For the beginner to the highly advanced player of Irish flute, tin whistle, or Boehm-system flute. Features a simple and penetrating new approach to understanding and notating ornamentation that goes beyond any previous method, exploring ornamentation techniques never described in print before. Also includes adaptations for Boehm-system flute players, guidance on breathing and phrasing, 49 ornamentation exercises, history and theory of traditional Irish flute and whistle music, and 27 meticulous transcriptions of recordings by these important Irish flute and tin whistle players: John McKenna,Tom Morrison, William Cummins, Séamus Ennis, Willie Clancy, Paddy Taylor, Paddy Carty, Grey Larsen, Josie McDermott, Matt Molloy, Cathal McConnell, Mary Bergin, Donncha Ó Briain (Denis O'Brien), Desi Wilkinson, Breda Smyth, Seán Ryan, Conal Ó Gráda, Micho Russel, Joanie Madden, Kevin Crawford, Catherine McEvoy, and Seamus Egan. for those who don't read music, almost all the exercises, examples and tunes appear on the two companion CDs. Grey has, through his research, patience, and diligence, completed a work on Irish flute and tin whistle that I feel is essential reading for anybody interested in getting it right. - Matt Molloy, Irish Flute player with the Chieftains.

While the wooden simple-system flute is traditionally used in playing Irish music, a growing number of folk players have adopted the silver flute as a viable alternative. Here for the first time, The Complete Irish Flute Book presents the silver or Boehm flutist with a method for learning authentic Irish ornamentation! This thorough guide provides detailed fingering charts, exercises, and technical essays for learning to execute ornaments in the in the Irish style. Through a wealth of hornpipes, reels, jigs, set dances, and slow airs and songs. This book focuses not only on musical accuracy, but stylistic authenticity as well. The companion CD contains 26 of the 101 tunes from the book.

This book is for someone who can already play the silver flute to some extent. I hope to show you some of the techniques to engage with the sounds of traditional wooden flute, as well as teach you a few tunes along the way. There are lots of my own tunes included which are particularly suited to the silver flute and a few traditional tunes to help illustrate the techniques."a wealth of information for silver flute players who wish their instrument to sound more like a traditional wooden flute...deeply thought through and gives really useful practical advice. ...It really is an impressive book...both entertaining and really useful." - Living Tradition Magazine"hugely important book...Philippe is a master of those techniques...Irish Music Magazine's John Brophy's comment is quoted in the book; "I've heard nobody else who can make the Boehm flute sound like the true traditional thing, who can mould tone to the tune so nicely, the sheer musicality is exceptionally impressive."...This is an invaluable resource for Silver flute players and is a great teaching aid; it should be in every secondary school music room in the country." - Seán Laffey, IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE"This book serves as an ideal introduction for any Boehm flute players who are interested in exploring the traditional language of Irish Music. One of the most important elements in idiomatic Irish flute playing is the execution of a wide range of ornaments, and they are clearly explaned her and backed up with examples from the repertoire. Barnes stresses the difference between classical ornamentation (which is essentially melodic) and Irish ornamentatin where the focus is on rhythm. He disusses differences in hand position and an appropriate approach to vibrato, and covers techniques such as feathering, cuts, rolls, cranns, bounces and slides. Each technique is clearly explaned in straigntforward language, and there is plenty of repertoire included to help skills develop in each area. Recommended." Carla Rees, British Flute Society Magazine

All the tools the beginner, novice, and intermediate tin whistle player needs in order to progress to a high level of competence in Irish music. Includes an Orientation to Traditional Irish Music, which puts the music in context, with information on scales and modes, dance tune types, the historical roots of whistle playing, and advice for learning by ear. the book is full of thorough instruction, exercises, and musical examples: from holding, fingering, breathing, and blowing, on up to advanced ornamentation, phrasing, and variations. Features a simple and penetrating new approach to understanding and notating ornamentation that goes beyond any previous method. Also includes history and theory of traditional Irish tin whistle music. for those who don't read music, almost all the exercises and examples appear on the companion CD.

Volume I of Playing Outside the Lines is the first of a comprehensive four-part method book series offering beginning to advanced Irish traditional flute instruction for Boehm and simple system flutists in graduated books, chapters, and exercises. Volume I provides foundations for playing within the framework of Irish traditional music and the basis for the remaining three volumes of the series. This four-part series is the first of its kind, containing more than 600 technical exercises, rich and nuanced discussions of Irish flute style and cultural context, previously undocumented techniques, side-by-side explanations for Boehm and simple system flutists (as well as information for musicians transitioning between the two instruments), audio excerpts, simple system flute care and purchasing information, and resources for further study. By the end of the four-part series, Boehm and simple system flutists of any background will have the tools necessary to play Irish music with a deep understanding of the tradition as well as with individual creativity. Brook Ferguson, Principal Flutist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, calls Playing Outside the Lines "an invaluable resource for any flutist." Renowned performer and author Robert Dick says, "Leslie Anne Harrison’s Playing Outside the Lines is a marvelous gift to all interested in Irish music. Her clear and detailed writing is a huge boon to those embracing the traditional Irish flute and is truly enlightening to those (like me) who want to delve into this music while playing the Boehm flute. From tiniest detail to largest form, Leslie Anne Harrison is there every step of the way. Playing Outside the Lines is a major contribution to flute pedagogy." Includes access to online audio.

Volume II of Playing Outside the Lines is the second 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 Volume I and providing the framework for the remaining two volumes of the series, Volume II offers a detailed introduction to Irish traditional flute ornamentation. Volume II contains ornamentation fingering charts, 40 tune versions, 69 accompanying audio tracks, and nearly 200 exercises. Playing Outside the Lines is the first Irish flute method book series of its kind, containing more than 600 technical exercises, rich and nuanced discussions of Irish flute style and cultural context, previously undocumented techniques, side-by-side explanations for Boehm and simple system flutists (as well as information for musicians transitioning between the two instruments), audio excerpts, simple system flute care and purchasing information, and resources for further study. By the end of the four-part series, Boehm and simple system flutists of any background will have the tools necessary to play Irish music with a deep understanding of the tradition as well as with individual creativity. “A fantastic bible of Irish flute playing. Harrison is a very meticulous and thorough author.” —Viviana Guzman, The Flute View Magazine“ An invaluable resource for any flutist.” —Brook Ferguson, Principal Flutist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra “Leslie Anne Harrison’s Playing Outside the Lines is a marvelous gift to all interested in Irish music. Her clear and detailed writing is a huge boon to those embracing the traditional Irish flute and is truly enlightening to those (like me) who want to delve into this music while playing the Boehm flute. From tiniest detail to largest form, Leslie Anne Harrison is there every step of the way. Playing Outside the Linesis a major contribution to flute pedagogy.” —Robert Dick, Performer and Author of The Other Flute