Monster Method
The Monster Flute Method Book
with illustrations by Laura Dalgarno-Platt
The Monster Flute Method book was conceived – as are many other things – of necessity. I was teaching group flute class at the time and found I needed a method book that would help my students be more independent learners. I needed a picture of a keyboard, because I didn’t have one in the room; I needed the circle of fifths, the order of the sharps and flats; and a fingering chart and I wanted all of these things easily accessible to the students. I also wanted a book that they would enjoy reading, that would understand them as students, and that might make learning to play the flute a little easier. So after about two years of drafting ideas and collaborating with my good friend Laura on the illustrations, The Monster Flute Method book was born. Monsters Mavis, Joel, and Sam seek to entertain and to help teach along the path to becoming monster flute players. They have the same successes and set-backs as I see in my students, and I hope their empathy will resonate with you and your students. Enjoy the journey, and please feel free to reach out to me about how the book works in your studio! ~Anna.
Kids are enjoying this book!
So far, the book is well loved by my students as a resource they use frequently in the classroom. With everything in one place, they don’t have to worry about papers falling out of folders or ripping out of binders. They especially love reading what the monsters have to say, as they realize the monsters are sympathetic to their plight in learning to play the flute. I tested the jokes in the book on my 10 and 13 year-old kids, who giggled all the way through it. I hope you and your students will find it to be just as amusing and useful!
Students using the Monster Flute Method book in a group class