Simple Flute

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. Offeringconcise, common-sense solutions for flutists of all levels, this book is an ideal reference guide on flute performance.

Finally, after too long a wait we have the English version of Une Simple Flute....I urge every flute player, every flute student, and every library to get this book, devour it, relish its practicality and freshness, and savor its savoir faire., Debost's writing style is refreshingly candid and reaches flutists of all levels. His quotes and footnotes reflect an inquiring mind, broad knowledge, and a superb intellect, all of which are inspiring to encounter. His wisdom is shared simply and directly. Other points are made with great humor or with thought-provoking metaphor, or poetic simile., It should be required reading for every student of the flute. Debost has excellent ideas and expresses them clearly and interestingly. Certainly a must have on the book shelf., Michel Debost used to tell us in his classes at the Conservatorie de Paris that his methods were not the Bible, but rather a 'gospel according to Saint Michel'....This is a new kind of reference, resting on more than fifty years of experience, full of sensitivity and good sense, with little dogmatism and lots of intelligence....The curious student as well as the established teacher will plunge into the book, and raise their head three minutes later having learned something new that they will want to put to the test immediately. The book is a delight to read, handling language with ease and pertinence, capable of surprising us with each turn of phrase.

Michel Debost is Professor of Flute at the Oberlin Conservatory. He succeeded Jean-Pierre Rampal at the Paris Conservatoire National and served as principal of the Orchestre de Paris under music directors Munch, Karajan, Solti, and Barenboim.