Trevor Wye - Flute Secrets: Advice for Students, Teachers and Professionals

Alexander Technique

Alcantara, Pedro de. Indirect Procedures

(2nd edition)

Flute History and Development

Baines, Anthony. Woodwind Instruments and their History

(Dover)

An excellent general history book. Very informative, interesting, easy to read and connects with the other woodwinds.

Bate, Phillip. The Flute

(Benn)

Very detailed, one of the most important books on the flute since 1950

Brown, Rachel. The Early Flute

(Cambridge, Handbooks to the Historical Performance of Music)

A very good introduction to all periods from 17001900

Dorgueille, Claude. The French Flute School (Tony Bingham)

Fitzgibbon, H.M. The Story of the Flute

(Reeves-London, Scribner)

Also published under Forgotten Books as a paperback. Orig. published in 1914.

Solum, John. The Early Flute

(Oxford University Press. 1995)

A very good introduction.

Toff, Nancy. The Development of the Modern Flute

(Univ. of Illinois Press)

Recommended reading on flute history.

The Flute Book

(Scribner and Oxford Musical Instrument Series)

Excellent general book on all aspects of development and history.

Welch, Christopher. History of the Boehm Flute

(Rudall, Carte and Co., 1896 More recent: Scholars Choice Edition)

Short and long version available. Contradicts Rockstros version of the development of the flute.

Repertoire

Pierreuse, Bernard. Flute Literature

(Editions Musicales Transatlantiques [later: Jobert, Paris])

Very Useful. Also available on a CD. The book is telephone-directory size.

Vester, Franz. Flute Repertoire Catalogue

(Musica Rara, 1967)

Long out of print. Get it if you can; it is large paperback size. Some misprints.

There is a later selective catalogue.

Vester, Franz. Flute Music of the Eighteenth Century

Orchestral Repertoire

Wye and Morris. Orchestral Practice Books 1 & 2

Approx. 1,100 orchestral extracts. Includes the top most-popular

28 audition pieces some with orch. cues.

Wion, John. Opera Extracts for Flute. (Solum. 9 volumes.)

For those auditioning for an opera orchestra, these are a must.

General Information

Maclagan, Susan J. A Dictionary for the Modern Flutist

(Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. 2009. Revised and reprinted 2018)

Style

Dart, Thurston. The Interpretation of Music

(Hutchinson; 4 rev. edition)

Easy to read and sensible approach to early music

Mozart Concerto in G and D major

(Novello)

This editions contains helpful advice on writing cadenzas.

Technical Books

Andersen, Joachim. 24 Studies, Op. 15

(Novello)

There are many other Andersen studies and can be found online.

Dick, Robert. The Other Flute

(Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Ref: DIC011)

Circular Breathing for the Flutist

(De Haske Publications)

Dehnhard, Tilmann. The New Flute

(With DVD. UE35320)

All contemporary techniques easily explained, including beatboxing.

Kynaston, Trent. Circular Breathing For the Wind Performer

(Alfred Publishing, Oct 1982)

Moyse, Marcel. Technical Mastery for the Virtuoso Flutist

(Zimmermann)

Now out of print but summarised in this book in .

24 Little Melodious Studies

(Leduc)

25 Little Melodious Studies

(Leduc)

Daily Exercises (480 Exercises)

(Leduc)

Soussmann, Heinrich. 24 Daily Exercises, Op. 53

(Leduc)

Wye, Trevor. Efficient Practice

(Falls House Press, USA)

Wye, Trevor. Practice Books 16

(Novello rev. edition 2015)

1 Tone; 2 Technique; 3 Articulation; 4 Intonation and Vibrato;

5 Breathing and Scales; 6 Advanced Practice

Wye, Trevor. Proper Flute Playing

A Companion book to the Practice Book series

Wye, Trevor. Complete Daily Exercises

(Novello)

Piccolo

Morris, Patricia. The Piccolo Study Book

(Novello)

Wye, Trevor & Morris, Patricia. The Piccolo Practice Book

(Novello)

Complete orchestral repertoire for piccolo.

Stage Fright

Cutler, David.The Savvy Musician

(Helius Press)

Paperback

Greene, Don. Fight Your Fear And Win: (7 Skills for performing your best under pressure)

(Ed. Kindle)

Johnston, Phillip. The Practice Spot Guide to Promoting your Teaching

(Self published)

Jones, Kate. Keeping Your Nerve!

(Faber)

Ristaad, Eloise. A Soprano Standing on Her Head

(Real People Press, USA.)

Paperback

Tomlinson, Charlotte. Keep Calm and Pass Your Music Exam

(Chester Music)

Body Mapping

Pearson, Lea. Body Mapping for Flutists

(Pearson, 2006)

Musical Psychology

Seashore, Carl. The Psychology of Music

(Dover)

A great classic and easy to read.

Acoustics

Arthur H. Benade. Horns, Strings and Harmony

(Dover 1992)

It has helped many to understand the fundamentals of acoustics and an easy way.

Careers

Davies, Richard. Becoming an Orchestral Musician

A guide for aspiring professionals.

General Information

Floyd, Angeleita. The Gilbert Legacy

(Winzer Press, USA)

Excellent biography and very helpful about performing matters.

Nyfenger, Thomas. Music and the Flute

(Flute World Publications, USA)

One of the great teachers and players who received minimal public recognition.

Wye, Trevor. Marcel Moyse, An Extraordinary Man: A Musical Biography

(Winzer Press, USA)

All you wanted to know about this great flutist.

Wye, Trevor. Fantastic Flutes

(Spartan Press)

60 or more other things you can do with flutes!

Repair and Adjustments

Phelan, James. The Complete Guide to the Flute and Piccolo: From Acoustics and Construction to Repair and Maintenance

(Conservatory Publications, USA. 2005)

Smith, J. Servicing the Flute

(Independent)

Very helpful and with pictures.

If you take advice from a respected player, it is worth checking if they are a supporter of a particular brand likewise when taking advice from sales assistants. In some cases, the flute manufacturer will be reputable, but in other cases the companies may have sponsored or compensated them for their loyalty. This isnt to say that the advice offered is worthless, but just take care.

The choice of flutes is bewildering. Even flutes from the same manufacturer can have dissimilar characteristics; the head joints can be different from each other, incorporating a variety of lip plates and risers, not to mention the tube shape, cut of the embouchure hole, and even the position of the lip plate on the head joint. There is also no consensus on the flute scale between manufacturers, that is, the size and placement of the tone holes which give the flute its pitches. Each flute is entirely unique.

Not everyone is familiar with facts and figures about flute construction, but its useful to understand how differing factors can affect the response, playability and the subsequent purchase of a fine and reliable flute.