- This book comes in multiple levels including a 102 and 103 level so it is a book they
can be started with and then can move up through intermediate levels with. It also
comes with a phrasing guide to help them work on musical skills in addition to
technical skills
- This book is a classic for most instruments. It uses a variety of tools to help with
development of the student including scales, arpeggios, technical studies, and even
solos and duets.
Student Instrumental Course Tunes for Flute Technic, Level One Steensland
- This series features multiple levels much like the others so it can stretch from a
beginning student through intermediate. What is unique about this series is that
there are supplemental resources that include etudes that the students can work on
from a young age to help not only with technical skills but also musical ones.
Trevor Wye's Practice Books for the Flute: Omnibus Edition Books 1-5
- In woodwind methods Trevor Wye was one of the most recommended flute
technique books to use. Each book focuses on a different aspect of flute playing
including Articulation, intonation, vibrato, breathing, and scales which can help to
form a well-rounded flute player. They could also be used as supplemental materials
if a player is struggling with any of those areas.
- This book would be used in high school for a flute player who was looking at
continuing performance at the collegiate level. It features technical studies,
cadenzas, etudes and solos that help the player develop technique and tone.
Oboe
- The exercises in this book range from beginner to intermediate and it covers
fundamental technique. It includes challenging longer pieces, scales and fingering
challenges, and even some duets!
- This book contains lots of scales and arpeggios including broken thirds in all forms.
This includes major minor and even whole tone. This can be used as supplemental
material for students to practice if there are challenging passages in particular keys
and is great for intermediate to advanced students.
Barret Oboe Method
- This is an extremely popular book for advanced students in high school and will help
prepare them for college. The full thing is 216 pages and is even available on IMSLP
so that you could find specific pages to print out for your students and have them
practice. This is great for a high schooler who is looking for extra challenge.
- This book features 48 etudes, 1 fast and 1 slow in each key (major and minor). This
book was originally written for oboe although it is used for saxophone students as
well. These studies will give the student practice with melodic passages as well as
technical passages.
Clarinet
- This book set is used in the ABRSM, which is a giant music certification system in the
UK. This book system has exercises that specifically target aural development. It also
uses music ranging from baroque and classical music all the way to film music and
folk music.
J.B. Albert 24 Varied Scales and Exercises for Clarinet, published by Carl Fischer.
- This book features all 24 scales that are written out in two octaves and it also features
patterns like arpeggios and thirds that can be used. This would be a great book for
lessons to have a student work on a scale or an arpeggio for the week along with their
other material in an intermediate setting.
My First Klos by David Schmidt and the H. Klos Celebrated Method for Clarinet.
- The My First Klose book is for beginning clarinetists and is an edited compiled
version of the Klose method book. Hyacinthe Kloses book is one of the most
respected clarinet books and features techniques from beginner to advanced. It has
many technical studies and even hints such as alternate resonant fingerings for
throat tones.
- Just as with the Barret oboe method this book is available on IMSLP. It is a classic set of
etudes and other studies that help the developing clarinetist develop their technique.
This would be great for the advanced high school student looking forward to playing at
the collegiate level.
Saxophone
- For advanced students this book can teach altissimo, but more importantly for even
intermediate students it explains the overtone series and it helps saxophone
students develop and good ear and note placement, both of which help immensely
with tone.
- This book features all major and minor scales along with arpeggios and many other
patterns that saxophonists encounter in their repertoire. This is a great book for the
intermediate student to work through and has exercises on tonguing as well.
Vol. 1, How To Play Jazz & Improvise (Book & CD Set) Abersold
- As jazz is a key element in why many students play saxophone, as well as an area
that many will become interested in, I found it necessary to include a jazz method
book. It can be used to teach basic jazz theory long with improvisational techniques.
It features a CD to play along with that provides a backing for the student to
experiment with at home.
Bassoon
http://www.musicandthebassoon.org
- Although not a method book, the website can be printed out. It offers many lessons
on the basics for bassoon and progresses through introducing new notes and
musical ideas sequentially. This website even features sound clips of all the
assignments for students to play along with, and videos of technique by a professor.
It even has duets for the teacher and student to play together.
- This book is a classic in the bassoon world. It features many duets and other well
written musical examples in it. It includes a fingering chart, and a trill chart! Like
almost everybody uses this one
Trumpet
- For advanced high school students looking to go to college for trumpet this book
includes many topics such as triple and double tonguing, flexibility, vibrato, trills and
much more. It also includes a lot of phrasing exercises. This is an extremely well
known method book.
My First Arban
- This version of the previous has reductions to several range requirements and
shortens a lot of the exercises to make it more approachable for younger students.
Trombone
- This book is incredibly long (200+ pages) and features exercises that focus on
intonation, slide agility, and musicianship. This is one of the classic trombone texts
and is widely known.
- This book features 60 melodies, with another 60 in the second volume. The etudes
can help immensely with the understanding of shaping of phrases and would be
great for advanced high school students to work on tone, range, and phrasing.
- This method book is aimed at the very beginning of music and the first book goes
through beginner techniques to advanced beginner techniques and the second goes
up to around intermediate studies. It is great for students who are young with no
other musical background.
- These exercises lead students through long tones, lip slurs, and other techniques
that not only serve as good warm-up exercises but also as good technique. Working
through the exercises in different keys and on a regular basis helps a lot with tone
quality.
Rubank method
French Horn
Method for the French Horn (Howe)
- Marvin Howe is an extremely famous horn pedagogue and he wrote this beginning
method book for horn students. It is highly recommended and although it is
somewhat old (1950), the music progresses in a very logical manner.
Two Hundred New Melodic and Gradual Studies, volume 1 (Alphonse Leduc)
- These 200 studies grow in difficulty as the student progresses. They come in a set of
6 books, which means students can progress from book to book over time as they
become better musicians.
Legato Etudes for French Horn Shoemaker
- This set of French horn etudes focuses on the low range of the instrument,
familiarity with the bass clef, and legato phrases. It has a lot of challenges for
students as well with the time signatures and dynamics. This book is great for early
advanced students through advance students.
Verne Reynolds. 48 Etudes
- This set of etudes would be really good for the advanced student who is looking at
playing at the collegiate level. The etudes explore many different keys, and gives the
player a chance to work on technical and lyrical phrases.
Baritone/Tuba
- As listed with the other brass instruments the Arban books are incredibly respected.
They have many technical exercises that are incredibly helpful for the
Euphonium/tuba player.
- This book would be great for either two students to work through together and the
teacher can help them both work on musical things as well as technical ideas. In
addition if there is only one student they can play with the teacher (either on the
euphonium/tuba or their own instrument). This book is great for the intermediate
student.
Rubank Method
- These etudes and studies are great for the college-minded student who is looking to
prepare for auditions. It will help students target technique and tone, and is even
available on IMSLP!
Note* A lot of euphonium websites recommended using methods books for the trumpet as well
Percussion
- This method book for the snare drum is for the beginner and was created by former
Chicago Symphony Orchestra player Al Payson. This was the beginner book
recommended to us for snare in Percussion Methods.
- This book of etudes is highly used by advanced students. This would be a great book
to have an advanced high-school player work from as it covers many rhythmic
concepts as well as physical and technical exercises. The book also has musical
elements including dynamics that the teacher can work on with the student.
- This set of music studies covers beginner technique on the mallet instruments. It
works through sequentially through technique and performance.
- This book is great for an intermediate player who is really motivated on mallet
percussion or for the advanced player who is looking to move to collegiate playing.
This book works up through Four-Mallet performance and allows students a great
way into this difficult technique.
- This book targets a lot of problems common in the band or orchestra. It discusses
the fundamentals of pitch, and includes rhythm, dynamics and articulation. This is a
great supplemental book to work through with timpani players.
The Art of Bass Drum and Cymbal Playing AND The Art of Percussion Accessory Playing Cirone
- These two books cover the areas that band directors often forget or know little
about. Percussionists should know proper techniques for other instruments besides
snare, timpani, and mallets. This book provides a lot of knowledge on these other
topics and will help your other percussionist learn to better perform in any role.