals

  • play with good posture and always use a music stand to hold music so as to avoid any poor habits developing

  • hold the flute correctly 

  • be able to play a range of Major and minor scales and arpeggios based on the repertoire that has been chosed for their band by their band conductor

  • Be able to understand and apply the below articulations:

    • tongue

    • slur

    • accent

    • staccato

    • pause (dependent on repertoire chosen by conductor)

Knowledge

• Knowledge Goals for concert band students will relate to specific repertoire however all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

  • understanding of dynamics in their music

  • understanding of any tempo markings

  • understanding of (and apply) all articulation indications

  • ability to correctly interpret notes and rhythms

  • Understand and interpret divisi markings (where chosen repertoire includes this)

What to play at home:

24/7

• Technical Exercises

Page 47 

B flat Major Scale & Arpeggio

F Major Scale & Arpeggio

E flat Major Scale (low version)

Octave jumps on E, F, G, A flat, A, B flat & C

• Flying Start Book 

Page 19 - Bingo, Deep Sea Blues

Play along tracks for all Band songs in your 'Flying Start' book at available here

• Concert Band Extension work

Counting Stars

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to Play at home:

24/7/24

Technique (Grow Your Technique - Flute):

• • Page 42 - Octave Slurs

  • Page 46 - Key of 2 flats (B Flat Major  & G harmonic minor)

  • Page 47 - Key of 3 flats (E Flat Major)

  • Page 45 - Key of 1 flat (F Major)

Repertoire focus:

• Counting stars (working on Dynamics)

• Final Countdown

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your practice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to Play at home:

24/7/24

Tutorial was not possible due to Band rehearsal being scheduled at the same time.

Technique:

• B flat Major scale & Arpeggio (1 octave) - all tongued

• G harmonic minor scale (Key signature B flat, E flat & raised 7th of F# - 1 octave) - all tongued

• E flat Major scale & Arpeggio (2 octaves)  C harmonic minor scale - all tongued

Repertoire:

• • Egyptique

  • Pastime with good company (test Term 3, week 1)

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to play at home over the term break:

23/7/24

• Technical Exercises

Page 47 

B flat Major Scale & Arpeggio

F Major Scale & Arpeggio

E flat Major Scale (low version)

Octave jumps on E, F, G, A flat, A, B flat & C

• Flying Start Book 

Page 19 - Bingo, Deep Sea Blues

Play along tracks for all Band songs in your 'Flying Start' book at available here

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to play at home:

23/7/24

Technique (Grow Your Technique - Flute):

• • Page 42 - Octave Slurs

  • Page 46 - Key of 2 flats (B Flat Major  & G harmonic minor)

  • Page 47 - Key of 3 flats (E Flat Major)

  • Page 45 - Key of 1 flat (F Major)

Repertoire focus:

• • Night Fury

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your practice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to play at home over the term break:

4/7/24

Play along tracks for all Band songs in your 'Flying Start' book at available here

• Technical Exercises

Page 47 Rhythm drills - Speak & Clap using T and te te, with Headjoint using tonguing

Page 47 B flat Major Scale & Arpeggio

Page 47 F Major Scale & Arpeggio

Octave jumps on E, F, G, A flat, A, B flat & C

• Current

Flying Start Book up to and including Page 19 - Bingo, Deep Sea Blues

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to Play at home over the Term Break:

4/7/24

Technique:

• long tones

• octave slurs

Repertoire:

• Night fury

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to Play at home over the Term Break

1/7/24

Play along tracks for all Band songs in your 'Flying Start' book at available here

• Technical Exercises

Page 47 

Rhythm drills - Speak & Clap using T and te te, with Headjoint using tonguing

B flat Major Scale & Arpeggio

F Major Scale & Arpeggio

Octave jumps on F, G, A, B flat & C

• Any pieces you enjoy in your Flying start book up to and including Page 17!

• Page 17 - Mexican Clapping Song, Swallow Dance, Oranges and Lemons

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

Concepts of Music: 

(this reference listt will grow as more knowledge is gained during the course of the year)

Duration: Beat vs Rhythm, quaver, crotchet (note & rest), minim (note & rest), semibreve (note & rest), Bar lines, Time signatures (4/4 & 2/4), Tempo Markings (Andante, Moderato)

Pitch: Octave interval, High vs low, Notes learned (G, A, B flat, C, D , E flat, E, F), key signature

Dynamics: piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte

Tone Colour: sound production, articulation (tonguing, slur)

Structure: identifying repeated patterns (both rhythmic & melodic), repeat sign, Ternary Form (Twinkle Twinkle)

What to Play at home over the Term Break

1/7/24

Technique (grow your technique book):

• p47 E flat Major Scale and Arpeggio

• p46 B flat major scale and arpeggio

• p26 octave slurs

• Articulations: All tongued, All slurred

Repertoire:

• Play anything you love!  Please play regularly over the term break!

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to play at home over the term break:

4/7/24

Play along tracks for all Band songs in your 'Flying Start' book at available here

• Technical Exercises

Page 47 

B Flat Major Scale & Arpgeggio

F Major Scale & Arpeggio

Rhythm drills - Speak & Clap using T and te te, with Headjoint using tonguing

• Flying start book up to and including page 17 - swallow dance

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.  

What to Play at home over the Term Break:

4/7/24

Technique (Using Grow Your Technique - Flute):

• • Page 42 - Octave Slurs

  • Page 46 - B Flat Major, G Harmonic minor, G Melodic minor

  • Page 47 - E flat Major, C Harmonic minor

Repertoire:

• • Any band music

Practice Goal (students who achieve their goal will be rewarded with a sticker of their choice):

• Practice at home a minimum of 5 separate days & have a grown up sign off on your pratice chart

Students are always welcome to attempt more than the above and/or play older music that they enjoy as well as the above tasks should they wish.