How to Play the Flute: Everything You Need to Know to Play the Flute Paperback – February 9, 2002

I had always wanted to play the flute since I was forced to play clarinet throughout middle school band. Eventually, I purchased a flute and taught myself to play based on the instruction the flute players got in class. Years later, I decided I wanted to get back into playing music again and needed a refresher course on the flute.I wish I had this book the first time I wanted to teach myself the flute! The book goes far beyond some simple tips, charts for where to put your fingers for each note, and songs to play. There is in depth advice on how to hold the instrument, how to breathe, how to achieve the best tone, when to use alternate fingerings, and much more! I am so impressed by this book. There are plenty of practice songs too and better songs than I've found in most of these kinds of books. I enjoy listening to myself play them! The best thing about the pieces is that most are designed to teach something (such as a new note, a new key signature, a new time, etc.) and since they are actually nice songs it's much more fun to practice and learn.Even though I had previous musical experience and could already read music and knew a little about the flute, I think that I could have taught myself using this book. I used to have difficulty hitting higher notes too and this book had really helped me. The quality of my playing, especially my tone, has improved greatly and even though I can play much more advanced pieces now I still come back to this book to review and practice. This book would be a great resource for a new player in a band or music program or taking lessons as well as someone who is self-taught.All teach yourself to play books should be like this one.

This is a great book for learning to play the flute. It has complete and detailed instructions for the beginner and really helped me get started. Within a week of getting my book and following the instructions, I was playing a scale! My tone still needs work but thanks to the instructions in this book I know what to do to improve it. I bought several other books at the same time as this one and none of them including the Band Essentials book that is used in most school bands, was even close to the instructional quality in this one. This is the only book I use now. The illustrations are clear, easy to understand and it teaches you the simple fingering first before progressing to the more complex. It adds one finger at a time which was really good for me and made learning the fingering easier than the Band Essentials which starts with the key of Bb with two flats. It also demistified reading the fingering charts and clearly explaines how to play in different octaves. It even has breathing exercises to help you develop your breath control. I already knew how to read music but if I had not known, the instructions for that were in there also. This book is the next best thing to having your own private instructor at your beck and call. A Very comprehensive learning tool for the beginner.

How many flute books can one buy? ... well, I despite a whole stack I bought this one too and am glad I did. I will say it is more suited for the amateur adult beginner who wants to "get on with it quickly" to enjoy playing - recreationally. I've found some really useful tips on embouchure control and tone production (air speeds and angles). Not quite your rigorous Trevor Wye classic (very highly recommended), but nevertheless fantastic angle from which to intro the flute for those into self-experimentation or without a musical background.Rather than the run of the mill presentation that one can come to expect in most beginner books, this one approachesinstruction different yet refreshingly so - one is eased into the basic rudiments along the way. One would find oneselfprogressing without being bogged down or too concerned with rigid pedantics which maybe necessary for those seeking a moreformal music education.Great illustrations, preemptive descriptions on what to look out for when starting out what to expect and avoid andhow to improve. Love this book. Recommend depending on your needs.

Gave this book to our 13 year old daughter for Christmas along with an inexpensive flute. She had never touched a flute in her life until Christmas morning.By Christmas night, she was playing simple songs and now, 2 months later, she plays as well as the kids in the band/orchestra who have been playing for 2 years! Her band director is astounded. Disclaimer: she did know how to read music and does play the clarinet - but this book 100% helped take her from "never touched a flute" to "I play the flute" in just a few weeks.Gives very basic beginners information about how to hold the flute, how to position your mouth, etc along with reading music basics and then has several beginning to intermediate pieces in it. If you have a very motivated child and want to see how interested they are in the flute before shelling out the 💵 money 💵 for flute rental and lessons, or if you homeschool and want a good beginning flute lesson book, I think you'll be pleased with this.

Pros:- It really does start from the very beginning, including lessons on caring for the instrument, breathing techniques, reading music, and of course how to play the flute.- The introduction of new material is just right, adding new notes and related information at just the right pace and time. It's neither overwhelming nor dull.- There's something friendly about the writing style that puts me at ease and makes the learning process a bit fun really.Cons:- After several weeks, I realize this book could really use a section on Proper Flute Care. In fact, having that as the first page might have saved me a tuning. But I still seriously love this book!- If you already play other instruments, you might find the pace slow (since a fair portion of the book involves basic music-reading instruction).