Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute

Reader Reviews
It's worth your time to invest in learning from a master! James J. Pellerite's classic, A Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute is still the definitive guide to flute fingerings, crammed with essential information that isn't available anywhere else. He writes from a wealth of experience as both performer, now retired solo flutist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and as Professor of Flute (now retired) at the Indiana University School of Music. He has performed and given master classes all over the world, including Japan, and has numerous solo recordings. Some of you may be familiar with his work on the Native American flute as well. The guidebook is beginner friendly in the visual representation of the fingerings, but goes far beyond what is available in most fingering guides found in flute pedagogical texts, giving the flutist essential information to allow you to achieve any technique a composer could write for you to play and allow you to reach the highest levels of achievement on the flute. It includes the basic fingerings for the full range of the flute, with multiple fingerings and concise explanations of the differences and advantages of those fingerings and how they are best used. Beginning flutists will also find trill fingerings especially helpful. Beyond the basics, James Pellerite covers tremolos: the major and minor thirds, perfect fourths and tritones, perfect fifths, sixths, sevenths, and octaves. There is a chapter on altered fingerings - fingerings that can be used to deliberately change flute timbre, transparency, raise pitch, and aid with playing in extreme dynamics. These can add greatly to the flutist's tools for interpreting of music. There are fingerings for quarter tone and quarter tone trills, which can open many doors for playing music by contemporary composers and playing world music. Also, for the flutist interested in pursuing multiphonics, there is an extensive section for playing 2, 3 or 4 note chords on the flute. A Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute is written very intelligently and concisely. James Pellerite gives you a deep understanding of fingering technique with an economy of words. This is of great importance for performing musicians who are seeking information and don't want to be distracted by wordy or lengthy discussions. If you are serious about the flute, A Modern Guide to Fingerings for the Flute is an essential tool.