CP: New Flute Tutor by Conal Ó Gráda

Irish Flute
1

Hello Folks
Just to let you know that my new flute book, ‘An Fheadóg Mhór…Irish Traditional Flute Technique’, is now ready for shipment. An outline of the book content is shown below. It can be purchased from my website http://www.conalograda.com (€39 within Ireland, €41 outside Ireland, inclusive of shipping).
I am heading to Tesserette, Switzerland this morning but will answer any questions when I get back on Sunday.
Beir Bua
Conal

Overview
Based on the premise that ‘If you can’t hear it, you can’t play it’, Conal takes a progressive approach to building the students flute technique (What does it Sound like…How is it Done…Where is it Used), starting with the basics (Holding the flute, Breathing, Cuts etc.) and working up to more advanced techniques (Glottal Stops, Rolls and combining of techniques), supported with both Audio and Notated examples. A unique aspect of the book is the chapter on Critical Listening, where the student is taught how to build their listening skills to recognise how top players achieve the musical impact they do.

Build technique progressively from basic breathing to advanced articulation

Step by Step: What does it sound like…How do you do it…Where do you use it

Comprehensively illustrated with both notation and audio examples (free CD inside)

Learn how to listen critically to top players and improve your own playing

Features playing from: Cathering McEvoy, Harry Bradley, Aoife Granville, John Wynne, Tara Diamond, Mike Rafferty, Patsy Hanly, Eamonn Cotter

2

Sounds cool! But what I really want to know … Is there a chapter that explains where the “Rocky” came from? :wink:

3

He’s Rocky because he rocks :wink:

4

I want to know how to do all this after three or four pints.

5

H-m-m-m-m. If I buy Conal’s flute technique book, I wonder whether he guarantees that I will sound just like him :boggle: ?? …Oh well, I can always dream :cry: …But better order one now just on the outside chance…

6

Conal:

By any chance do you have an electronic (i.e. PDF) version?

P

7

I just want to know about that roaring multiphonic D! Every so often
I hit one of those by accident - never happens when I want it to.

8

Twenty five years ago Christy Moore wondered how your man stayed up on the surfboard after 14 pints of stout. Now we’re down to three or four pints. Are they making the Guinness stronger now, or have we become a nation of lightweights?

9

Why, are you a better man if you drink more pints?

10

Hello Lads,
Thanks for the kind comments. Hopefully once a few of you have had a chance to see the book you will continue think well of it. First shipments went out today so thanks to everyone who has ordered them.
Pat, I don’t intend to do a PDF version of it at the moment although an e-book version might be a possibility sometime in the future if it looks viable.
The Rocky name comes from my previous career as a boxer…world champion at ‘spider’ weight…not really…it came from my addiction to ‘Rocky Rasper’ ice-lolls when I was a young fella.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the book. My bodhrán playing buddy, Colm Murphy, did the artwork on the cover and it servers as a good insight into the mind of these rhythm guys!
Beir Bua
Conal

11

Gluten free, fat free and suitable for vegetarians.
http://www.hellotrade.com/dale-farm-ice-cream/rocky-rasper-multipack-icecream.html

12

An eBook version would be great! I like using my iPad for all my music stuff any more (where possible). It just happens that PDFs can be imported directly into ForScore (a great music app, btw).

Pat

13

Wow.. One of my flute icons AND bodhrán personal Jesus :slight_smile: Now i’ve got to buy it for sure!

14

Got mine :smiley:

Will write more later, but yeah. This is the schtuff!

15

Just BE the Rock. BE the Rock. :wink:

16

Ordered mine. Heck, I’ve paid $80 for an hour lesson with a top ITM pro before, so this is a good deal; I’m sure to get some great info out of it. Thanks, Conal. Sounds fascinating.

17

Hiya,

You sold me Cathy! Love Conal’s playing as well. My daughter was tapping her toes against my car seat on the way home from school as she listened to his reels from Raw Bar Collective. Anything that keeps her happy on the long drive home is aces in my book!

~Sean

18

Just ordered mine. It’s my consolation for not being able to take John Skelton’s classes at: http://upmw.smad.us/squeezethebag/

19

Hi folks,
Conal sent this book to me and after a glance I noticed that this is a no"fuss" book and CD. Conal comes straight to the point in this book and mentions the important bits of fluteplaying nothing more, nothing less. Its printed in a format that is easy to use and I keep it on the table for when I need it to remind me of things. He describes the style of some colleagues of him and draws your attention to the chapter of critical listening. Having been to a lecture of Conal, I know that he values this bit. So if you want to improve as a player or just learn to play the flute, this book goes both ways. It gives an insight in the way Conal sees flute playing and what he thinks is important to be able to play the tradtitional tunes. I like it and I still enjoy it. The fun part for me is that now I have a reminder of the things he teaches at workshops. Well done!

20

Is there any/some/much overlap between this and Hammy Hamilton’s book? Or should everyone have both?

Thanks and best wishes.

Steve