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Comment by Michael Walsh on March 1, 2014 at 12:09

Hello there. Great to find this place. I teach trad Irish Flute in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Comment by Gordon Paterson on October 29, 2013 at 19:52

Just got back from O'Flaherty's Irish music retreat  5 stars what a great time and learning experience, met some great people , so much talent on show , my thanks to Ken Fleming  and all the people down there in Texas that worked so hard to make this work . what a fantastic retreat. Gordon. P.

Comment by Lars 'Larry Mór' Mott on February 22, 2012 at 17:33

Well Jim, at the risk of stating the obvious ;) For playing in the keys of C and F and related minors? With the same embouchure/headpiece you're used to.

Congrats on the flute, i am sure it's a good one!

Comment by Jim Wells Sr on February 22, 2012 at 16:11

A question for the group: I purchased an Olwell flute recently and chose one with a D center section (of course) and a C center section. What can I use the C center section for?

Comment by Danna Hotmar on February 7, 2012 at 23:57

The book's author is a jazz pianist, and his examples are from a jazz perspective, but what he says about music in general and about practicing I think can apply to any kind of music. 

Comment by Rick Boyce on February 7, 2012 at 19:32

Danna, thanks for your comment. I'll have to see if I can track that book down.

Comment by Tina Eck on February 6, 2012 at 21:28

Does anybody know when the new Kevin Crawford CD is coming out and where to get it ? In the US ? thanks

Comment by Karen Pollock on February 5, 2012 at 16:56

My background is much like Donna's but I am still playing the silver flute, even at pub sessions and in my Celtic group in Calgary. For the longest time I played only from music, thinking that I could never play without it. Then a few years ago I was at a music birthday party in a pub, and no one had music there. I tried joining in and discovered quite by accident that I could play most of the tunes! Now I try to pick up what I can by ear at the pub if a new tune is being played, but then I print off the music at home. I use music until I can tell that muscle memory is starting to kick in, and then when playing the repeats I'll try without the music. I agree with Anton that it gets easier the more you do it, and it's quite exciting when it happens that I am able to pick up most of a tune by ear. 

Comment by Anton Emery on February 3, 2012 at 15:43

Very cool Donna. I dont think I have heard of that book before. I am came from a background of reading music on classical guitar and flute. Learning irish music by ear was a struggle at first. Here is what I did.  I picked 10-20 beginner tunes, found the sheet music for them, as well a relatively uncluttered recording. Ideally just a melody instrument or two. I would listen to the recording alot to internalize the melody, rhythm, and feel. When I sat down to learn it I would try to use my ear as much as possible, filling in the bits I couldnt get with the sheet music. After 20 or so tunes this process gets much easier and quicker. Being able to slow down the audio is extremely helpful. Quicktime (Mac) and Windows Media Player (Windows) will slow down mp3s and keep them at pitch.


Anton Emery
www.celticfingerstyleguitar.com

Comment by Danna Hotmar on February 3, 2012 at 13:13

I was looking around site and read all the great discussion in the Ohio group about learning new tunes. I too am deeply classically trained, or "paper trained" as I am learning I am called. : ) What was helpful to me is a quote from the book Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner, "It is good to view things as familiar or unfamiliar, rather than difficult or easy." Great book by the way. It addresses how our heads get in the way of our music. In fact, this has inspired me to read it again with Irish music in mind this time. Thanks! 

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