Level 3 Content

In lessons 28 to 39 I will teach some of my favourite flute tunes. When we speed up these tunes they will be filled with strong suitable ornamentation that should in turn help you improve your playing skills.

Lesson 28 - O’Dea’s (Jig) - Here we will learn a beautiful jig. You will learn a new element of ornamentation called vibrato on the G & C. You will also be introduced to a G cut using your A finger as well as sliding to a B note. We look at the use of a D sharp key to slide into an E roll. All ornamentation you have learned from the start of level 2 will be embedded into different tunes over the course as you learn them. O’Dea’s will be played first, then broken up into sections. Each section will have suitable ornamentation. You will play through each part after you learn it. Then you will play the tune at a slow learning pace then speeding it. When speeding the tune up we will try to keep the ornaments that we have learned throughout the lesson. You will play it for a 3rd time even a little faster to see if you can keep all of the ingredients in your playing.

Lesson 29 -  La Ollamh (Slip Jig) - We start our conversation about recommended listening. We look at another element of ornamentation called tapping. You will do a short exercise to practise this ornament. You will learn the tune in segments accompanied by live ABC music notation to help with phrases. You will also insert other elements of ornamentation learned during level 2. We will address the idea of using glottal stops in a slip jig rhythm. Towards the end you will play the tune at a slow learning pace and then again challenge yourself to speed it up to a session ready pace.

Lesson 30 - The Boy in the Gap (Reel) - In this lesson we will discuss the idea of the backbeat and how it is used in traditional music, not just flute playing. This 3-part tune will be played through first. Then the tune will be broken into sections to learn the tune with live ABC notation. As you learn the tune, you will insert suitable ornamentation. Towards the end of the lesson you will play through the tune at different speeds. The backbeat discussion is towards the end of the lesson also.

Lesson 31 - The East of Glenart - This tune is a version of The Humours of Glendart which is a pretty well known tune in music. You will look at a double tap on the F note here in the A part of the tune. You will also look at some more vibrato. The tune will be played then broken into short learning sections, then you will play each section. You will insert ornamentation as you learn the tune. You will play the tune at different speeds towards the end of the lesson with live ABC notation. This will be one of your session tunes at lesson 40 also.

Lesson 32 -  Old John’s Jig - This is a fantastic tune to play. It has a great rhythm. We will experiment with some nuances (different ingredients) that we haven’t looked at before. We discuss overblowing the c natural note to create the sound of the old pipers. We switch between F sharp and F natural within the tune and you will learn how to play an F natural with or without a key. We concentrate on glottal stops at one point in the lesson. Like previous lessons the tune will be broken into sections and learning is aided by live ABC notation. Many suitable ornaments will be taught with the tune. Each part of the tune will be played and then the tune will be played fully through at different speeds.

Lesson 33 - The Boys of Tulla - This is similar in ways to The Humours of Tulla which is a well known traditional tune. This tune will be part of a set to play during the session at lesson 40. The tune will be played through then broken into sections with live part by part instructions. You will look at a triplet idea to introduce the tune. Towards the end of the lesson you will play through the tune at different speeds.

Lesson 34 - The Skylark (Reel) - This tune will be used as part of our session at lesson 40. You will hear the tune first then will be guided through each section with the help of ABC notation and instruction. Each part will be played through after you learn it. The tune will be played at different speeds toward the end of the lesson.

Lesson 35 - Mc Fadden’s Favourite - We talk a little about recommended listening at the start of this lesson. You will hear the tune as in previous lessons then learn the tune in sections. After each part you will play back that section and towards the end of the lesson you will play through the tune at different speeds. This is a single reel, which means the 1st and 2nd part are only played once. We look at vibrato during this lesson also, as well as integrating other suitable elements of ornamentation into the tune as we learn it.

Lesson 36 - An Paistin Fionn - This is a beautiful jig to play. It is a simple tune with a great rhythm. You will hear the tune played through first. Then you will learn the tune in smaller segments. During each segment you will imbed suitable ornamentation into that segment of the tune. Each part will be played after you learn it. Then, towards the end of the lesson you will play through the tune several times at different speeds starting at a learner’s pace. We discuss some tips for competition playing also during the lesson.

Lesson 37 - The Sunny Banks (Reel) - The full tune will be played then broken into sections. Each part will be played after you learn it. The tune is then played-through several times with live ABC notation. We discuss slight variations in the tune. We also look at an A cut and F tap and how to integrate these into the 2nd part of the tune.

Lesson 38 - Trip to Herves (Reel) - Here we have some more recommended listening. This tune has some lovely off-beats which we will discuss as we learn it. You will hear the tune first then break it into smaller sections. After playing through each part as we learn it, you will play through the tune at different speeds towards the end of the lesson. Here we start to prepare you for your sets in the session at lesson 40 also.

Lesson 39 - This Fisherman’s Lilt (Reel) - This is our first tune to learn in the key of C. We will go through the scale of C and the slight difference from playing in the key of D or G. We talk about one of my favourite bands for recommended listening. You will hear the tune, then we break it into sections and learn each segment with the help of instruction as well as live ABC notation. We play each part after we learn it and then perform the tune at different speeds towards the end of the lesson.

Lesson 40 - Trad Session