Customer Reviews

Simple Flutes: A Guide to Flute Making and Playing, or How to Make and Play Great Homemade Musical Instruments for Children and All Ages from Bamboo, Wood, Clay, Metal, PVC Plastic, or Anything Else

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book only contains about 35 pages of large type text, so don't expect much detail. The 5 or so pages on playing are really basic, only helpful to someone who knows absolutely zero about flute playing. The book only gives exact mathematical dimensions for making a pvc flute in G, which you can find at the author's website (www.markshep.com/flute). All other flute dimensions are given as 'about' & 'generally'. Nonetheless, the book provides a foundation for someone with a trained ear to be able to start making simple flutes, refining thier skills through trial & error. Overall the information in the book is more than worth the price. As a half hour read it is well worth reading by everyone interested in making, playing or listening to flutes. The knowledge gained versus the money & time invested ends up being a real bargain. The book also provides resources on where to go for more and more detailed information.

The charts and pages on every aspect of making your own flute
are all here, with explanations of WHY, and several options
for finishes, materials, keys, etc.

If you're going to make anything OTHER than a transverse flute,
such as a Shakuhachi or recorder, look on the Web for supplemental material,
but still I'm still glad I got this as a reference. (He also has a bibliography in the back.)

For instance, even the length/bore ratio changes for some
other woodwinds. But the basic info is very handy to keep around.

Simple Flutes by Mark Shepard, a slim (44 pages), elegantly presented, and highly practical guide to crafting simple flutes and making music with them. Flutes of bamboo, wood, claw, metal, and plastic are authoritatively discussed. Simple line drawings and easy-to-understand instructions enhanced and round out this first-rate, "user friendly" guide for anyone with a fondness toward simplicity in their own personal music. Also highly recommended is Mark Shepard's How To Love Your Flute: A Guide To Flues And Flute Playing (0938497103,...).

I have just started making flutes as a hobby, because I thought it would be interesting, and to knock out a few cheap Christmas presents for a myriad of nieces and nephews. I did not anticipate what a source of joy making flutes would be for its own sake. This book got me started and will remain the most senior of my teachers as long as I do this. What you do not find in its lines, you will find between them as you grow in the experience. I am sure there are many more advanced books out there, but they will be useless without the foundation that this book provides.

My interest in flutes began years ago by making several pan flutes from Bamboo and acrylic tubing. After a trip to Peru in 2004 I became interested in quenas...end blown Andean flutes. My ambitions then carried through to wanting to make transverse flutes. I have found the book Simple Flutes perfect for my initial foray into trans-flute making. I am impressed with the economy of words that conveyed much information. It is a good doorway to other references. The G flute described in this book was easy to build and works very well. More detailed data for other sizes would have been welcome. However, more ponderous book might discourage the neophyte into not carrying through with making one's first flute. Mark's book and instructions made it easy to be successful, which then whets the appetite to get more involved with flutes in other keys.
A great, simple to read handbook for someone starting in this fascinating hobby.

Personally, I liked the book, but perhaps some more pictures on how to do things would be nice. For example, on how to make a wood flute it says a shell auger can be used to make a flute. Some step by step directions would be nice.

this is a great book to give the BASICS of creating simple instruments such as flutes. its very short and gives some great base ideas for begainers. i do wish it was more detailed however it will have you making flutes quickly

Too simple....I almost returned it, but didn't think it was worth the effort.
This is a PAMPHLET, not a book....there are pages with only one centered paragraph on the whole page, saying, basically, "you too can play a flute." Then on to the next chapter!

It has some worthwhile information, so I kept it. The title is longer than the book....maybe he should have put the title inside to make it longer.

Highly recommended by this high school music teacher. Great ideas for student projects or even at-home projects with your own kids.

If you have a desire to learn how to build a transverse, or side blown flute, this is a start. Transverse or side blown, is only one of many types of flutes. If you have an interest in Chinese flutes, Bolivian Flutes, pan flutes, or Native American type flutes, do your research on the internet and find the book related to the type. Each of these other flutes are shaped, made, and played differently.
Simple flutes will teach you the basics and theory of the construction of the classic side blown flute. It is worth the money just to have it as a reference book.