Learning Path: Beginner, Part 5

Table of Contents

Step 1 | Healthy Musicianship

Step 1a | Stretches for Healthy Flute Playing, Part 2

Step 2 | Breathing

Step 2a | Breathing Foundations, Part 2

Step 3 | The E Dorian Scale

Step 3a | E Dorian Scale for Beginners

Step 3b | E Dorian Scale and Exercises

Step 4 | Arran Boat Song

Step 4a | Slow Tune Learning: Arran Boat Song

Step 4b | Play Along: Arran Boat Song

Step 5 | In Closing

Step 5a | Celebrate and Communicate

Step 5b | What’s Next?

Step 1

Healthy Musicianship

Step 1a

Use this video to learn some nerve stretches. These can help you warm up for your practice sessions and build a foundation of healthy flute playing. These stretches are what work for me; feel free to find what works for you.

Step 2

Breathing

Step 2a

This video is a continuation of Breathing Foundations, Part 1 from Learning Path: Beginner, Part 3. It will walk you through a series of exercises to encourage deep, relaxed breathing and how to extend your exhalations. This is a great skill set for flute players! It will also be very helpful for The Arran Boat Song, a slow, beautiful tune that you’ll learn in Step Four.

Step 3

The E Dorian Scale

Step 3a

Use these exercises if you are a beginning player learning the E dorian scale for the first time. If you are a more experienced player, you can skip to Step 3b.

Step 3b

These exercises are for more experienced players who would like to work up their E dorian scale technique. If you are a newer player and would like to skip this step, you can proceed to Step 4.

Step 4

Arran Boat Song

Step 4a

Watch this video to learn Arran Boat Song, a tune in E dorian. Do your best to learn the tune by ear. There is also sheet music below if that’s your preference. If you’re learning by ear, here is the tune map:

A: A1 A2 A1 A2

B: B1 B2 B1 A2

Step 4b

Now you can play along to this video. Remember, you can always adjust the speed by clicking on the gear icon in the lower right corner.

Step 5

In Closing

Step 5a

Celebrate and communicate! Head over to our private Facebook page and let us know how it went! Any questions or ideas? Post them there and we can discuss.

Step 5b

What’s next?

Look below for a review list of the companion resources covered in this learning path, and/or a chance to browse and discover something new on your own.

© Leslie Anne Harrison 2022. All rights reserved.