Irish Flute For All
Leslie Anne Harrison is a flutist, author, and educator with a passion for making Irish traditional flute playing and instruction accessible to both folk and classical musicians. She has performed at concerts and festivals in the United States, Europe, and South America and is the author of Playing Outside the Lines, an Irish flute method book series for both Boehm and simple system flute players.
Finger vibrato is one of my all time favorite techniques. It can be used to great effect in both slow and faster tunes. I walk you through how to play finger vibrato in this video.
How do you play Irish flute with less tension—and in the process unlock better tone quality, intonation, breathing, and enjoyment? I'll answer those questions here!
ABC notation in Irish traditional music is a shorthand that uses letters A through G of the alphabet rather than placing note heads in a five-line musical staff. Since it is often found in Irish traditional music lessons, workshops, and even online forums, it's a good thing to learn how to read. In my case, I first encountered ABC notation at a workshop with flutist Kevin Crawford and I've used it ever since.
Volume III of Playing Outside the Lines is the third of a comprehensive four-part Irish flute method book series offering beginning to advanced Irish traditional flute instruction for Boehm and simple system flutists in graduated books, chapters, and exercises. Building on the foundation provided in the first two books of the series, Volume III dives into more complicated Irish traditional flute ornamentation such as rolls, short rolls, crans, and breath-ornament techniques. Volume III contains ornamentation fingering charts; advanced ornamentation options, explanations, and placement guidelines; 62 accompanying audio tracks; and more than 170 exercises.
Reside outside the United States or want an ebook copy? Click here to purchase from my publisher, Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
Set of 5 exercises in D Major. For intermediate and advanced players.
Set of 4 easy exercises to learn the D Major scale. ABC Notation included.
I’m often asked about the differences between my two flutes, particularly after concerts when audience members have seen the two side by side on stage. One is a Boehm flute and the other is a simple system flute. There are three primary ways in which these flutes are different, and each difference will affect your approach to the instrument.