How to Love Your Flute
A Guide to Flutes and Flute Playing
OR
How to Play the Flute, Choose One, and Care for It,
Plus Flute History, Flute Science, Folk Flutes, and More
By Mark Shepard
Preface by Paul Horn
Illustrated by Anne Subercaseaux
General Info
Reviews and Comments
Contents
Sample Text
Here’s a complete guide for anyone who plays the flute or ever wanted to. Use it along with flute lessons or even to teach yourself! This book covers everything you need and more—selection and care, flute technique, fingering, playing by ear, reading music, flute history, flutes around the world, and modern folk flutes. How to Love Your Flute will appeal to all flutists, from beginning to advanced.
Mark Shepard has played flute professionally in a folk trio, as a modern dance accompanist, and as a theater musician. He has also made and sold folk flutes of bamboo and plastic pipe.
Paperback ~ $10/£6.50
Shepard Publications ~ 1999
112 pages ~ 8.5 x 11 inches ~ Illustrated ~ Bibliography
ISBN 978-0-938497-10-3
Reprint of the 1980 edition from Panjandrum Books
“Shepard has come up with the most unique flute manual I have ever seen. It is direct, complete, informative on every aspect, and—most important—comes from the standpoint of pure love and respect for the instrument. . . . [This] book serves as a model for our times, and it is an inspiration for those who want to get more out of life through the joys of flute playing.”—Paul Horn, from the Preface
“Shepard’s soul-felt passion for the flute resonates through his book like music. It’s a comprehensive guide with something for everyone, from novice to professional, and so well written that it’s a pleasure just to browse through it. This book inspires.”—Diana Barich, in The Next Whole Earth Catalog
“Comprehensive and concise. . . . A highly readable and inspirational guide for flutists of every age and ability.”—Jeanne Baxtresser, first flute, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
“This book is guaranteed to have one of three influences on readers. For those who currently play, it’s an affirmation to continue playing. For those who haven’t picked up their flute in a while, it’s encouragement to resume playing. As for those who’ve never played, Shepard provides a good compass for beginning your own musical journey.”—Linda Dailey Paulson, Dirty Linen, Oct./Nov. 2000
“Highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review’s The Bookwatch and Internet Bookwatch, Aug. 2002
Preface, by Paul Horn
Introductions
My Love Affair With the Flute
About This Book
Common Questions From Beginners
How to Love Your Flute
Flute Lore
The World Family of Flutes
South America
North America
Africa
The Middle East
Eastern Europe
Western Europe
India
China
Oceania
Japan
The Story of the Western Flute
The Baroque Flute
The Boehm Flute
Since Boehm
Materials and Manufacture
Looking Ahead
Selection and Care
Finding Your Flute
Buying Name Brands
Metal Flutes—The Flute Hierarchy
Wooden Flutes
Flute Quality—General
Plateau Model, French Model
Other Options and Variations
Features to Look For
Checking Out a Used Flute
Other Sizes of Flutes
Electronic Amplification
Caring For Your Flute
Assembly, Playing, Disassembly
Minor Maintenance
Head joint cork
Repairs
Professional Servicing and Overhaul
Flute Technique
Embouchure and Breath
Getting a Sound—Basic Embouchure
Basic Breathing
Posture
Flute Assembly and Hand Position
Head and Arms
Torso and Legs
Other Aspects
Practicing Posture
Posture Checklist
Playing Notes
Fingering and Blowing Principles
Fingerings
Articulation
More About Embouchure and Breach
Taking Breaths
Intonation
Volume Adjustments
Developing Tone
Exercises
Fingering Technique
Difficult Combinations
Runs
Tuning
Concert Pitch
Tuning With Others
Advanced Techniques
Vibrato
Tonal Variation
Alternative Fingerings, Trills, Tremolos
Multiple-Tonguing
Special Effects
Acoustic Effects
Electronic Effects
Making Music
Scales and Chords
Scales
Chords
Playing by Ear
Copying
Improvisation
Help for the Tone-Deaf
Reading Music
Learning How
Staff and Clef
Timing
Key Signature and Accidentals
Rests
Repeats
Volume and Dynamics
Tempo and Expression
Miscellaneous Symbols
Transposition
Learning a Piece of Music
Interpretation
Nonclassical Music
Living Music
Expressive Techniques
Beyond Technique—Playing From Within
Modern Folk Flutes
Finding a Folk Flute
Why a Folk Flute?
Where to Find Folk Flutes
Side-Blown Flutes
Shakuhachi
Other End-Blown Flutes
Caring for a Folk Flute
Bamboo
Other Materials
Corks
Playing a Folk Flute
Side-Blown Flutes
Shakuhachi
Other End-Blown Flutes
Appendix
How the Flute Works
A Tube With Holes
Harmonics
Octaves
Miscellaneous Fingering Charts
Baroque Flute, One Key
Eight-Key Flute
Modern Flute With Open G-Sharp Key
Reading List
General
Flute Technique
Other Flutes
Miscellaneous
There seem to be two ways of approaching the flute. One is in the spirit of domination: The learner attempts to “conquer” the flute, to force from it the secrets of its operation, to subordinate it to his or her own musical wishes. It is an attitude of “overcoming.” This is not how to love your flute!
Loving your flute means being aware that you and the instrument are coproducers of the music, partners in the creation of sound. It means becoming aware of the instrument’s requirements, its musical preferences, its reactions to your own wishes. If you attempt to subjugate the instrument, it will fight you at every step; if you respect and work with it, you will find it responding willingly and demonstratively. As this relationship deepens, you and the flute can begin to grow together and gradually become, in effect, one instrument.
One of your major aims should be to develop a sensitivity toward the flute and its interrelationships with you, the player. When you approach the flute in a spirit of love, the instrument itself will teach you. If you are open to what it has to say, it will itself let you know how it should be played. And the instrument is always the best teacher.
Read more . . .
This site is an Amazon.com affiliate.