Modal Flute Warmup
Available at:
Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company
and
Flute Specialists, Inc.
This is a warmup book based on modes for flutists (high school level and up) and their teachers that invites a sense of exploration and discovery, and sparks joy in the process.
At National Flute Association Flute Convention, San Antonio, TX (2024)
“Laura has created a new path for all of us.”
“Enthusiastically recommended.”
“Experience the fun in creating your own flute voice.”
“In Modal Flute Warmup, Laura guides us thoughtfully through the creative process of awareness and discovery, with simple and beautifully written exercises for the body and musical mind. With warmups as our mantras, the use of modes and improvisation offers a fresh approach to a colorful sound. Her book is enlightening for the evolving and seasoned musician alike!”
Visit the Resource Page to hear and see samples from the book.
Go here for a review by the Rochester Flute Association!
See below for a review that appeared in Flutist Quarterly in Spring 2024.
Listen to Laura talk about her new book Modal Flute Warmup on Amy Porter’s fantastic podcast!
“Finally, a book that helps me integrate the sound and feeling of each mode into my daily routine, rather than just approaching modes as a technical or theoretical exercise. Using this book has been meditative, challenging and joyful, and it is a wonderful resource for any musician.”
“Laura gives us a fresh look at harmony and color with her new book. The exercises unfold like an impressionist introducing shades of light and lead a flutist through a kaleidoscope of modes as a framework for understanding emotional expression in sound.”
“Laura’s new flute book, Modal Flute Warmup, is a synthesis of her own approach to playing—that is to play every note with intention, artistry, and curiosity. This book is one we didn’t even know we needed, but so desperately need, because it invites student and veteran flutists alike to dare to play with freedom and curiosity. If you have been searching for a way to find your own unique musical voice on the flute, then this is the book for you.”
“I love this book!! The well-thought-out and clearly presented ideas and exercises are both enjoyable and inspiring. A very special and useful addition to every flutist’s library.”
“Modal Flute Warmup is an amazing resource for any flutist. The exercises provide thoughtful ways to expand your concept of tone, smooth your technique, and apply your musicality. The series of ‘Start to Discover’ passages preceding the warmup section offer ideas to help develop a physical and mental awareness in your playing, and the modal nature of the exercises allows you to practice patterns you may not normally see, as well as develop an ear for the small changes in music. This book supplies you with a comprehensive way to begin practicing, engaging a pensive consciousness of your playing.”
“Laura engages the flutist’s mind at every turn, encouraging and guiding them to explore and expand the limits of their sound. Her use of modes engages the flutist’s attention and imagination, allowing the flutist to explore colors and tonalities they might not be familiar with—and simultaneously expanding technical flexibility with intervals and fingerings not common in tonal music—in a structured and imaginative way. Modal Flute Warmup is an excellent addition to any flutist’s library and practice as it provides a warm-up model that both inspires and engages the player as they discover new aspects of their sound.”
“In Modal Flute Warmup Laura has done something extraordinary. She has infused a book about modes, which some might consider a strictly technical exercise, with love, passion, expression, history, harmony, improvisation, and the delicacy of embouchure and movement - essential tools for every flutist.”