2 comments about Solos for Flute: 36 Repertoire Pieces with Piano Accompaniment (All-Time Favorites) (All-Time Favorites).

1. My 12 year old daughter is in her 2nd year (7th grade) of flute playing -- she is in the school band but does take private lessons from a classical music flute artist, once a week. My daughter is really enjoying this book. However, she could NOT work with these pieces of music with out her private teacher. I recommend this book for students who study privately aside from the school band.



2. I have been using this book for about 2-3 weeks in my private lesson studies at VanderCook College of Music, while studying to be a music educator. I have played only 2 selections from the book prior to buying it. I'm using this to expand my repertoire and work on various techniques that each piece demands. I think it is great for repertoire, working with accompanament (since it comes with the piano book), and just expanding horizons on what you would like to play and what you can play. I highly reccommend it for anyone looking for some new music. As far as playing ability I suggest the flutist already be comfortable with fingerings into the third octave, be able to read fairly fluently, be able to articulate notes (this will help practicing/learning more articulation types as the pieces demand, always better with a private teacher), and be able to consciously count during each piece. But then again these are things I hope for in every intermediate-advanced musician. Great pieces!

2 comments about Guide To Teaching Woodwinds (5th Edition).

1. I was able to use this for my woodwind studies, and at a fraction of the cost!



2. Classic text with not many changes over the years.
   
   Newest edition (5th) is 1989. The second newest is the 4th edition of 1985.
   
   I have even looked at 2nd Edition of 1974! I haven't done a page-by-page comparison, but it looks very much the same as well.
   
   Ok, so maybe you don't need an appendix with "Phonograph Recordings" (!)

4 comments about Flute Shop: A Guide to Crafting the Native American Style Flute.

1. This is the first book on NAF (Native American Flute) making that I've purchased after years of building them. I got the book because my flutes are all made of clay and I needed insight into working with wood and basic flute theory in general. The book opened my eyes to some fine tuning tricks I'd missed, and other flute designs and construction options available. Russ does a fine job of explaining basics to the novice and gives complete construction details to increase the chances for a successful project. His resources list in the appendix is useful for anyone seeking further knowledge on the subject. This book is a well written and easy to follow guide--buy it!



2. Well written and informative manual. After reading this book I really felt as though making my first flutes was a real possibility. I am already seeing success on early attempts and only expect improvement.
   
   Flute Shop: A Guide to Crafting the Native American Style Flute



3. The Flute Shop is an excellent choice for those who want to delve into making Native American style flutes. I have made a few rather successful flutes in the past couple years from instructions by another flute maker, but this book came highly recommended and I wanted to see what I could do to improve my flutes.
   
   This book very clearly explained the intricacies of making a flute and I think will help me improve the sound of my flutes even more. This is a basic flute making book and will not give measurements for more than a few flutes, but it explains various styles and techniques very well.



4. This book is one of the best for building a Native American flute. Very detailed, well explained and has detailed drawings of numerous flutes and the construction of each. 5 stars for me.

5 comments about The Flute of the Fallen Tiger (Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 3).

1. I love this series and have started collecting the books as I find them. The artwork is incredible and the format is great for just taking with you if you know you're gonna need a quick read somewhere. Something to keep in mind - asian books are read right to left. To preserve the flow, the art was flipped during the conversion to english. In feudal Japan, there were few if any left-handed samurai, but in the series everyone seems to be left handed. Took me a bit to figure out why that was happening.



2. I am working my way through the manga epic Lone Wolf & Cub one chapter at a day and have now completed Volume 3, "The Flute of the Fallen Tiger." Through these five stories writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima slowly expand the breadth an depth of their story: (15) "The Flute of the Fallen Tiger"would not have been my choice for the volume's titular story (I would definitely have gone with #17), but it does look at some very different ways of fighting for Ogami Itto to deal with in this episode. (16) "Half Mat, One Mat, A Fistful of Rice" is not the most significant story in this volume, but definitely the most interesting as Lone Wolf & Cub encounter Shino Sakon, a Mijin school master who has become a beggar ronin and who tries to talk Ogami Itto out of walking the Assassin's Road. The climatic and bloody swordfights that usually constitute the climax of these stories are never my favorite part, but in this one we have the novel approach of Lone Wolf thinking through a series of attacks, looking for one that can end with him winning. I found this a very interesting approach, more so than the usual hacking off of limbs and such.

   (17) "The White Path Between the Rivers" provides a rare but tantalizing look at the backstory of Lone Wolf and Cub, wherein we find out the grim details of Daigoro's birth and learn how Ogami Itto became the target of political intrigue. In helps answer why, in part, he refuses to stop walking the Assassin's Road. Koike and Kojima had been stingy with this look at the ronin's motivation, which is what makes these stories all the more special. (18) "The Virgin and the Whore" plays off the standard formula of these Assassin's Road stories as Ogami takes up the cause of a young prostitute. Of course, appearances are almost always deceiving in this stories. This is also one of those stories where the attention to historical detail is impressive, this time with regards to the practice of prostitution during Japan's Edo Period. (19) "Close Quarters" provides an assignment for the assassin that hinges on the economics of a han controlling a forest and presents another clever use of Diagoro by his father. The back of the volume includes the next installment of "The Ronin Report" by Tim Ervin-Gore looking at "bushido," the code of the warrior by which Lone Wolf lives his life.




3. With Flute of the Fallen Tiger, Volume 3 in the epic Lone Wolf and Cub saga, creators Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima take the series from mere greatness to a whole new level of perfection. Assassin-for-hire Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro continue to travel the assassin's road, meeting new friends and foes, most of whom wind up dead in short order. My favorite tale in this volume was "Half Mat, One Mat, A Fistful of Rice", where Father and Son meet a mysterious street beggar who implores Itto to spare Daigoro from a life of killing and hatred; He's so determined to save Daigoro that he's willing to gamble his own life. Another story, "The White Path Between the Rivers", tells of the birth of Daigoro and the events that led Father and Son to travel the assassin's road.

   There are some really memorable stories here, and somehow the creators manage to make each installment better than the last; It's tough to believe that there are 25 more volumes left; I for one can't wait to see what comes next. I highly recommend Lone Wolf and Cub; Not just for a good read, but also for it's fascinating insights into Japanese history and culture.




4. I had bought before the Volume 1 in Spanish of this saga and I have to say that both translation and edition looks better in the Spanish version. Also the size of the book is slightly bigger and they have kept the left to right way of reading it.
   I'm gonna buy the spanish version again



5. These elegant short stories are deceptive. On the surface hardly anything seems to "happen" in each "episode" other than a sword fight or two. Actually there is a LOT going on. Koike is in touch with humanity in ways many of us never will be.
   
   Lone Wolf & Cub artwork is anything but simple. These stories are CARRIED by the masterful drawings. I am constantly amazed.
   
   The main storyline continues to build from volumes 1 & 2. I highly recommend ALL THREE books, and I also suggest you read them in order.

No comments about W22FL - Standard of Excellence Original Book 2 Flute (Standard of Excellence - Comprehensive Band Method).

2 comments about Play Flute Today! Beginner's Pack: Book/CD/DVD Pack.

1. I bought this along with a book called Learning How to Play the Flute, which I like much better. The Hal Leonard book has fewer songs to play. I just watched the DVD and it's quite funny! Very dated and not helpful. The instructor onscreen just goes into too much picky detail and breezes through the notes too quickly. There's no way you could learn how to play the flute just by watching the DVD! You really need to practice from a book. There is also a CD but I haven't played along to it yet.



2. This DVD and book set is a great combination for beginners. The DVD goes very slowly through the process of learning the proper form. Then leads you right into forming notes. The book works right along with the DVD. My daughter will be way ahead of the game when her classes start.

5 comments about 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 Folk Flutes, and More.

1. I knew nothing about the flute when I bought this book. I was pleased to not only learn a lot about the history and variety of flutes, but also to successfully purchase, assemble and begin to play a flute based on the author's clear and competent guidance. When I found a flute teacher, she was also impressed with the range of information the book presents, and added it to her recommended list. I am less than halfway through the book, so I can't comment on the more advanced sections, except to say that they appear to cover all aspects of music theory.



2. This guide to flute history, mechanics and playing technique is an excellent source for the beginner. It is written using understandable concepts that make it possible to visualize what is being taught. If you have not yet begun taking formal lessons with a teacher, this book will give you a good start.



3. This is the kind of book that should be required in band classes. It was nice to see some of the things you could do to repair the instrument, how to select an instrument, different types of flutes.



4. This book is informative, interesting and a great aid for a beginner, and perhaps for more advanced players, as well. It is full of very nteresting historical information and illustrations for wooden and bamboo flutes.
   As I am a rank beginner, I can only speak from that frame of reference. But I definitely think you should give it a try, if you are interested in playing the flute.



5. I have bought a few beginner flute books, and this one is clearly a classic. Many previous reviews cover the book well already, but I must add that the section on emboucher and producing notes was too brief. The most challenging part of learning the flute is making good sounds come out of it, and the book does not seem to adequately address this with satisfactory depth or give more specific tips on what to do about this main obstacle to learning.

2 comments about Beginners Book for the Flute, Part I.

1. This is a great first book for beginners of all ages.The musical selections are sophisticated enough to allow beginners to experience the joy of actually playing music right from the start.
   The approach to both rhythms as well as learning fingering is brilliantly cumulative- starting with 3 notes, there are little tunes at the very beginning. Students especially love the duets.
   My only complaint is that the section on E Major comes very soon.For my teaching, I just skip this section and return to it when the student has a bit more experince navigating sharp key signatures.



2. I bought this book to practice the flute on my own. I started about a month ago, and I see a teacher regularly, but I also like to be able to explore this instrument by myself, and this book is the perfect tool for it! It first introduces three notes, and right from the start there are short and amusing tunes to practice playing these. As new notes and their fingering are introduced, the songs gradually incorporate those, and slowly the author brings the beginner to different keys (other than C major).
   This book does not in any way replace a live teacher, but it provides an interesting companion to my practices. There are original tunes by the author, and simplified adaptations of all genres, mostly from the Renaissance period and a few Xmas/children traditional ones. There are also many songs for two players (two students, or teacher/student). My only regret is not having a companion CD to listen to. For a beginner it would a have been a great help to be able to hear those songs before actually attempting to play them. You can always try to get free MIDI files from various websites, as many songs are from famous composers.
   This first book focuses on a firm tone in the lower register (lower D to C sharp in the first half), and ventured slightly in the higher register up to G, in the last few songs. I was also puzzled that the F minor key was introduced at this point, without any explanation (while E major's first appearance with Jingle Bells, also introduced early, seemed easier for some reason).
   I highly recommend buying a fingering chart as a companion (Flute Fingering Chart: For Flute and Piccolo (Amsco Fingering Charts)), instead of flipping through this book for it.

4 comments about On Playing the Flute.

1. Articulation, aesthetics, phrasing, ornamentation, character, tempo, practicing, accompaniment, style, notation, how to give a concert, how to breathe when you're nervous, how to play in an orchestra, ... it's all here. This book from 1752 covers the art of being a musician, not just a flute player.

   Quantz' text is for anyone who cares about any music from about 1720 into the time of Mozart and Haydn. And it's essential performance practice material for anyone who would play this music: required reading for any serious student. It gives an indispensable window into German, French, and Italian taste.

   Modern flautists, string players, keyboard players, and singers can learn a tremendous amount here. The pages about "good" and "bad" notes and varied articulation/tongueing are worth the whole price of the book. They describe the sound that composers were thinking of, the expressive range, the tremendous variety of effects *within* melodic lines. Take Quantz seriously: he was there, and he was a good player and writer.

   What more needs to be said, except to thank the publisher for this edition? The previous issue by Schirmer has been out of print for far too long. This book should NEVER be out of print.




2. I have not read this book from cover to cover. Although, with it's wonderful index, it has provided me with an excellant resource manual for Baroque music.



3. Great book of interpretation of baroque music. Quantz show us about the thinking of playing the recorder and how to execute the notes in Allegro and Adagios. Very nice.



4. This book is a must for any musicial interested in playing Baroque music. The sections on ornamentation is THE definitive work on the subject.

5 comments about The Flute Book: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers.

1. I find this book absolutely helpful but I just want to say that what a pity that only paperback is available. It would be nice to have hardback version..



2. Nancy Toff does an exceptional job with this complete and well-rounded reference book for books. Any information that one could hope for about playing the instrument, buying the instrument, or listening to the instrument is included. The author also does well to give many perspectives on many flute issues, reasoning them out for the reader. The second half of the book on the history of many composers is exhaustive and complete. The catalog of repertoire pieces in a table format with available publishers is invaluable for any performer. Really a must own.



3. Nancy Toff has left nothing out of this grand book -- the history, anatomy, selection, and care of the flute in its popular and more esoteric forms; an extensive discussion on the development of not only classical and modern technique, but also personal style; building a repertoire and creating or finding performance opportunities; the history of flute music, and authoritative suggestions for building a sheet and recorded music library; countless charts and reference materials -- all has been included that a flute player, whether amateur or professional, student or teacher, could and would want to know and reference in the course of their playing career. And if one happens to find anything not included, I feel confident that Ms. Toff would personally see to correcting the matter immediately. An absolute must; look no further, oh wearied flutists (as Ms. Toff insists you are to be called, and not flautists, based on a well-researched etymological conclusion), for your redemption is at hand.



4. I borrowed this book from the library. I love the pictures of different flutes of different era. You can see how flute evolved through hundreds of years. Truly amazing.



5. The text is written in modern English which is easier to read and comprehend than some of those ancient scrolls translated from german or some other archaic language. In addition to the information of technique and method, I especially enjoyed the lengthy resource lists for rated (according to level of difficulty)musical compositions for flute.
   
   The book is dictionary-like in terms of weight and feel. The pages are filled with well-written standard type font. I mention this because I have become weary of those pamphlet-thick 'modern music method books' and their clip-art laden, nearly empty pages that are too often mass produced and marketed as an only source of published information.
   
   The author also addresses, in great detail, some of the well and lesser known flute debates(such as the flutest/flautist conflict), the history of flute (with photos from the Dayton C. Miller flute museum/collection, where the author is also the currator), development and changes, and those other topics and issues some(those only superficially dedicated to the wonders of flute) might consider trivial.
   
   I originally borrowed this book from the library. I have since added this title as a must have for my personal music book collection. If you are looking for a recently written, detailed, modern exploration of the flute, by an accomplished authority, this publication is a smart choice!