Flute For Dummies

by Karen Evans Moratz

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 moreThe 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 rightKaren 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

Genres: Music, Reference, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2009

Reviews

[Jim Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for anyone trying to learn the flute. Younger players might find it tough, but help should be easy from a parent. It is extremely readable and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and personal insights.

I have read and re-read this book several times in my quest to learn the flute. I believe that its major use is as a vade mecum in that regard. So, it is always close to my practice stand. I looked at a number of other books and manuals and none really measured up. No book will make you a flutist - that only comes with practice. But, with a lot of work, a good teacher, and reference to this book you are well on the way to success.

Kudos to Karen Moratz!

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Backstory: I bought my flute at a garage sale and this book came with it. The CD was missing, which was a shame because I think the CD probably has some pretty useful stuff on it.

My opinion of the book itself is that it is very confused about who its audience is.

There's some quite interesting stuff about flutes and the history of the C concert flute and Mosey and so forth, and this is all good stuff for someone who's picking up the flute and is casually interested.

But then it's like, "okay so you're buying a flute? Let's talk about $80,000 platinum flutes and custom headjoints and how you have to wait months sometimes [etc etc]"

And you look at the cover and it's like, "isn't this flutes for dummies?" I mean, if the person is genuinely thinking about $80,000+ platinum flutes I sincerely doubt they're reading "flutes for dummies."

And then, immediately after discussing the pros and cons of solid silver (the highest tier any earnest reader of the book would be using) vs gold vs platinum flutes it's like "okay and now here is what a quarter note is."

This is the sorta problem with the book: it is confused about who its audience is. Are they talking to a total novice who is casually interested? Are they talking to an 11 year old student with aspirations of being a professional musician? Who the heck are they lecturing to?

The person who wrote it has a spectacular knowledge of the flute and music and so forth, but the book they've written is weird and difficult to digest.

Still, kinda neat. And again, I expect it would be way better with the CD -- some good exercises in there.

[Riem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, the flute is out of its case today!