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 - Softcover

Shepard, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620355299 ISBN 13: 9781620355299

Publisher: Simple Productions, 1999

Synopsis

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 Horn
Introduction
 
Part 1 ~ FLUTE LORE
The World Family of Flutes
The Story of the Western Flute
 
Part 2 ~ SELECTION AND CARE
Finding Your Flute
Caring for Your Flute
 
Part 3 ~ FLUTE TECHNIQUE
Embouchure and Breath
Posture
Playing Notes
More About Embouchure and Breath
Fingering Technique
Tuning
Advanced Techniques
Special Effects
 
Part 4 ~ MAKING MUSIC
Scales and Chords
Playing by Ear
Reading Music
Living Music
 
Part 5 ~ MODERN FOLK FLUTES
Finding a Folk Flute
Caring for a Folk Flute
Playing a Folk Flute
 
APPENDIX
How the Flute Works
Miscellaneous Fingering Charts
Reading List
 

 

About this title

From the Author:

"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 Horn INTRODUCTIONS My love affair with the flute -- About this book -- Common questions from beginners -- How to love your flute  Part 1 ~ 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 FLUTEThe Baroque flute -- The Boehm flute -- Since Boehm -- Materials and manufacture -- Looking ahead  Part 2 ~ SELECTION AND CARE FINDING YOUR FLUTEBuying name brands -- Metal flutes -- Wooden flutes -- Flute quality -- 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 FLUTEAssembly, playing, disassembly -- Minor maintenance -- Head joint cork -- Repairs -- Professional servicing and overhaul  Part 3 ~ FLUTE TECHNIQUE EMBOUCHURE AND BREATHGetting a sound -- Basic breathing POSTUREFlute assembly and hand position -- Head and arms -- Torso and legs -- Other aspects -- Practicing posture -- Posture checklist PLAYING NOTESFingering and blowing principles -- Fingerings (with chart)-- Articulation MORE ABOUT EMBOUCHURE AND BREATHTaking breaths -- Intonation -- Volume adjustments -- Developing tone -- Exercises FINGERING TECHNIQUEDifficult Combinations -- Runs TUNINGConcert pitch -- Tuning with others ADVANCED TECHNIQUESVibrato -- Tonal variation -- Alternative fingerings, trills, tremolos -- Multiple-tonguing SPECIAL EFFECTSAcoustic effects -- Electronic effects  Part 4 ~ MAKING MUSIC SCALES AND CHORDSScales -- Chords PLAYING BY EARCopying -- Improvisation -- Help for the tone-deaf READING MUSICLearning 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 MUSICExpressive techniques -- Beyond technique  Part 5 ~ MODERN FOLK FLUTES FINDING A FOLK FLUTEWhy a folk flute? -- Where to find folk flutes -- Side-blown flutes -- Shakuhachi -- Other end-blown flutes CARING FOR A FOLK FLUTEBamboo -- Other materials -- Corks PLAYING A FOLK FLUTESide-blown flutes -- Shakuhachi -- Other end-blown flutes  APPENDIX HOW THE FLUTE WORKSA tube with holes -- Harmonics -- Octaves MISCELLANEOUS FINGERING CHARTSBaroque flute, one key -- Eight-key flute -- Modern flute with open G-sharp key READING LIST ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Question: Should I take lessons, or instead teach myself? Answer: There are advantages to both ways. You may be a person who will benefit more from personal instruction than from reading a book. Or you may be the type of person who needs the deadlines of a scheduled lesson to get you to practice. If you are serious about performing classical music, you will want to become absorbed in a tradition that seems imparted best in a teacher/student relationship. There are also advantages to teaching yourself. Money and/or schedule constraints could be factors. You might prefer the freedom of organizing and pacing your own learning process. Or you might even have trouble finding a teacher with whom you work well, or who can teach you the kind of flute playing you want to learn. Whichever way you decide to go, don't let anyone tell you that you can't learn the flute without lessons. Question: Should I learn to read music, or instead play by ear? Answer: This is strictly a matter of personal preference, depending on how you feel you would like to play. There's no reason you can't do both! Of course, playing classical music will require you to read; improvising popular music or jazz means playing by ear. Contrary to popular myth, it is not necessary to learn to read music before you can play by ear. (As Pete Seeger says, "Would you teach a baby to read before it could talk?") If anything, first learning to read music makes playing by ear more difficult, since you then must overcome your dependence on the printed page. Another destructive myth is that only those people who are "musical" can play by ear. Anyone can! Question: What exactly do you mean by "how to love your flute"? Answer: 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. In this special relationship, the lessons it offers may go beyond mere flute playing. The instrument can also teach you lessons about learning, about life, about love -- because the same laws that govern the playing of a flute also govern the workings of the world around you and the world within you. In this way, the flute can become a focal point for the growth of understanding, a pathway to wisdom. Hermann Hesse, in his book "Siddhartha," tells us that a person can eventually come to understand the entire universe by starting from any point within it -- a butterfly, a rock, a river. The flute is one such point of departure. There is truly much to be gained from a relationship with the flute -- the enjoyment of its sound, the joy of creating music, the peace of a focused outpouring of the spirit, the insights that come with an openness to lessons taught. May all these and more be yours, as you grow in the love of your flute. 

From the Inside Flap:

FLUTE BOOKS BY MARK SHEPARD 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. 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. SIMPLE FLUTES: A Guide to Flute Making and Playing, or How to Make and Play Great Homemade Musical Instruments from Bamboo, Wood, Clay, Metal, PVC Plastic, or Anything Else. Gives you the basics of simple flute playing, then offers guidelines for making flutes of your own from a variety of materials. It even includes a handy chart for "where to put the holes." "Simple Flutes" is a must for simple flute players and makers! 

About this edition

• Publisher: Simple Productions
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1620355299
• ISBN 13: 9781620355299
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 110
• Illustrator: Subercaseaux Anne