Ken Chia Flute Studio

Core Curriculum
Phase 1 - Beginner Level Core Training
Compulsory Repertoire

Expected
completion
time

Attributes gained upon successful completion

Rubank Elementary Method Book for Flute,

edited by Voxman

9 Months to 1
Year

Proper Flute Holding Posture - Standing and

Sitting
Proper Tone Generation
Ability to read and play pieces up to 4 flats and 4
sharps, along with requisite major scales (minor
scales taught as well, but not stressed as heavily)
Basic single, double, and triple-tongue articulation
technique.
Basic dynamic and breath control

Phase 1 Optional Supplements (Light Pieces and Sight-reading)

Source Material
Suzuki Flute Book Volumes 1 - 2
40 Little Pieces in Progressive Order for Beginner Flutists
Phase 1 is the beginner stage of flute training. It takes roughly 1 year to complete (may be completed earlier if a
student is a particularly quick learner and/or has previously musical training. The Phase 1 supplements contain
small pieces intended for sight-reading and variety, but the core work in the Rubank Elementary Method book takes
absolute priority. Lesson durations with Mr. Chia are generally 30 minutes in the early stages, though a student
may opt for longer lessons of 45 or 60 minutes in length if they so choose.

Phase 2 - Intermediate Level Core Training

Compulsory Repertoire

Expected
completion
time

Attributes gained upon successful completion

Reichert 7 Daily Exercises for Flute, Opus 5. 6 Months to 1.5

yrs

Technical Facility in all 24 keys

Advanced breath control
Improved Sight reading and Tonal Awareness

24 Little Melodic Studies with Variations

(Easy) for Flute

Advanced Phrasing and Musicianship

Improved Sight Reading and Tonal Awareness/
Intonation
Musical Familiarity in all 24 keys
Articulation and Rhythmic Stability
Vibrato

6 Months to 1.5
yrs

Phase 2 Supplements for Enrichment

Source Material
Suzuki Flute Book Volume 1 - 6 (sightreading material or piece study)
40 Little Pieces in Progressive Order for Beginner Flutists (sight reading material)
Joachim Andersen, 18 Etudes for Flute, Opus 41

Phase 2 is the Intermediate stage of flute training, where the difficulty level increases and student study discipline is paramount.
While some of the material can be quite advanced, students are taught to approach each and every musical challenge in a proven
and effective manner and approach that sets them up for success. Just like Phase 1, the core training material takes absolute
precedence, but the supplements are there for variety and additional enrichment, and to help alleviate the tedium of the Reichert
cycle. By this point, lessons of at least 45 minutes length with Mr. Chia, with 60 minutes being optimal, are highly recommended.

Ken Chia Flute Studio Curriculum

Phase 3 Advanced Training
Unlike Phases 1 and 2, Phase 3 is highly modular and flexible to what the students need to better themselves in advanced
flute study. It also draws from rather unorthodox sources that have surprising benefits to the student willing and openminded to try. The Modules may be chosen by Mr. Chia, or if the student is curious enough, may be requested by the
students themselves. The core requirement in Phase 3 is that all times a student should be working on an etude, 1
or more music pieces from the standard flute/piccolo repertoire, and preferably one orchestral excerpt. Phase 3 is
the final stage of study and lasts as long as the student wishes to continue to study with Mr. Chia. Students in Phase 3 can
consider themselves studying at the conservatory level. Phase 3 modules are sometimes introduced to Phase 2 students
to speed up their training or help improve critical weaknesses.

Continued Technical Exercise Work

Source Material

Notes

Maquarre Daily Exercises for Flute

Often asked by Mr. Chia, this continues the daily exercise study in
the 24 keys that was started with the Reichert cycle. They are
more difficult, yet more compact, than the Reichert exercises.

Orchestral Excerpts Study

Source Material

Notes

Jeanne Baxstresser, Orchestral Excerpts for

Flute

An excellent book, written and compiled by the former principal

flutist fo the New York Philharmonic, Jeanne Baxtresser. Includes
piano accompaniment. A must-have for those interested in
auditioning for orchestras.

Etudes (partial list)

Intonation & Tone Production Concept Series

Source Material

Source Material

Andersen Etudes

Major/Minor Arpeggiation against a Tone Generator

Berbiguier 18 Exercises/Etudes

Overtone Series across set fingerings

Donjon Etudes de Salon

Alternate Fingerings for situational intonation changes

Gariboldi Etudes

Using Alternate fingerings as resistance training

Understanding and Improving Reaction Time

Source Material

Notes

OODA Loop

A concept originally developed by USAF Colonel John Boyd to

improve combat operations processes, it has since been also
applied to understanding and improving learning processes.
Learning this concept helps improve sight-reading and
troubleshooting sight-reading issues.

Physical Exercises with Side Benefits for Musicians

Source Material

Notes

24 Posture Simplified Taiqiquan Form

Good for stress relief and general well-being.

Filipino Martial Arts drill: Hubud-Lubud

Partner Flow drill that improves sensitivity and reaction to

changing stimuli.

Filipino Martial Arts: Stick tapping

Various single stick and double stick paired exercises using

rattan. Improves sense of pulse and rhythm in self and others as
well as mental and physical ambidexterity.