How to Love Your Flute: A Guide to Flutes and Flute Playing

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 is the author of "How to Love Your Flute," hailed by Paul Horn as "a model for our times," as well as the craft guide "Simple Flutes." He has played flute professionally in a folk music trio, as a modern dance accompanist, and as a solo theater musician. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "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, "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 ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Preface, by Paul HornIntroduction Part 1 ~ FLUTE LOREThe World Family of FlutesThe Story of the Western Flute Part 2 ~ SELECTION AND CAREFinding Your FluteCaring for Your Flute Part 3 ~ FLUTE TECHNIQUEEmbouchure and BreathPosturePlaying NotesMore About Embouchure and BreathFingering TechniqueTuningAdvanced TechniquesSpecial Effects Part 4 ~ MAKING MUSICScales and ChordsPlaying by EarReading MusicLiving Music Part 5 ~ MODERN FOLK FLUTESFinding a Folk FluteCaring for a Folk FlutePlaying a Folk Flute APPENDIXHow the Flute WorksMiscellaneous Fingering ChartsReading List