s iFF Boland / Tulou / Gunn / Drouet
Method Books
Method for the One-Keyed Flute
(baroque & classical)
by Janice Dockendorff Boland
University of California Press, 1998
Japanese translation: Vorn Musik Atelier, 2017
Available from: University of California Press
Japanese translation available from: Vorn Musik Atelier
Named a Winner Newly Published Music Competition
National Flute Association, 1999
An indispensable manual for present-day players of the eighteenth-century flute, Method for the One-Keyed Flute is the first complete method written in modern times. Janice Dockendorff Boland has compiled a manual that can serve as a self-guiding tutor or as a text for a student working with a teacher. Referencing important eighteenth-century treatises while also incorporating modern experience, she guides the reader through historical music with ease and grace. The book includes nearly one hundred pages of music drawn from early treatises, along with solo flute literature and instructional texts and fingering charts. Boland also addresses topics ranging from the basics of choosing a flute and assembling it to more advanced concepts such as tone color and eighteenth-century articulation patterns. Beginning students and experienced will find a wealth of material in Method for the One-Keyed Flute.
from Laurence Libin, Metropolitan Museum of Art
“Janice Boland’s clear, accessible text reflects years of professional experience as a performer and teacher of the one-keyed flute. Her book answers all the practical needs of beginners and offers advanced flutists a wealth of useful information drawn from historical sources. Even players wedded to the Boehm flute will gain fresh musical insights from Boland’s comprehensive method.”
from Christopher Krueger, New England Conservatory & Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute
“Jan Boland has written an invaluable resource for students of the baroque flute as well as for any flutist interested in performance practices of the eighteenth century. This book provides a wealth of well-interpreted historical information and excellent practical advice to guide flutists through the confusions and contradictions of this fascinating field.”
from John Thow, University of California Berkeley
“This is the best introduction to the one-keyed (baroque) flute for Boehm-system flute players available today. I only wish it had been available when I set out to learn the one-keyed flute. It would have saved me much time and led me directly to the most important sources.”
from Betty Bang Mather, Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa
“An easy-to-read format, clear prose, attractive graphics, and well-chosen music make it an ideal beginner’s tutor.”
from Stephen Preston, London, Guildhall and Royal College of Music.
“…an invaluable new resource for all flute players and teachers who would like to increase their practical understanding of the eighteenth-century one-keyed flute. Dr. Boland’s knowledge, experience, and respect for authentic performance shows in every page of this book in her use of original source material, her explanatory comments, and in the appendices and bibliographies. I shall certainly enjoy using the Method for teaching and warmly recommend it to all students and colleagues.”
Reviews of Method for the One-Keyed Flute
“It’s finally here. This method takes historically informed performance to a new level. Boland has incorporated the best of the early masters and improved on them and made their work accessible to modern players. Over time this modern method surely will take its place in flute history alongside those distinguished predecessors.” Jerry E. Pritchard, The Flute Network
“It would be fair to suggest that this falls into the ‘all the information about the baroque flute you were too afraid to ask’ category. A clearly laid out and informative manual. A valuable tool for performers and researchers alike. I am sure teachers and students will breathe a huge sigh of relief at the wealth of information gathered together in one volume.” Marie Ritter, Early Music Review
“A new, innovative, and practical resource for baroque flute performers and teachers. Clear and concise… This practical and valuable method should be considered an essential addition to the library of every flutist who has even a passing interest in the one-keyed flute.” Hal Ott, Flute Talk
“Even though the book is meant as a practical guide, its comprehensive scope is impressive. Ms. Boland has managed to touch on almost all aspects of playing the one-keyed flute. …I would highly recommend the book to any Boehm-system flute player who wants to explore the one-keyed flute. It is also an excellent tool for teachers, and a handy reference book for the advanced player.” Na-ama Lion, Continuo
“…provides a much-needed overview of the instrument while introducing some of the many aspects of performance practice that a newcomer will be obliged to tackle. As such, her work is extremely welcome and will be enthusiastically received by many players.” Christine Garratt, Early Music
“Check out Boland’s book, Method for the One-keyed Flute, a must-have for every player interested in early flute music. Of particular interest are her comments on tone production and homogeneity of sound.” Ann Cherry, Pan, The Flute Magazine (June 2006)
“A near-perfect historical instrument method. Wonderful book. Excellent exercises and full of history. I’m not an expert in traverso, but the fingering chart is very complete and ideal for who want to learn by yourself.” Spyware Reader’s Review (on-line source)
“It is easy to see why this Method is warmly endorsed by early music specialists Stephen Preston and Betty Bang Mather. Janice Boland’s Method is an excellent reference book.” Ann Cherry, Music Teacher (January 2001)
“This is one of the best method books I’ve seen for a historical instrument. Every essential topic is covered: tuning, intonation, articulation, fingering, baroque & classical ornamentation (fingering for trills off of each note, for instance). Period sources (notably Quantz, plus several others) are quoted frequently. There is also a good discussion on the differences between different historical models. Plus there is a wealth of exercises and tunes from the period. While not pretending to be complete in every sense, this is far superior to many methods I’ve seen for recorder and other instruments. It’s also quite affordable. Jan has written a clear, concise yet very complete book.” Spyware Reader’s Review (on-line source)
“The book has great instruction at your fingertips to start learning the one-keyed flute. There is so much here! But it’s not bogged down with copious trivia. This book is especially helpful for the Boehm flutist who wishes to transition into some baroque flute playing. When you purchase this volume, you’ll have everything you need (apart from the instrument itself!) to get started, and also to avoid injury to your hands and fingers through incorrect position or over-practicing. Wonderful, sound advice clearly presented.” Spyware Reader’s Review (on-line source)
A Method for the Flute
by Jean-Louis Tulou
Translated and edited by Janice Dockendorff Boland
and Martha F Cannon
An English translation with critical introduction of Jean-Louis Tulou’s 1855 method for playing the pre-Boehm wooden flute and an excellent source of early nineteenth-century French performance practices. This book is a must for wooden-flute advocates looking for instruction, music & fingering charts for keyed flutes dating c.1800-1850.
Reviews of Tulou’s Method
This is a reprint of the original (circa) 1835 edition, with a critical introduction by Jan Boland. The instructions, exercises, playing material, duets, solos, illustrations, examples of embellishment and interpretive style make this a valuable book for all players wishing to learn or explore the early 19th century literature. In addition to variations on famous opera themes, Tulou provides wonderful original etudes in the grand and expressive style of his famous fantaies and solos. Each of the musical works has a duet part so the teacher can accompany the student with steady rhythm, good pitch, and interpretive guidance. Fingering and trill charts are provided for flutes of up to 13 keys. The progressive the thoughtful organization of this method make it useful to teachers of any model of transverse flute — useful even with beginning students. Jerry E. Pritchard, Flute Network.
John Gunn’s
The Art of Playing the German Flute
A facsimile edition
with introduction and notes.
Marion, IA: Janice Dockendorff Boland, 1992.
Availability: a limited number available from Jan Boland.
Inquire: jandocboland at gmail dot com
Faithful facsimile edition. An important work which reflects the changes taking place in flute playing as the eighteenth century drew to a close. It bridges that point in history when players were moving from the one-keyed flute to the multi-keyed instruments; important performance practice changes were taking place as well. An excellent reference for discussions of tone production and performance style. This is the first time this tutor has appeared in facsimile edition.
Reviews of Gunn’s The Art
“Gunn’s treatise is special because, as Boland points out in her notes, he is one of the first to approach principles of flute technique from a scientific point of view. Boland’s introduction helpfully sets Gunn and his ideas in context.” Scott Patterson, Continuo
“This is a great source of information and playing material for intermediate to advanced students of the baroque flute. Reprint begins with extensive and charming introduction on flute playing.” Jerry E. Pritchard, The Flute Network
“I think every flutist should have a copy of Gunn’s tutor, an unjustly neglected masterpiece, at any price. It’s not the usual parroting of Hotteterre and Quantz, but a conspicuous original work that discusses acoustics, musical metre, harmony, figured bass, harmonics, and the ‘Method and proper Objects of Practice’. The studies at the end of the volume are extremely interesting and useful, and unlike the French ones of the same period, designed for grownups rather than children. Because Gunn was not Quantz or Devienne, his tutor is almost completely unknown.” Ardal Powell, Early Flute List, 1999
Louis Drouet’s
Method of Flute Playing
A facsimile edition with introduction and notes.
Marion IA: Janice Dockendorff Boland, 1992.
Availability: currently out-of-print.
Inquire: jandocboland at gmail dot com
Faithful facsimile edition. Perhaps the best tutor for today’s flutist learning to play multi-keyed pre-Boehm flutes. Includes extensive instruction on fingering systems and includes music showing the practical application of specialized fingerings. Also a good reference for articulation. Although Drouet was a Frenchman, he himself translated this text to English and arranged for its publication in London.
Review of Drouet’s Method
“This reprint is an excellent edition which includes a modern preface…designed for those learning to play the 8-keyed flute. This reprint is an excellent edition which includes a modern preface. Drouet’s method is very practical, with valuable advice on fingering choices, solfeggio, principles of harmony, articulation and style. Many duets and sonatas are included which are suitable for either study or performance.” Jerry E. Pritchard, The Flute Network
Altes Method. Click on “Altes Sensitive Notes 1880” below to open a pdf of a page addressing sensitive notes.
Jan Boland with manuscript 1997 prepared for University of California Press.