The Flute Book: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers 2nd Edition

Nancy Toff took a while to revise and update This Edition (1985, 1996) - would've helped if Amazon provided a forewarning that the 3rd edition is just around the corner "on it's way in 2012"!. I had just purchased this in August/ Sept '11 only to discover this week that the Third Edition is on it's way, scheduled for release early next year and that pre-orders are being offered on amazon.com. Would not have bought otherwise, rather preferring to borrow till new is out.Nevertheless Toff's book IS THE COMPLETE GUIDE indeed and a really useful all rounder Handbook for Beginners, Students as well as Performers - all in all a comprehensive introduction and detailed education about the instrument, past present and future, with quite detailed references on playing methods & techniques. NOT UNLIKE James Galway's "Flute" (Yehudi Menuhin's series, 1982) - except it is updated and also comes with a comprehensive Flute Music Catalog and useful appendices listed below.Of 495 pages, 200 pages are dedicated to the entire Flute Classical Repertoire catalogued & categorized into the 4 main eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern.There is also a catalogue on Study Materials covering Methods, Technical Studies & Etudes, Operatic & Orchestral. Useful for teachers and professionals.Appendices include following Lists: Fingering Charts, Flute Manufacturers, Repair Shops, Music Shops, Useful Periodicals, Flute Clubs & Associations - US & international.I've been playing the flute since August this year. Each time I read this, I find that a new dimension of understanding and awareness opens up to me, as I progress in practice. Great reference resource to have on hand as one embarks on the journey of flute discovery. A REWARDING READ & REFER.

This is an EXCELLENT book to have in your personal library! If you are a flutist or an educator, this is a must read!

Kind of dated.

Good book

The text is written in modern English which is easier to read and comprehend than some of those ancient scrolls translated from german or some other archaic language. In addition to the information of technique and method, I especially enjoyed the lengthy resource lists for rated (according to level of difficulty)musical compositions for flute.The book is dictionary-like in terms of weight and feel. The pages are filled with well-written standard type font. I mention this because I have become weary of those pamphlet-thick 'modern music method books' and their clip-art laden, nearly empty pages that are too often mass produced and marketed as an only source of published information.The author also addresses, in great detail, some of the well and lesser known flute debates(such as the flutest/flautist conflict), the history of flute (with photos from the Dayton C. Miller flute museum/collection, where the author is also the currator), development and changes, and those other topics and issues some(those only superficially dedicated to the wonders of flute) might consider trivial.I originally borrowed this book from the library. I have since added this title as a must have for my personal music book collection. If you are looking for a recently written, detailed, modern exploration of the flute, by an accomplished authority, this publication is a smart choice!

I read through the sections on German Baroque music this afternoon. I was quite surprised by how inaccurate these sections were (I looked at Bach and Telemann). The discussion of Bach's music was remarkably unperceptive. Telemann's was really not much better. A new edition should show that the author has read more recent scholarship. I'm sorry-I wanted to like it.

Nancy Toff has left nothing out of this grand book -- the history, anatomy, selection, and care of the flute in its popular and more esoteric forms; an extensive discussion on the development of not only classical and modern technique, but also personal style; building a repertoire and creating or finding performance opportunities; the history of flute music, and authoritative suggestions for building a sheet and recorded music library; countless charts and reference materials -- all has been included that a flute player, whether amateur or professional, student or teacher, could and would want to know and reference in the course of their playing career. And if one happens to find anything not included, I feel confident that Ms. Toff would personally see to correcting the matter immediately. An absolute must; look no further, oh wearied flutists (as Ms. Toff insists you are to be called, and not flautists, based on a well-researched etymological conclusion), for your redemption is at hand.

I require this book in my flute pedagogy courses at McNeese State University. It is well-researched, easy to read and comprehend, and has wonderful appendices of literature and resources for further research. Nancy is a fine scholar, and is extremely well-respected in the world of flutists.