The Flutist Companion: A Comprehensive Method

This comprehensive method for the beginner to advanced is especially designed for use in private lessons. It introduces each new concept with fingering exercises, scale exercises, and etudes. Advanced techniques and concepts such as harmonics, vibrato, trills, interpretation, and phrasing are outlined succinctly through descriptive text and musical examples. A segment called "Representative Literature" contains exemplary flute music and photographs of flutes from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods giving students a broad historical perspective of both flute literature and the development and use of various types of flutes.

Mizzy McCaskill received her Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and her Master's and Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She is a specialist in curriculum design and has written numerous publications concerning folk flutes, the modern Boehm flute, and flute pedagogy. She performs and records as both a flutist and vocalist in folk and classical genres. Flutist and composer Dona Gilliam received her Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA and her masters in Music Composition from the University of Kentucky, Lexington where she also received her Juris Doctorate of Law degree. Dona performs and composes in both folk and classical genres. She is currently Assistant Professor of Music at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. With Mizzy McCaskill, she has co-authored more than two dozen Mel Bay books addressing the flute, tinwhistle, fife, and clarinet.