Flute For Dummies

An excellent primer for those with little or no experience playing the flute

Always wanted to play the flute? Are you a former flautist who wants to refresh your skills? Flute For Dummies is the guide for you. Following along with the book's accompanying CD, you will learn the nuances of playing the flute as an accompanying instrument or for playing a solo, in a variety of musical styles.

• Readers will learn how to play, step-by-step – from the correct angle for blowing into the mouthpiece and controlling pitch, to proper breathing, creating vibrato, and much more
• The book's accompany CD allows readers to play what they are learning, and listen to the accompanying track to see if they're getting it right
• Karen Moratz is Principal Flutist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Artist in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Flute at the School of Music/Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University

Easy-to-understand methods and instructions make learning to play this beautiful instrument as simple and straightforward as possible!

Part I: A Prelude to Flute Playing 7

Chapter 1: So You Want to Play the Flute 9

Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Flute 13

Chapter 3: Choosing Your Instrument 29

Chapter 4: Understanding Music Notation 55

Part II: Playing the Flute: Just Wiggle Your Fingers and Blow! 81

Chapter 5: Getting Down to Basics: Before You Begin 83

Chapter 6: Making Flute Sounds 101

Chapter 7: Putting It All Together: The Flute and You 113

Chapter 8: Playing Your First Notes 129

Chapter 9: Higher, Lower, and in Between: More Advanced Notes 139

Chapter 10: Between the Notes: Slurring and Tonguing 153

Chapter 11: Getting Up to the Second Octave 163

Part III: Above and Beyond: Essential Intermediate Techniques 177

Chapter 12: Making That Elusive Big, Beautiful Sound 179

Chapter 13: Adding Vibrato: You Want Fries with That Shake? 191

Chapter 14: High Flutin’: Making the Top Notes Sing 201

Chapter 15: Controlling Pitch: Do You Need a Tuneup? 219

Chapter 16: Faster Tonguing and Getting Your Trills 237

Part IV: Darn Tootin’: An Accompaniment to Your Growing Skills 259

Chapter 17: Revisiting the Practice Studio: Establishing a Routine 261

Chapter 18: Taking Your Playing to New Heights: Teachers, Ensembles, and Performances 285

Chapter 19: Repair and Maintenance: Taking Care of Your Instrument 299

Part V: The Part of Tens 307

Chapter 20: Don’t Blow It! Ten Bad Habits to Avoid at All Costs 309

Chapter 21: Ten Flutists You Need to Hear 317

Chapter 22: Ten Different Types of Flutes 325

Part VI: Appendixes 335

Appendix A: Fingering Charts 337

Appendix B: About the CD 351

Index 359

Karen Evans Moratz is Principal Flutist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Artist in Residence and Associate Professor of Flute at the School of Music/Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University. She is a founding member of the Greater Indianapolis Flute Club and of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra.

Learn to:

• Play the flute as a solo or ensemble instrument
• Perform a variety of musical styles
• Clean and care for your flute
• Play along with the audio samples on CD

The fast and easy way to learn flute!

Whether you've never touched a flute or want to dust yours off and start playing again, this friendly, easy-to-follow guide walks you through everything you need to know to prepare for and play the flute, from buying your first instrument to playing, practicing, and caring for a flute.

• So you want to play the flute — get the basics on this popular woodwind instrument, appreciate its great legacy, and receive expert tips on what you need to know before you begin playing
• Flute 101 — discover the anatomy of a flute, get advice on what to look for when buying or renting a flute, and learn to read music notation
• Playing your first notes — start making beautiful music with helpful descriptions, illustrations, and exercises incorporating the first octave on the flute
• Making those high flutin' sounds — move on to more advanced notes using the second octave and practice along with melodies
• Playing in perfect harmony — fine-tune your sound, add vibrato, and make your third octave notes sing

Bonus CD Includes

Flute and keyboard tracks for you to reference and play along with
Samples demonstrating correct tempo, rhythm, and notes
Individual note tracks so that you can compare your pitch and play correctly, right from the start

Open the book and find:

• Hands-on exercises, practice lessons, and examples
• Tips on posture and breathing
• The right way to position your hands and fingers
• Warm-ups, scales, and studies to hone your skills
• Techniques to correct out-of-tune notes
• When and how to find a flute teacher
• Advice on repairing and maintaining a flute
• Suggestions for building your repertoire