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.

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Mark Shepard has played flute professionally in a folk trio, as a modern dance accompanist, and as a theater musician. He has also designed, made, and sold a variety of folk flutes.

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"Direct, complete, informative on every aspect, and -- most important -- comes from the standpoint of pure love and respect for the instrument . . . A model for our times." -- 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

"It's an affirmation to continue playing, encouragement to resume, [or] a good compass for beginning your musical journey." -- Linda Dailey Paulson, Dirty Linen, Oct./Nov. 2000

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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