Free Course Image Learn Irish Flute

Free online courseLearn Irish Flute

Duration of the online course: 2 hours and 48 minutes

New

Build Irish flute tone and ornamentation fast with a free online course—practice jigs, reels and slow airs, plus tools that keep you on time and progressing.

In this free course, learn about

  • Irish flute embouchure basics: forming the airstream for clear tone
  • Correct traditional Irish flute holding/posture for comfort and control
  • Core Irish flute technique: breath, finger control, and clean articulation
  • Adding percussive effect to rolls (e.g., tonguing/taps for rhythmic punch)
  • How to maintain consistent volume/tone across the flute’s range
  • Using play-along jig backing tracks and practice tools to build timing
  • What a “cut” ornament is and how it functions in Irish flute playing
  • Advanced ornamentation in jigs (roll variations, cuts, taps) in context
  • Learning tunes by phrase: slips jigs, jigs, reels, and slow airs
  • Why practice tunes slowly first: accuracy, phrasing, and ornament placement
  • Reel fundamentals: 4/4 time feel, lift, and drive (e.g., The Braes of Busby)
  • Breathing strategies within jig rhythm without breaking flow
  • Slow-tune technique: expression, dynamics, and controlled vibrato
  • Session skills: experiencing/playing along with an immersive 360° Irish session

Course Description

Develop a confident Irish flute sound from the ground up with a free online learning experience designed for real musical progress. Whether you are picking up the flute for the first time or trying to make traditional tunes feel more natural under your fingers, this course helps you move beyond random practice and into clear, repeatable improvements. You will start by shaping a steady embouchure and learning to hold the instrument in a way that supports control, comfort and clean articulation.

From there, the focus shifts to the hallmarks of Irish traditional style: phrasing, rhythm, lift and ornamentation. You will learn how small movements such as cuts and percussive touches can add clarity and energy, and how to approach rolls and advanced decorations without rushing the fundamentals. Instead of chasing speed, you will build precision first, then increase tempo with better timing and tone—so the music stays smooth, danceable and expressive.

Tune-based learning keeps everything musical. You will practice with jigs, slip jigs and reels, exploring how breathing, volume balance across notes and consistent tone color can transform your playing. Slower practice is used intentionally to lock in finger coordination, reinforce rhythmic placement and let you hear what each ornament is doing. When you do accelerate, you will be training musical steadiness rather than simply moving faster.

The course also supports modern practice habits through play-along tools and backing tracks that make it easier to stay in tempo and feel the groove. For anyone who wants the atmosphere of learning in community, an immersive session-style experience helps you internalize how Irish music sits alongside other instruments, encouraging stronger listening skills and more confident entry points when you play with others.

By the end, you will have a more reliable embouchure, cleaner technique and a better understanding of how to shape traditional melodies with style. Most importantly, you will know how to practice in a way that keeps you improving—turning familiar tunes into performances that sound rooted in Irish tradition while still feeling like your own.

Course content

  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson 1 - [The Basics] EMBOUCHURE 11m
  • Exercise: What is a key aspect of holding the traditional Irish flute correctly as taught in the online Academy of Irish Music course?
  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson [Technique 17m
  • Exercise: What is one technique that can be used to add a percussive element to a flute roll?
  • Video class: Kevin Crawford Irish Flute Lessons [Tune And Technique] 12m
  • Exercise: What is one technique mentioned in the lesson for achieving a consistent volume across different notes on the Irish flute?
  • Video class: [OAIM e-Learning Practice Tool] Play along Backing Tracks for Irish Jigs 03m
  • Exercise: What feature does the Online Academy of Irish Music offer to enhance practice sessions?
  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson [The Fisherman's Slip Jig] With Kirsten Allstaff 12m
  • Exercise: What is a 'cut' in the context of playing the Irish flute, as explained in the online lesson?
  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson: Willie Coleman's Jig [Advanced Ornamentation] 15m
  • Exercise: What is one of the main focuses of the Irish flute course discussed in the text?
  • Video class: [360° Irish Session] Take Your Seat at The Irish Music Session (2019) 03m
  • Exercise: What immersive feature does the Online Academy of Irish Music offer to help students experience playing in an Irish music session?
  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson [The Fair Haired Boy] 14m
  • Exercise: In the context of learning Irish flute music, what is one key focus of the lessons?
  • Video class: Easy Irish Flute Tunes - Gander Down the Prattie Hole 15m
  • Exercise: In the instructional session, what is the purpose of initially playing the tune at a slower pace?
  • Video class: Meet Irish Flute Maestro Michel Bonamy - Spirit of Doolin Episode 3 02m
  • Video class: Irish Flute Lesson | Master Playing Reels | The Braes of Busby 24m
  • Exercise: What is the time signature of a reel in the Online Academy of Irish Music course?
  • Video class: Silver Flute For Irish Music Lesson 1 - The Dancing Master 22m
  • Exercise: What is a simple way to fit breathing into playing a jig rhythm on the Irish flute?
  • Video class: Learn a beautiful old tune perfect for Irish flute [The South Wind] 12m
  • Exercise: What is a beneficial technique to incorporate when playing a slow Irish tune on the flute?

This free course includes:

2 hours and 48 minutes of online video course

Digital certificate of course completion (Free)

Exercises to train your knowledge

100% free, from content to certificate

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