The Simple Flute: From A to Z

By Michel Debost

Book Overview

Drawing from his highly praised French work, Une simple flute, distinguished flutist and teacher Michel Debost has compiled a useful and imaginative introduction to playing the flute. This alphabetically arranged compendium of advice and insight covers essential topics such as breathing, articulation, and tone, but also explores "jawboning," "finger phrasing," "the little devils," and other quirky and vexing aspects of flute playing. Full of practical advice on technique and axioms that lend moral support during tough practice sessions, The Simple Flute will be a welcome addition to any serious or novice flutist's library. In addition, the book includes original exercises such as "Debost's Scale Game," making it an excellent resource for flute teachers. Debost concludes each essay with "In a nutshell" and "Please refer to" boxes that make the book easy to browse, dog-ear, and return to again and again. Offering concise, common-sense solutions for flutists of all levels, this book is an ideal reference guide on flute performance.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195145216
• ISBN13: 9780195145212
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Simple but Necessary Correction

I'm not a flute player, and it would be wrong to detract in any way from the esteem in which other reviewers clearly hold this book, but I felt it necessary to point out a simple error which came to light while I was searching the Net and found the following reference: on p.135 the author states that the Pythagorean and Just scales are the same - this is simply not true. The Just scale contains intervals which accord with harmonic ratios, eg. a fourth is 4:3 and a major third 5:4, while all the intervals in the Pythagorean scale are derived from multiples of the fifth 3:2 ratio by octave transpositions. Therefore, starting on note C, the difference between Just E and Pythagorean E is 22 cents, almost a quarter-tone!

The Without Which Document Your Flute Training is Incomplete

DeBost offers a humane, common-sense approach to mastering the flute. His The Simple Flute will become the Flute Bible for generations of flutists to come.

Good book for serious, advanced player

First the book did not appear as it does in the picture. Plain blue binding. A great deal of information from one of the famous flute teachers.

Amazing! Inspiring!!!

This is a must for any flutist who trully cares for his craft! This book is trully a work of art! It explains everything from the reality of a sustained note to finger phrasing. It isn't one of those old texts that has absolutely no revalence to music. If you wish to play music it is one of the books you must read. With plenty of new ideas to try as you turn each page. It is trully mind-opening!!!

Simply the Best Flute Book!

I have gone through about 20 flute books in my quest for inspiration and tips about this wonderful instrument. This one is the best by far because Debost LOVES FLUTES, and he loves to play the flute. He refers to the sound that comes out of the instrument (when played well) as a "sensual pleasure" for the player (and listeners). He thinks "No pain, no gain" is unrealistic, and that more comfort equals more pleasure. Good point! When it comes to the rules of fingering, he maintains that if it isn't the "correct" fingering but doesn't hurt the music, and feels better or makes it easier, one should go ahead and do it. The idea that sticks out most is that playing the flute should be fun and richly rewarding. The A-Z layout of the book is totally reader-friendly. One can look at the list of topics and easily find exactly what is desired. I love this book. :)