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 (Paperback)

by Mark Shepard (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A slim, elegantly presented, and highly practical guide. . . . First-rate, "user friendly." --Midwest Book Review, Aug. 2002

An excellent overview for those interested in learning more about simple side-blown flutes. -- Monty Levenson, Tai Hei Shakuhachi

Contains the essence of a tremendous amount of experience. -- Sam Hinton in Sing Out

Review
This thin volume contains a wealth of information.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Shepard Publications (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938497189
• ISBN-13: 978-0938497189
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #347,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic stuff for makers, players & listeners, February 25, 2005

By	Spaceapeman (Lynn, MA) - See all my reviews

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really good detailed book, but only for transverse flutes, August 10, 2002

By	Impa "Sci-fi and Mystery series fan" (CA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly practical guide to crafting simple flutes, August 9, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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,...).