Monty Levenson, Tai Hei Shakuhachi
An excellent overview for those interested in learning more about simple side-blown flutes.


Sam Hinton in Sing Out
Contains the essence of a tremendous amount of experience.


Book Description
Simple flutes of bamboo, wood, metal, plastic, or clay can be a joy to play and make. This book 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." This book is a must for simple flute players and makers!


Download Description
Also available in paperback!

Simple flutes of bamboo, wood, metal, plastic, or clay can be a joy to play and make. This book 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!

Mark Shepard is the author of How to Love Your Flute: A Guide to Flutes and Flute Playing, featured in The Next Whole Earth Catalog and called by Paul Horn "a model for our times." He was a professional flutist and simple flutemaker for many years.
Reviews

"Contains the essence of a tremendous amount of experience." -- Sam Hinton, Sing Out

"An excellent overview for those interested in learning more about simple side-blown flutes." -- Monty Levenson, Tai Hei Shakuhachi

"A slim, elegantly presented, and highly practical guide to crafting simple flutes and making music with them. Flutes of bamboo, wood, clay, metal, and plastic are authoritatively discussed. Simple line drawings and easy-to-understand instructions enhance and round out this first-rate, 'user friendly' guide for anyone with a fondness toward simplicity in their own personal music." -- Midwest Book Review's The Bookwatch and Internet Bookwatch, Aug. 2002

"This thin volume contains a wealth of information." -- Linda Dailey Paulson, Dirty Linen, Oct.-Nov. 2002
Contents 1~Playing

The Sound
The Hands
The Notes
Second Octave
Sharps and Flats
Breath and Tonguing
Making Music
Flute Care 2~Making

Flute Qualities
The Flute Tube
The Mouthhole
The Fingerholes
Tuning
Stoppers
Finishes
Plastic
Bamboo
Wood
Clay
Metal
Other Resources
Sample

Here are the two most important rules for tuning:

A hole will give a higher note if it is placed closer to the mouthhole. It will give a lower note if placed farther away.

A hole will give a higher note if made larger. It will give a lower note if smaller.

These rules mean you can "raise" a note by enlarging the hole or by placing the hole closer to the mouthhole. You can "lower" the note by using a smaller hole or by placing the hole farther from the mouthhole.

It also means you can change the hole size and its placement without changing the note. A larger hole could be placed farther from the mouthhole, or a smaller hole placed closer to the mouthhole.


About the Author
Mark Shepard is the author of How to Love Your Flute, called by Paul Horn "a model for our times." He was a professional flutist and simple flutemaker for many years.


Excerpted from Simple Flutes : How to Play or Make a Flute of Bamboo, Wood, Clay, Metal, Plastic, or Anything Else by Mark Shepard. Copyright © 2001. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Here are the two most important rules for tuning.   -- A hole will give a higher note if it is placed closer to the mouthhole. It will give a lower note if placed farther away. -- A hole will give a higher note if made larger. It will give a lower note if smaller. These rules mean you can "raise" a note by enlarging the hole or by placing the hole closer to the mouthhole. You can "lower" the note by using a smaller hole or by placing the hole farther from the mouthhole. It also means you can change the hole size and its placement without changing the note. A larger hole could be placed farther from the mouthhole, or a smaller hole placed closer to the mouthhole.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Simple flutes of bamboo, wood, metal, plastic, or clay can be a joy to play and make. This book 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!

FROM THE CRITICS

Sam Hinton - Sing Out

Contains the essence of a tremendous amount of experience.

Monty Levenson - Tai Hei Shakuhachi

An excellent overview for those interested in learning more about simple side-blown flutes.

ACCREDITATION