Are you or your child starting out on the flute? If so, it can be hard to know which books to buy. There are so many options out there! From classic methods to modern approaches, there is something for everyone, but the choice can be overwhelming.
To help you narrow down the choice, in this post, we’re going to take a look at 10 of what we think are the best flute books for beginners currently on the market. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for a new book to help improve your playing skills, read on for our recommendations!
If you’re a visual learner and prefer to learn by video, check out this amazing classical flute course by Jeffrey Khaner.
Quick Answer: The Best Beginner Flute Books
The Best Rated Flute Method Books for Beginners
Below are our reviews of some of the most popular flute books currently on the market. Some of these are method books that cover technique and approach, and others are repertoire books that have material you can play to put it into practice.
As all these options are very inexpensive, we’d recommend getting at least one of each type. Anyway, here are our reviews.
1. Tradition of Excellence For Flute – Book 1
- Three unique starting systems
- Differentiated instruction and learning allowing you to customize your teaching
- Pedagogically sound two-page lessons
Starting off on the top of our list is our pick for the best flute method book, the Tradition of Excellence For Flute.
Written with the modern student’s needs in mind, this learning book is the first in a two-part series that focuses on establishing a firm foundation of the basics of the flute.
The books feature excellent writing with color-coded concepts and chapters designed to promote a smooth and steady pace.
The Tradition of Excellence Books for Flute is super easy for young students to follow, making it the best beginner book for flute on the market. When you’re finished with it, you can then move on to book 2 for improving students.
2. Rubank Elementary Method for Flute
- cf-type-band-instrument-method-book, cf-vendor-rubank, reverbsync-shipping-profile:Standard Ground Less than 39.99, Tag_Flute
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 10/01/1990 (Publication Date) - Rubank Publications (Publisher)
Taking the runner-up spot on our ranking of the best flute books is the Rubank Elementary Method for Flute.
This book is written entirely by instrument teaching specialists with years of experience instructing hundreds of students with a wide range of learning styles on playing the flute.
Additionally, the fingering charts are straightforward compared with many other flute books available, making this book much more engaging and easy to read for most students.
Overall, the Rubank Elementary Method for Flute Books 1 and then book 2 when you’re ready, are some of the best ways to get a firm grasp on the basics of playing flute instruments.
3. Accent on Achievement, Bk 1
- Accent on Achievement Book 1 Flute Book & CD
- Accent on Achievement is a revolutionary, best-selling band method that will excite and stimulate your students through full-color pages and the most...
- The comprehensive review cycle in books 1 & 2 will ensure that students remember what they learn and progress quickly
Rounding off our top three is another excellent book for flute beginners, the Accent on Achievement series book and CD combo.
Not only is this a well-written, comprehensive learning book filled with in-depth knowledge from experts on teaching the flute, but you also get a fun CD for continued learning and playing along.
You’ll learn a variety of rhythm and rest exercises perfect for beginners, with great review sections to ensure you don’t forget what you’ve already read.
While the CD is a little dated, it’s still a solid way to improve retention and a step above what other learning books in the same niche offer.
Plus, like the others we’ve looked at so far, once you’re done with this book, you can pick up book 2 to keep going with your flute playing.
4. The Flute Etudes Book
Coming in at our number four spot is The Flute Etudes Book, a learning book that’s gained significant recognition in the decade that it’s been in print.
The FLute Etudes Book features a unique approach to learning by supplementing basic flute theory with biographies of classical composers. This historical context helps engage learners even further, cementing flute musical theory in the process.
While The Flute Etudes Book is a bit more expensive than some of the other books on this list, we’d recommend checking out its unique learning style anyway to see if it works for you.
5. 101 Broadway Songs for Flute
Taking the final spot on our top five is 101 Broadway Songs for Flute, a fantastic flute learning book for those of you who want to learn to play some of the most popular songs on Broadway.
Unlike other books on this list, 101 Broadway Songs for Flute doesn’t focus on too much theory of learning comprehension. Instead, it teaches you exactly how to play songs from Broadway classics like Guys and Dolls and Hello Dolly!
As a result, we’d recommend getting this one in addition to another book that focuses on theory. That way, you can practice your theory while learning these fun Broadway hits!
6. Flute For Dummies
- Karen Evans Moratz (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 01/01/2010 (Publication Date) - For Dummies (Publisher)
From the iconic For Dummies collection comes our sixth pick for the best beginner flute books is Flute for Dummies.
Flute for Dummies’ in-depth course material and easy-to-understand writing style makes it a worthwhile addition to your collection, despite the more expensive price tag.
This learning book also includes a companion CD that goes through various audio samples that you can play along to.
Overall, the Flute for Dummies book and CD are excellent options for beginners looking to grasp the basics of the flute or intermediate players looking to brush up on their foundational skills.
7. Essential Elements Technique Band: Flute Edition
- Individual Studies and My EE Library
- For every instrument, studies demonstrated by a professional soloist
- Instrument-specific exercises for individual technique study or small group lesson
One of our top picks for furthering your studies, the Essential Elements Technique for Flute is an essential stepping stone from beginner to intermediate flute playing.
While other books cater specifically to beginners, we believe this learning book is one of the best ways you can improve your playing in a shorter amount of time.
In-depth major and minor key scale studies, group playing, and integrated historical context all provide unparalleled learning resources for any future flute player.
Plus, it gives players the tools they need to improvise, an integral part of becoming a better flutist, especially as a beginner.
8. Suzuki Flute School Method Book
- Title: Suzuki Flute School Method Book and CD, Volume 1Instrument: FluteDifficulty: Beginner (1-2)Format: Method BookPerformer: Additional...
- Suzuki, Shinichi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Suzuki Flute School method book is our pick for number eight. It’s a solid addition to any flutist’s book collection and one of the more popular school music class textbooks.
Students in the Suzuki School are taught the “mother tongue” technique, which emphasizes teaching instruments in the same way you would teach a child their first language.
It’s an interesting and novel approach compared to many other books, and the companion CD helps to clarify the approach even further.
If your little learner doesn’t like the traditional teaching method found in other books, definitely consider picking up the Suzuki Flute School for something new.
9. Measures of Success: Flute Book 1
- English (Publication Language)
- 999 Pages - 01/01/2023 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
The perfect choice for absolute beginners to the flute, Measures of Success: Flute Book 1 features a passionate and comprehensive course of flutist basics.
Learners will discover flutist terminology, improvisation, key scales, learning to play by ear, and more. Additionally, you’ll learn how to play as a group, a critical skill every flutist should prepare for.
Measures of Success: Flute Book 1, like other music books, has end-of-chapter assessments designed to check your learning before moving on to other concepts.
These tests are light and fun, perfect for ensuring your little learner is engaged and interested in continuing onto more advanced concepts.
10. Absolute Beginners Flute Book
- Format: Softcover with CD
- Author: Ned Bennett
- ISBN: 9781849389174
As the title suggests, Absolute Beginners Flute is a great book for beginners.
While it doesn’t cover as many topics as some of the titles listed above, it lays out an excellent foundation for future learning. It has some great pictures and diagrams that show players the best finger and lip positions, along with some easy tips to improve your playing.
If you have a little learner in your life and want to introduce them to the basic concepts of playing the flute, Absolute Beginners Flute is one of the better options on the market.
Conclusion: Which Flute Book Should You Buy?
Have trouble deciding which is the best book for you? Every player learns differently. Understandably, you want to choose the best book possible for your learning style.
While we can’t predict your learning style, in our opinion, the Tradition of Excellence Book for Flute is the best for beginners around. It’s easy to read, accessible, and highly informative, perfect for beginners or even intermediate players looking to brush up on the basics.
However, all of these flute books are pretty cheap, so it can’t hurt to buy a few different books to see which work best for you. No matter which ones you choose, we’re sure all of the books on this list will take you one step closer to mastering the flute!
- Three unique starting systems
- Differentiated instruction and learning allowing you to customize your teaching
- Pedagogically sound two-page lessons
