It’s always good to explore new types of music and expand your flute skills, so try these imaginative books which will do both!
Wil Offermans: For the Younger Flutist – 10 enjoyable contemporary pieces for flute solo as well as flute ensemble
This is a great book for everyone who is interested in starting out with contemporary techniques. Partly an activity book, the 10 pieces use either graphic notation or game playing to introduce the concept of music without strict notation. Each one is very clearly set out and there are notes for teachers too. This is really worth a look, especially if you work with groups. Difficulty Guide: 3-6
Tilmann Dehnhard: Flute Beatboxing
If you want to learn how to beatbox then perhaps you could give this a try as Tilmann’s range of exercises are designed to help you get started. The Preface is very clear in explaining how the system works, how to practice and how to read the notation. The exercises are then presented in a progressive order. You should be brilliant by the end! Difficulty Guide: 5-8
Mary Matthews and Nicole Chamberlain: Into the Beyond for Flute Volume 2
Into the Beyond follows on seamlessly from Beatboxing and Beyond, developing extended technique skills further and taking them in new directions. Everything is explained thoroughly and in easy-to-follow stages, and there is a link to repertoire in each section. This is a great book – don’t miss it! Difficulty Guide: 6-9
Leanna Keith: The Troll and the Fae – 7 Pieces for Flute or Piccolo. Studies on Extended Technique
The subtitle of this extraordinary work is Studies on Extended Technique but that is really only the beginning. A story in seven movements, the music comes not only with full performance notes but also with the script and some arresting gothic illustrations. The full range of contemporary techniques is explored here, including beatboxing, air inhale/exhale, whisper-flute, and a low extension down to A. Each movement could stand alone to make an interesting solo, and to play the whole work would be a fascinating highlight of any recital. Difficulty Guide: 7-9
Robert Dick: Two Paganini Caprices transcribed for the Contemporary Flutist
If you want the challenge of combining classic Paganini with extended techniques then this amazing piece is for you. Robert Dick has been a seminal pioneer of the art of stretching the flute to it’s limits over many decades, and here he uses multiphonics as his main compositional tool. This allows him to nod to the original while turning the music into even more of a virtuoso workout than it already is. This would make a fascinating companion piece to a more traditional performance – it’s certainly Paganini plus! Difficulty Guide: 9
