Product Reviews: Micro Etudes for the Flute

I use this book every day. As an adult learner, I love that it gives me a structure for keeping in shape even when I'm busy. On the days when I only have time to squeeze in a quick practice, I know I can rely on this book to give me an enjoyable and focused workout on each of the following: tone, fingers, articulation, intervals, high notes, and intonation.

The melodies are delightful and the piano accompaniments add to the pleasure (they're downloadable for free when you buy the book).

Just the right amount of challenge in the exercises in order to focus on what each exercise is for. It covers all the elements of good playing, and for me the Aiming High sections are important work for the top octave - my weak point! Although I have other exercise books, this one is probably the easiest to navigate, which is helpful when time is short.

I am only an enthusiastic amateur player who doesn't have 8 hours a day to practice and no desire to audition for the LSO anytime soon. I always feel that the volumes of study books I have enthusiastically purchased let me down as they are not geared to my level - even though I consider myself to be an advanced player and not a beginner - so they are started but never finished. Generally the exercises are too long to complete, too boring, too difficult etc. Then along came Elisabeth's book with the title 'micro' so that got my attention immediately. Hurrah - only a max of 4 or 5 flats or sharps and everything easily played with increasing degrees of difficulty but with a guide as to the pace and what is needed. Oh joy - I feel I am actually getting somewhere. A proper beginning and end as you move through the recommended patterns and John Alleys lovely piano playing to make them all sound like you are playing 'proper' music. I have every confidence in completing all the exercises and actually benefitting from the days when I only have a few minutes to spare to a few hours - although still not 8! Highly recommended.

This book makes daily practice fun rather than a chore. I am using it everyday and my technique is noticeably improving.