If you ever played the flute before, you know what a joy it is to participate actively in making
music. That is exactly what this book is about. I have designed the book to include a wide variety
of songs in many different styles, with the main idea being to have fun making music. Additionally,
I Used To Play Flute contains many exercises for the adult musician to re-learn skills that may
have been learned many years ago. It begins with a review of important aspects of music theory
and notation, followed by warm-ups, scales and exercises that re-introduce you to playing the
instrument and that help you build your “chops” back up. The techniques covered are basic to
playing the music included in this volume. The pieces in the book cover a broad range of styles
and are generally familiar to most people who have been involved in listening to music through
the years. I also hope that the songs in this book will rekindle some fond old memories of playing
your instrument and reignite your desire to play music again, just for the fun of it.
Practice the long tones and daily warm-ups on pp. 7–9 a little bit every day to build the stamina
necessary to perform the music. Work on one of the scales and some of the technical exercises
on pp. 10–17 a little each day as well. Then turn to one of the pieces you would like to play and
try reading it. Take it slowly at first; don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t come easily. It will take
time to relearn and to retrain the muscles to do what you once did. You should also listen to the
pieces and play along with the track that is played by a flute and piano and, in some cases, other
accompaniment instruments. This will provide you with a model for getting your tone back. When
you become sure of yourself, you can try playing with the accompaniment track without the
melody.
I Used To Play Flute is not a beginner’s book. If you are new to playing an instrument, I suggest
that you obtain a beginner’s book and a teacher. After you have mastered the basics, you can then
come back to the material in this book.
Remember to take it slowly, have fun and enjoy making music!

About This Book
About the Author
Fingering Chart
Music Theory Review
Long Tones
Studies in Overtones
Major Scales
Chromatic Scales
Technique Exercises
Aura Lee
America the Beautiful
Scarborough Fair
Wooly Bully
Let Us Break Bread Together
Amazing Grace
Two Tickets to Paradise
Auld Lang Syne
Silent Night
Minuet
Mr. Tambourine Man
Londonderry Air
The Tide Is High
Ent'acte from the Opera Carmen
I'll Always Love You
Can-Can
La Bamba
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
American Patrol
National Emblem
Stars and Stripes Forever
Hey Man
Christmas Swings!
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Tuxedo Junction