Take the Lead: Jazz: Flute Book & CD

Eight well-known jazz standards arranged to let flute breathe both as a featured solo voice and as part of an ensemble texture. The rhythm section backing tracks give each tune pocket and swing, making even a practicing flutist sound like they're part of a real group.

Flutists in middle school and high school bands who want accessible entry points into jazz repertoire without requiring a full ensemble. Serious students seeking standalone recital material will also find immediate value in the variety of grooves and styles represented across the eight selections.

• Use the demonstration tracks on the CD as your learning reference; listen to the full arrangement before diving into the flute part so you understand where your line sits in the mix.
• Lean on the chord symbols printed in concert pitch if you're learning to comp or want to understand the harmonic movement underneath your melody.
• Start with the tuning notes on the CD to lock in your pitch center before each practice session, especially important when transitioning between multiple tunes.

Assign one tune at a time as an enrichment project for students ready to step beyond concert band repertoire; the accompaniment tracks mean they can progress independently. Consider featuring flute soloists performing one or two selections at a concert, especially if other Take the Lead instrumentalists are on the same program.

• Reading jazz chord symbols in concert pitch
• Improvisation over blues and jazz progressions
• Phrasing and interpretation specific to swing and jazz idioms
• Rhythmic flexibility and syncopation in jazz contexts
• Listening and blending with recorded rhythm section accompaniment