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Buy "Mastering the Flute with William Bennett" by Roderick Seed (Indiana University Press, 2018)
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MASTERING THE FLUTE
WITH WILLIAM BENNETT
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About
For the first time the exercises and teaching methods of world-renowned flutist William Bennett are featured in one workbook. After more than a decade of study with Bennett and many of his students, Roderick Seed has documented the tools that have made Bennett known for his ability to give the flute the depth, dignity, and grandeur of the voice or the stringed instrument. Topics range from how to overcome basic technical difficulties, such as pitch control, to the tools for phrasing, prosody, tone, and intonation needed for playing with different dynamics and ranges of expression. Advanced musicians will find useful exercises and techniques in this book that will deepen their knowledge and enjoyment of making music and help them in their quest to master the flute.
Reviews
"Covering topics such as sound production, intonation, embouchure and phrasing, this volume offers an invaluable insight into how to achieve the hallmark Bennett-school sound. ..[The] combination of intellectual understanding and musical instinct is supported by a range of useful exercises and vocalises designed to help develop skills in each area. The book is clearly written, and while it assumes a certain level of knowledge, may be adapted by teachers to suit students of all ages. The format lies mid-way between being a book and sheet music, meaning that it is portable but also appropriate for the music stand. I found the diagrams of sound envelopes (the shape of an individual note) particularly useful... each exercise has much to offer."
Carla Rees, editor of Pan, the journal of the British Flute Society. (March 2018)
"For Wibb devotees, there are the compulsory sections on elephants and taxis and on tuning and harmonics. But Seed goes further in this book: He has taken lessons directly from a respected and loved source of flute pedagogy and put them down in his own language for the next generation of teachers and players. Some of the book’s exercises are practical—who doesn’t love harmonics?—but some are conceptual, and these are what might both surprise and impress teachers and advanced players...For those who have never studied with Wibb or have worked with him only a little, this book brings to light the best of his teaching methods in a detailed manual of approach. Bravo, Roderick, and thank you." Abigail Sperling - NFA Flutist Quarterly (October 2019)
“ Mastering the Flute with William Bennett is an extremely valuable resource for flute players, covering a wide range of technical and musical issues and revealing the ideas developed over Bennett's decades-long career.”
Clarissa Payne - Music Teacher Magazine (May 2018)
"Roderick Seed has done the most thorough job of separating all Wibb's various teaching points, approaching them in a sensible order and explaining them intelligently. He has successfully used his personal experience of studying with Wibb to enhance the original material. All the diagrams, and illustrations complement the text, and the musical examples are all ones that those lucky enough to have seen Wibb in action will recognize. There is something here for every flute player and the book is nothing short of masterful! "
Chris Hankin, Professor of flute at London College of Music ( for Just Flutes)
"Mastering the Flute with William Bennett is an invaluable resource for flute players."
Karen Evans Moratz, author of Flute for Dummies and Principal Flute in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
"Bennett’s principles of musical expression are rooted in the physics of sound as well as an awareness of compositional construction.... The principles of phrasing assembled here are applicable to all musicians, whatever their instrument or voice."
Kathryn Lukas, Professor of Music (Flute) at Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music
"I wanted to thank you for your clear and in depth presentation of Wibb's ideas. I studied with Wibb, Geoffrey [Gilbert] and Trevor [Wye] in the 1980's and have pages and pages of notes from my classes and lessons. As I would turn a page in your book I would discover something I had drawn or sketched out...now much more organized and legible! I'm excited to review what I have learned from your perspective today, Roderick. Thank you for this fantastic book."
Jeffery Zook, Principal Piccolo of Detroit Symphony Orchestra
"This is a book that has been long due for every single flutist! The book is presented in a very " down to earth" approach, in both the writing and in the use of the vocabulary and language. What I really like most is the " Problem -Solution" approach; its like " Do this and You Will Get This " That's exactly how I felt when I had my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have my first and only lesson with William Bennett in Hong Kong back in 2005 in Wibb's hotel room on the "24 melodic studies". Bennett's approach was always " If you want to get this result, do this!!" . This book contains tons of invaluable advice on the formation of tone; on sharpening and flattening different notes by aiming air streams "up' and " down'; Uncovered-covered-uncovered of the embouchure; on harmonics line-up; on how to set your flute in-tune; and of course, last but not least, the famous " I LOVE YOU" and " Dar-ling" approach to music-making..... all concepts are presented in a very straight-forward manner, nothing in the sense of pure theory, everything is so practically doable !!! I don't see a reason that flutists should not be reading this book !! Congratulation to Rod !!"
Ringo Chan, Director, Hong Kong Flute Centre