Jazzworks for Flute: Flute & Piano Book

Sophisticated and conversational. These aren't novelty jazz pieces; they carry the harmonic depth and melodic craftsmanship of standards and well-chosen repertoire. Playing through them feels like having a genuine musical discussion rather than practicing exercises.

Flutists with solid sight-reading skills who are ready to explore jazz but may have limited improvisation experience. This works equally well for intermediate high school band members looking to develop a second musical language and for adult returning musicians who want to play something beyond classical recital literature.

• Study the piano accompaniment first, even if you're playing the melody. Understanding the harmonic motion underneath helps you anticipate where the solo should breathe and land.
• Use the CD backtracks to lock into the groove before attempting to solo. Play the melody straight several times to internalize the changes before departing from the written line.
• Listen closely to how swing eighth notes sit slightly behind the beat in the recorded version. Match that articulation when you move to improvisation.
• Mark your soloing guide with chord tones and approach notes so you have visual landmarks when you're creating in the moment.

Feature one selection in a jazz ensemble concert or as a solo recital piece for a flutist branching into improvisation. Alternatively, assign pieces from this book as solo practice assignments throughout the year to build students' comfort with jazz idioms incrementally, separate from big band or combo rehearsals.

• Reading jazz chord changes and understanding harmonic function
• Swing articulation and phrasing appropriate to jazz contexts
• Improvisation within a guided harmonic framework
• Listening and transcription skills developed through recorded backtracks
• Balance between written melody and improvisational variation