Books published by Simple Productions

A complete guide for anyone who plays the flute or ever wanted to. Use it along with flute lessons or even to teach yourself! This book covers everything you need and more -- selection and care, flute technique, fingering, playing by ear, reading music, flute history, flutes around the world, and modern folk flutes. "How to Love Your Flute" will appeal to all flutists, from beginning to advanced. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Mark Shepard is the author of "How to Love Your Flute," hailed by Paul Horn as "a model for our times," as well as the craft guide "Simple Flutes." He has played flute professionally in a folk music trio, as a modern dance accompanist, and as a solo theater musician. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Shepard has come up with the most unique flute manual I have ever seen. It is direct, complete, informative on every aspect, and -- most important -- comes from the standpoint of pure love and respect for the instrument. . . . [This] book serves as a model for our times, and it is an inspiration for those who want to get more out of life through the joys of flute playing." -- Paul Horn, from the Preface "Shepard's soul-felt passion for the flute resonates through his book like music. It's a comprehensive guide with something for everyone, from novice to professional, and so well written that it's a pleasure just to browse through it. This book inspires." -- Diana Barich, "The Next Whole Earth Catalog" "Comprehensive and concise . . . . A highly readable and inspirational guide for flutists of every age and ability." -- Jeanne Baxtresser, first flute, Toronto Symphony Orchestra "This book is guaranteed to have one of three influences on readers. For those who currently play, it's an affirmation to continue playing. For those who haven't picked up their flute in a while, it's encouragement to resume playing. As for those who've never played, Shepard provides a good compass for beginning your own musical journey." -- Linda Dailey Paulson, Dirty Linen, Oct./Nov. 2000 ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Preface, by Paul HornIntroduction Part 1 ~ FLUTE LOREThe World Family of FlutesThe Story of the Western Flute Part 2 ~ SELECTION AND CAREFinding Your FluteCaring for Your Flute Part 3 ~ FLUTE TECHNIQUEEmbouchure and BreathPosturePlaying NotesMore About Embouchure and BreathFingering TechniqueTuningAdvanced TechniquesSpecial Effects Part 4 ~ MAKING MUSICScales and ChordsPlaying by EarReading MusicLiving Music Part 5 ~ MODERN FOLK FLUTESFinding a Folk FluteCaring for a Folk FlutePlaying a Folk Flute APPENDIXHow the Flute WorksMiscellaneous Fingering ChartsReading List

In this selection of poetry and short prose, Mark Shepard shares with you his twin obsessions with God and sex -- often in the same piece. Perhaps not since Solomon's Song of Songs have the lofty and the worldly been so entwined, like two lovers struggling toward communion. Humor, insight, reverence, sensuality, a penchant for austerity, and a gift of delight -- you'll find them all in "Songs of Flesh, Songs of Spirit." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Mark Shepard's poetry has appeared in such illustrious journals as Pegasus, Fountainhead, and The New Potato Caboose. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Beautiful sparks in all kind of directions. Not the stylistic consistency that one sees in book-a-year poets, but more honesty, and a fine intensity." -- Rod Willmot, poetry editor, Black Moss Press ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS In a world . . . Crystal Poem for Lew Tell me something . . . You scream for my ****, but . . . We are destroyed . . . Disciple As the click of a boot heel . . . I Am a Searcher Among Stones Wet Dream Beth Sure, I love you . . . Bed-Hopping "Look!" she cried . . . Brian Lotus Circle Dance Gopi Soulmate ///////////////////////////////////////////////// GOPI [Note: A gopi is one of the cowmaid lovers of Krishna. -- Mark] Last night my Lord came to me. I had lain many nights waiting, hoping His favor would find me, there in the dark. When He came, He came in silence -- I did not hear Him enter, did not see Him till He stood by my bed. I gave a small cry, but He reached out His hand to quiet me, to soothe me. Then He slid beneath the covers, and my arms received Him. I have not been known as a passive lover, yet, feeling the weight of this man upon me, I wished only to lie and receive His strength. His hands were gentle, his fingers sensitive, and His touch, wherever it fell, made me feel my skin had come alive. His mouth pressed my mouth, and when I felt it on my neck and breasts, my body trembled in reply. When He entered in, I begged for roughness-- but He would have none of it. Slowly He moved, and smoothly. To my delight, I felt the fire building-- to my surprise, I found the mild more forceful than the strong. I felt Him build within my swelling joy, and when He came, I felt as if a light had flooded me. "Lord," I cried, "my Lord." But I did not come with Him. Lord help me, I could not. Even then, something held back. When I had received His all, he did not forget me, but gently stroked me and whispered pleasure in my ear. And when I cried, he comforted me, and told me not to mind, and promised He would come again.

Simple flutes of bamboo, wood, metal, plastic, or clay can be a joy to play and make. This book gives you the basics of simple flute playing, then offers guidelines for making flutes of your own from a variety of materials. It even includes a handy chart for "where to put the holes." "Simple Flutes" is a must for simple flute players and makers! ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// Mark Shepard is the author of "How to Love Your Flute," hailed by Paul Horn as "a model for our times," as well as the craft guide "Simple Flutes." For many years, he was a professional artisan, making and selling flutes of bamboo or plastic. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Contains the essense of a tremendous amount of experience." -- Sam Hinton, Sing Out "An excellent overview." -- Monty Levenson, Tai Hei Shakuhachi "A slim, elegantly presented, and highly practical guide. . . . First-rate, user friendly." -- Midwest Book Review, Aug. 2002 "This thin volume contains a wealth of information." -- Linda Dailey Paulson, Dirty Linen, Oct.-Nov. 2002 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS 1 ~ PLAYING The Sound ~ The Hands ~ The Notes ~ Second Octave ~ Sharps and Flats ~ Breath and Tonguing ~ Making Music ~ Flute Care ~ 2~ MAKING Flute Qualities ~ The Flute Tube ~ The Mouthhole ~ The Fingerholes ~ Tuning ~ Stoppers ~ Finishes ~ Plastic ~ Bamboo ~ Wood ~ Clay ~ Metal ~ Other ~ ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Here are the two most important rules for tuning: -- A hole will give a higher note if it is placed closer to the mouthhole. It will give a lower note if placed farther away. -- A hole will give a higher note if made larger. It will give a lower note if smaller. These rules mean you can "raise" a note by enlarging the hole or by placing the hole closer to the mouthhole. You can "lower" the note by using a smaller hole or by placing the hole farther from the mouthhole. It also means you can change the hole size and its placement without changing the note. A larger hole could be placed farther from the mouthhole, or a smaller hole placed closer to the mouthhole.

"All my actions have their source in my inalienable love of humankind." -- Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi is one of the least understood figures of all time -- even among his admirers. In this Annual Gandhi Lecture for the International Association of Gandhian Studies, Mark Shepard tackles some persistently wrong-headed views of Gandhi, offering us a more accurate picture of the man and his nonviolence. //////////////////////////////////////////////// "A model of Gandhian journalism. . . . [Shepard] has put his finger on seemingly all of the popular (and some less common) misconceptions of both Gandhi and his philosophy, including some particularly important ones. . . . This book takes little space to cover its topic concisely and well. It would be [some] of the most valuable pages many people could read about Gandhi." -- Global Conscience, July-Sept. 1990 //////////////////////////////////////////////// Mark Shepard is the author of "Mahatma Gandhi and His Myths," "The Community of the Ark," and "Gandhi Today," called by the American Library Association's Booklist "a masterpiece of committed reporting." His writings on social alternatives have appeared in over 30 publications in the United States, Canada, England, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, and India. //////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE I suspect that most of the myths and misconceptions surrounding Gandhi have to do with nonviolence. For instance, it's surprising how many people still have the idea that nonviolent action is passive. It's important for us to be clear about this: There is nothing passive about Gandhian nonviolent action. I'm afraid Gandhi himself helped create this confusion by referring to his method at first as "passive resistance," because it was in some ways like techniques bearing that label. But he soon changed his mind and rejected the term. Gandhi's nonviolent action was not an evasive strategy nor a defensive one. Gandhi was always on the offensive. He believed in confronting his opponents aggressively, in such a way that they could not avoid dealing with him. But wasn't Gandhi's nonviolent action designed to avoid violence? Yes and no. Gandhi steadfastly avoided violence toward his opponents. He did not avoid violence toward himself or his followers. Gandhi said that the nonviolent activist, like any soldier, had to be ready to die for the cause. And in fact, during India's struggle for independence, hundreds of Indians were killed by the British. The difference was that the nonviolent activist, while willing to die, was never willing to kill. Gandhi pointed out three possible responses to oppression and injustice. One he described as the coward's way: to accept the wrong or run away from it. The second option was to stand and fight by force of arms. Gandhi said this was better than acceptance or running away. But the third way, he said, was best of all and required the most courage: to stand and fight solely by nonviolent means.

**********THIS IS A "SHORT," NOT A FULL-LENGTH BOOK!!!**********This booklet tells how to make the best bread in the world. And it's made from only wheat, water, and salt! You'll love this tasty, wholesome, easy-to-make bread from a tradition thousands of years old. In fact, it may spoil you for all other bread! ///////////////////////////////////////////////Mark Shepard is the author of several books on simple living and nonviolent social change, and also on the flute.///////////////////////////////////////////////CONTENTSThe StarterThe IngredientsThe SpongeThe Two Things You Must Always RememberThe DoughThe RisingThe BakingFinal Facts///////////////////////////////////////////////A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORI first learned to love this bread while visiting the Community of the Ark, a utopian society founded in France by an Italian disciple of Gandhi. On my return home, a friend taught me how to make the same bread -- or pretty close. Some further experimenting ended up with the method in this booklet. If you've made other breads, you'll find it refreshingly simple. No matter how much of this bread I've eaten, I've never grown tired of it.