Tom Doorley - Master Irish Fluter
The greatest flute player since Matt Molloy - Tom is a master of the Irish flute renowned for his expressive tone, unique musical interpretations and creative melodic variations. He has taken the Irish music world by storm and his technical prowess is rivalled by few. You couldn’t ask for a better teacher.
About This Flute Course
Correct Technique
When learning any new instrument for the first time it’s incredibly important to make sure you start off with the correct technique, right from the beginning.
That’s why we’ve specially designed this beginner flute course as a step by step guide to cover all the basics of Irish flute playing - from how to hold your flute, how to create your first sound and how to breathe correctly.
The Breath is Key
This beginner flute course will teach you all the necessary building blocks of good flute playing and equip you with specially designed exercises that will help you develop your breathing technique and technical skills.
After all, breathing is one of the most important elements of good flute playing!
These flute workouts will rapidly improve your playing, helping you to build up the stamina and endurance required to play the Irish flute.
Play Fast with Confidence
Throughout our lessons Tom will share plenty of handy tips and tricks that will really help to ground you in good flute playing technique and get you playing confidently, faster. You'll also develop a brilliant new repertoire of Irish flute tunes to impress family and friends.
Your Irish Flute Masterclass Curriculum
- Beginner Flute Lesson 1 - Breathing is key (21:42)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 2 - Getting to grips with your flute (10:54)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 3 - Your first notes on the flute (18:35)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 4 - Adding more notes to your repertoire (19:35)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 5 - Iconic D (14:25)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 6 - Moving into the higher register (17:18)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 7 - Learn your first Irish polka (23:13)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 8 - Beat and rhythm (12:00)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 9 - New notes and keys (15:29)
- Beginner Flute Lesson 10 - The Bear in the Blueberry Bush (16:11)
- All Beginner Flute Lesson Resources
- Beginner Boehm Lesson 1 - Unboxing your flute and getting started (29:45)
- Beginner Boehm Lesson 2 - Holding the flute correctly and learning your first notes (26:26)
- Beginner Boehm Lesson 3 - Your first tune (9:06)
- Beginner Boehm Lesson 4 - Three new notes (18:05)
- Beginner Boehm Lesson 5 - Your first Irish polka (24:53)
- All Beginner Boehm Flute Lesson Resources
- Beginner Bonus Tune A: The Rolling Wave (jig) (4:37)
- Beginner Bonus Tune B: The Fisherman's Song for Attracting Seals (jig) (3:37)
- Beginner Bonus Tune C: The Butterfly (slip jig) (4:07)
- Beginner Bonus Tune D: Jim Ward's (jig) (3:26)
- Beginner Bonus Tune E: Ailí Gheal Chiúin (air) (3:04)
- Beginner Bonus Tune F: The Eagle's Whistle (march) (4:18)
- Beginner Bonus Tune G: The Ballydesmond Polka (polka) (3:32)
- Bonus Lesson A - Tom's First Irish Flute Teacher (6:30)
- Bonus Lesson B - How to Join an Irish Session (13:01)
- Intermediate Lesson 1 - Important Exercise to Increase ‘Colour’ in Your Tone (27:15)
- Intermediate Lesson 2 - Tips & Tricks to Develop Your Mid Register and High Register (13:20)
- Intermediate Lesson 3 - Learning Your First March on the Flute (15:47)
- Intermediate Lesson 4 - Articulation and the Iconic Hard D (20:42)
- Intermediate Lesson 5 - Your First Ornament: the Cut (20:48)
- Intermediate Lesson 6 - Your Second Ornament: the Roll (20:00)
- Intermediate Lesson 7 - Your First Jig - The Boys of the Town (23:57)
- Intermediate Lesson 8 - Putting the 'A Roll' into Practice (13:13)
- Intermediate Lesson 9 - Getting to Grips with the ‘B Roll’ (17:02)
- Intermediate Lesson 10 - Learn the Legendary Kesh (21:15)
- Bonus Tune A - Rolling in the Rye Grass (2:55)
- Bonus Tune B - The Maid Behind the Bar (4:13)
- Bonus Tune C - The Mountain Road (3:55)
- Bonus Tune D - The Connaught Man's Rambles (4:09)
- Bonus Tune E - The Mist Covered Mountain (2:51)
- Bonus Tune F - Bean Dubh a' Ghleanna (2:47)
- Bonus Tune G - Breton Lullaby (2:53)
- Bonus Lesson A - Pitch Control & Tone (5:30)
- Bonus Lesson B - Extended Breathing Techniques (7:27)
- Advanced Lesson 1: Tonal Expression and the Chromatic Scale (24:32)
- Advanced Lesson 2: Tonal Exercises to Enhance the Low Register, and Syncopation (13:50)
- Advanced Lesson 3: Tonal Development and Breath Control (25:22)
- Advanced Lesson 4: New Tune - Jenny's Chickens (Incorporating the 'Half Roll') (20:24)
- Advanced Lesson 5: New Tune - The Parting of Friends (17:11)
- Advanced Lesson 6: Going deeper: The Bear in the Blueberry Bush (9:50)
- Advanced Lesson 7: Taking on ‘the crans’ (13:04)
- Advanced Lesson 8: New Tune - The Independence Hornpipe (20:27)
- Advanced Lesson 9: New Tune - The Contradiction (21:25)
- Advanced Lesson 10: Creatively Building Up a Tune (18:29)
Tom Doorley
Tom Doorley is a master Irish flute player from Glenageary, Co. Dublin.
Well versed in both classical and traditional Irish music, Tom’s early influences include Vincent Broderick, Micheál Ó hAlmhain, Cormac Breathnach, the late Séamus Mac Mathúna and of course, the iconic Matt Molloy.
An All-Ireland Irish flute champion, Tom continued his studies in classical flute, qualifying with an honours bachelor degree in music performance from the Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College Dublin. Tom further developed his flute playing while studying with acclaimed flautists including Julius Baker, James Galway, and Marzio Conti in the Boccherini Conservatoire in Lucca, Italy.
Widely regarded as a master flautist, Tom is renowned for his expressive tone, and unique, often playful musical interpretations of traditional Irish tunes which include wildly creative melodic variations. His technical prowess is rivalled by few.
In 1996 Tom joined the international superstar Irish music ensemble, Danú where he performed professionally with the band for fourteen years, recording a number of critically acclaimed albums and touring the world performing traditional Irish music and promoting Irish culture. He also performs on the Disney movie soundtrack for Brave.
After several years living in Cape Breton, Canada, Tom returned to his native Dublin where he now shares his extensive knowledge and expertise as a music educator. A qualified secondary school teacher, Tom is also a third level music lecturer in Technological University Dublin (TUI).
Tom’s unique playing and teaching styles draw on a fusion of classical and traditional Irish training. He currently holds the position of Musical Director with the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, composing new repertoire and developing exciting new ideas for this vibrant ensemble.
Playing a Classical Flute?
No problem! Your instructor Tom Doorley also teaches the Boehm flute system in a dedicated Boehm flute section within the lessons.
Explore our full range of Irish Music Courses
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