Have a Curriculum for your students!

It is that time of year again when flute students and their teachers start thinking about the  end of the year recital. Many times over the course of my flute teaching career I have had colleagues ask for me for recommendations for “recital pieces” for their students.

Frankly this request has always puzzled me. Why would you need to choose a “recital piece” for your students? You as a flute teacher should ALREADY have that done BEFORE you even start teaching!!! You as a teacher should in my opinion have a curriculum set up for all for your students….. if you have a progressive set of repertoire pieces that all of your students must learn there is no need to have to choose a “recital” piece for them…. it will be obvious!

Most college and conservatory flute departments have such a thing! It sometimes is even published in their catalogues or online. Many years ago when I taught at the Boston Conservatory’s Division of Special Programs( their Prep Division) I made a curriculum for all of my students which I followed with everybody! Why not do that for your students too??? It certainly solves this  problem for you….

Of course  I let students choose what they want for their recital pieces…. but it has to come from what they have studied during their regular lessons or has to be a piece that is included in my curriculum ( or sometimes in the case of an advanced students another but  similar piece). Below you can find some suggestions for an sketchy curriculum for students….. which perhaps many of you can use a a guideline for making your own.

Beginner students

Method Book(such as Suzuki Book 1 or Rubank Beginner Book)

tone studies  appropriate for  their level write them out or teach by rote

scale studies appropriate for their levelwrite them out or teach them by rote

Repertoire such as the Suzuki Book 1 or Forty Little Pieces for Beginner Flutists

Intermediate Students

Method Book ( such as Suzuki Book 2/3 or Rubank Intermediate/Advanced  Book)

Etudes such as from  “Melodious and Progressive Studies for Flutists ” edited by Robert Cavally

Scales studies such as the  “Pares Scales”

Repertoire if not in Suzuki Book 2/3/4 from “24 Short Concert Pieces for Flute and Piano” edited by Robert Cavally or sometimes the easier Handel or Blavet Sonatas ( easier sonatas from Telemann or other Baroque composers can be included here as well)

Advanced Students

Etudes from Berbquier, Andersen op.33, 41, 63 or 15 ,  or Altes

tone studies from Marcel Moyse “Tone Development through Interpretation” or the “De La Sonorite” or Trevor Wye Practice Book 1″ Tone”

scale studies from Taffanel-Gaubert”17 Big Daily Excercises”, Reichert studies, or Marcel Moyse Daily Excersises

Orchestra studies from Jeanne  Baxtresser Books

Duets from Kuhlau etc

Repertoire such as Handel Sonatas, Bach Sonatas and the Partita, Sonatas by Hindemith, Poulenc, Concerti such as Mozart, Quantz, Ibert, French repetoire from the Compliation by Louis Moyse of Faure, Enesco, etc.. solo flute repertoire such as Debussy Syrinx, Honegger “Dance de la Chevre” etc Boehm “Nel Cor Piu”, Schubert “Arpegggione Sonata or Variations, Dutilleux “Sonatine” Jolivet’ Chant de Linos” etc

The idea here is not to copy my Curriculum (which is not my complete one by any means!) but to give you all some suggestions to make up your  own. If you want to include things such as Ian Clarke’s compositions or Robert Dick’s by all means do! But Have a curriculum for your students!!! This way the choice is not for your or them to have to scramble at this time of year to find a “recital” piece as if it existed in the air for you to catch….. it will be evident to you and them what their choices are….. especially if you publish this for your studio in advance…. which I suggest you do.

Have fun… Spring is almost here! No stress  should  comes form this process! Just enjoy it and so will your students! If you plan this ahead of time with a curriculum already set up….  it should be easy!

Judy