Morrisons [Jig] - Tune of the Month with Shannon Heaton

[@EpicWorkshop]

I absolutely love your style of teaching, breathing stops are super helpful to me! Thank you so much Shannon !! Moris

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

hi, Moris - I'm so glad the breathing guidance can help. I do think it's the key to finding an easy rhythmic bed for the flute!

[@Michajeru]

This is a wonderful tune and my God you play it beautifully.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

It's a nice tune, really. And I do like playing some of the E Minor bits simply and clearly (not just rolling through all of it).

[@michalina_malisz]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! You're an amazing musician. :)

[@alisdar1234]

Very very well played, so much forward energy!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

thanks for the encouragement. Love the idea of forward energy!

[@dinnae]

Thank you, very helpful! Just putting a timestamp in the comments for the start of the tune so I can play along on guitar: 1:30

[@Melvorgazh]

WAow! One of my favourite póirt dúbáilte ever! Great version! Boss! ❤️ Go raibh míle maith agaibh!

[@Klangwandler]

Thank you very much! i try to lern this on the earthtoneflute. :-) First Part Phrase 1: 2:27 Phrase 2: 2:35 Phrase 3: 2:41 Phrase 4: 2:47 Second Part Phrase 1: 4:08 Phrase 2: 4:16 Phrase 3: 4:22 Phrase 4: 4:28

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

hope it's fun to learn, and great that you are breaking down the phrases!

[@williamswhistlepipes]

Great tuition I’ve already learned coolys and maid behind the bar from you . So thank you I’d say your the best tutor on YT . 👍🏻

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

really glad these are helpful! Thanks for the nice note.

[@davidgoodwin7269]

Thanks Shannon. Very enjoyable.

[@stickwithjen8778]

❤ this song is played at least once at our sessions that we have once a month Fully struggle with the bee parts. Thanks it was hard to break it down with other videos and I like that you show where to breathe It is a struggle where to place the breaths where the beat needs to go and all that since what I learned I don’t always get the full idea where the notes are supposed to actually land in like a real world context I don’t know so it’s something I’m figuring out often or group rushes it and it sounds really bad honestly but I still think the tune is really good but I like your style, so thanks you make it feel more manageable I like to play along on the low whistle with you it matches your flute

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Delayed response here, but I like the way you are thinking about this. Yes, figuring out where to breathe is really about figuring out how to organize/phrase the tune. It's like breathing while speaking: - You don't play, play, play, and then the play the last ...[breathe]........ note. - You breathe, play, and play... [breathe]... and then you finish the phrase. Glad you are playing along with me on the whistle!

[@Melvorgazh]

ps: love the backing! I'd back a similar way with E drone and open and modal chords a lot too :)

[@_Olorin]

I have already unlearned and relearned this tune 2 times because I played by ear different, simplified versions of it and there was always something that felt not quite right. Now I have to unlearn and relearn it a third time because this version sounds best, but man is it hard to go against muscle memory. Very useful demonstration, but if I could make a suggestion, I think it would be useful to repeat the whole tune in one go at the end of your explanation (the slow way) , because I sometimes had a bit of trouble getting it into my head in its entirety with transitions (especially at that G cut transition in the last part because it didn't fit to what I already had in my head). When you play with your partner, the tune already sounds different because you play around with it. Cheers!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Oh, Antoine, you are so right that muscle memory is hard to overwrite! And maybe learning traditional tunes is always, to some extent, relearning. When I hear a new turn or setting of an old tune, I'm often inspired to rework, to reimagine. Every time you do this, you become better at doing it! And you become more flexible and inventive in your playing. Maybe I should repeat at the end... though I worry that the videos would be quite long then. There is a feature with KZbin that you can play back at slower speeds. Is that helpful for you? Maybe you could slow down the duo version, too (which, as you say, incorporates further variation--and I've done that on purpose.... to demonstrate how this music is never really played the same each time around.)

[@_Olorin]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic I totally understand and agree with the fact that you want to show it the way you would play it for yourself with variations etc. Maybe it's just me and it's not much of an issue for most people or in other videos. The speed for the explanation was fine, I just had trouble connecting that particular transition. I think I got it now, though! I personally don't find a 10min video too much to explain a whole tune :) Cheers, thanks for your answer.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

good to know that it would be helpful to have one more play through, @@_Olorin. Maybe for the next series (next year), I'll do that! And maybe I'll also limit my variations in the play through with Matt... I'll have to think about that. Thanks for the input. And best of luck with your music!

[@_Olorin]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thank you! And if you are open to tune suggestions, I recently heard the Jig of the Dead and it has this strange eerie but joyous thing to it that I find very interesting!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

​@@_Olorin -- I hunted for the tune and found a fairly flat A part... I'll put it on the list for next season. And the challenge for me will be to slightly adjust/inhabit that first part, so it has a bit more mystery (and better lives up to its name!).

[@DebarsheeBagchi]

Hello Shannon, just wanted to say that I am so immensely thankful to you for making these videos. You are an incredible musician and an equally great teacher. I am very new to Irish trad music and have been playing the tin whistle and low whistle since the last 8/9 months. In the last few days I have learnt so much from your videos about playing and practicing Irish music. I watch you videos and work on the tunes that you teach - putting special attention to breathing, clarity, and the rhythmic and melodic variations. I am now so tempted to start learning the flute as well. I always wanted to learn the flute but it seemed so daunting a task. But after watching your videos I think I am determined enough to take up the challenge. I am now planning to buy a delrin flute for beginners from Copley flutes. Is there any suggestion that you would like to give me? Thank you again. Please keep these videos coming! :)

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Hello, Debarshee. I am so glad these videos can be helpful and encouraging for you. And it's exciting that you're considering the flute. Why not try, right? I think the Delrin option is great. It's inexpensive, but still a good instrument for learning. For the first few days, I'd do short sessions with plenty of long slow notes. Pay attention to anything that feels like a stretch or a struggle, and see if you can adjust your posture or hand position (or your thoughts) to make it just a little easier. If you have more questions as you dig in, I'm happy to offer suggestions. Good luck!

[@DebarsheeBagchi]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thank you so much, Shannon, for your encouraging words. I recently got my delrin flute and I have started playing it, since the last 7-10 days! I am slowly trying to get used to the instrument, develop the embouchure, and notice my breathing etc. I think the embouchure is the most difficult thing in flute playing and there are no good tutorials for the Irish flute on KZbin that explain the embouchure and tone production, in depth (although there are videos about the same for the silver flute - I am following those videos). Anyway, it is going to take a long long long time before I start playing the flute with any confidence, but the journey has begun, thanks to you! :) Here is a small video, just to show you how much your videos have inspired and motivated me. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6Hbhp-QjLCegas

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

@@DebarsheeBagchi --I really enjoyed watching your video. You are making terrific progress already. And you are your own best teacher, as you notice the importance and uniqueness of the flute embouchure. Best of luck with your music, and thank you for sharing!

[@ganainm]

The video helped me a lot, though I'm a banjo player myself. Thank you.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

I am so glad this can be helpful for you. I love that there is a nice Irish music community in Korea. Wishing you all the best luck with your tunes!

[@ganainm]

Thank you for your comment. Have a great day!

[@fabioeliasreisritter8827]

"The big mo!" hahahahaah

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Haha! A big deal for cyclists, too...

[@nedohamilli]

Great teaching.....what's that yoke on top of the piano

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

ah! Those are a variety of individual organ pipes on the piano--from wonderful musician (and my father-in-law) Charles Heaton.

[@umbertocapasso67]

Very beautiful girl ... and teacher

[@orianrahmani4905]

hello shannon, thank you so much i learn a lot from you! so i start play on whistle somthing like a year ego, i control morrisons jig with ornament's now, its very fun :) but ! i play twice slower then the speed you play in the and.. so now i need to practice 10 year to get there? or there is some Shortcut for speed?

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

The shortcut might be to take your time! Really know the tune... play it at the speed that is super comfortable for you (with ornaments and a nice rhythmic pulse)... and notice how incredibly light and relaxed your fingers can be. Don't be in a hurry to hurry up! Notice the slow pace feeling. Memorize it. Then maybe the next day, after you've played it many, many times slowly, try it a bit faster. Can you bring some of that relaxed sense into the faster play?

[@orianrahmani4905]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic i see.. im just a fraid to be stack in the level that's its comfortable to play.. but you explain it very well and i get your point so tnx :)

[@irishflutegirl9022]

The Big Mo 😂

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

haha! It's hard to find the big Mo sometimes... and hard to keep it.

[@CliveVaz]

What model is this flute and which conpany or make? It's gotna really nice rich tone and timbre. Ofcourse you are playing it really nicely and are able to achieve a wonderful full sounding tones with rich harmonics too. ❤️❤️🙏🙏. Nice playing. Also thanks for sharing some tips on Irish style of playing. 🙏🙂.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

A wonderful flute made by Patrick Olwell--Aaron and Pat (and Matthew) make the flutes now, but this is an older model. I'm so grateful for the Olwell family!

[@CliveVaz]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic thanks I found them on FB. 👍

[@Melvorgazh]

Ok, and Shannon. I a set with what tune do you like to play it? I usually played it after Dinny Delaney's slide like the Bothies. But I guess you played it a few times with other tunes as awesome :) nope? Go raibh maith agat as do ceachteanna saor in aisce ;) Is muinteoir iontach tusa! Your hubby, does he teach the guitar a bit? He is 1st class guitar player anyway. T'would be fantastic to have a guitar duo album one day, maybe with Tim Edey or Ed Boyd of Flook. I'll get you album. Is PayPal ok? And you got 1 or 2 albums so far? Le dea-ghuí ;)

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Morrisson's has such a nice, strong E start--it could go after almost anything. After the Legacy Jig, the Haunted House, orOut on the Ocean in G.... or after the Humours of Glendart, or the Trip to Athlone in D.... the world is your oyster!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Also, thanks for asking about recordings. We have a few: you can find them at mattandshannonheaton.com/wp/shop/

[@almatka1]

Hi My dearest flute player☘️ I would kindly ask which type of grease do you use on the tuning slide? It is a maintenance question. If you do not mind. Tuning slides metal on metal needs grease, But I am interested what type do you use? Thank you

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Good question, Judit! I asked a trusty friend, and will keep asking. Ideally you do not need to grease the slide. Really, the grease probably just attracts debris. If it feels sticky, perhaps you could clean both surfaces with rubbing alcohol and soft cloth (or cotton ball, paper towel)? But if there is no problem, maybe leave it alone?

[@damienseyc2357]

Really good stuff Shannon. I see you do not cut necessarily your double notes in the second part, but seem to use more your diaphragm. I would tend to tap to separate the pairs of E in the second part. What would you recommend?

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

hi, Damien - Great ear. I think cutting those E's with the G finger sounds great. Or, as I've done, I think it also works to tongue the second E with a "duh" (not a hard "tuh"). I'm not a huge fan or tapping the low d finger to separate them--but if you do that cleanly and it sounds good to you, then that can work, too! Any of these options can be great.

[@damienseyc2357]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic thanks for the quick reply Shannon!!! Im planning to relearn a lot of tunes listening to you and Matt!

[@trustymcoolguy]

Where did you get your flute? And/or who did you get your flute from? I am really struggling to find a good professional flute.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Patrick and Aaron Olwell make excellent flutes. I'm so happy to play an Olwell, and the instrument they made me back in 1997 gets sweeter every year. There's a wait for their instruments, and it's worth it. I have a keyed flute. But you can play most everything on a keyless flute. Good luck!

[@trustymcoolguy]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic thanks

[@Bruno-oj8se]

😂😂😂

[@riacronin8539]

Do u give notes on any videos?

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Hello! I'm really trying to give tools/process for learning these by ear... since that's the way Irish music is played, shared, known. It's like telling someone a joke, right? You don't write it down, you tell it. And if your friend thinks it's funny she tries to tell it. Maybe a few words change along the way, but it's a direct line. My friend Hatao has an excellent channel, and sometimes he provides sheet music: www.youtube.com/@hatao

[@carriecox5049]

can i play this tune on a c flute

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

It's funny that the Irish flute is sometimes called a D Flute--it's also in the key of C. Just most of us can only go down to a low D. You can play this tune on any instrument you like, including a silver keyed flute!

[@Melvorgazh]

@Shannon Heaton Love your teaching, Shannon. But I would say E Dorian instead of E minor or E eolian. Nope? Sláinte agat ar aon nós ;)

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Thanks a lot! Sure, we could call it Dorian. Solidly Dorian. But E minor is more colloquial....

[@Melvorgazh]

Shannon Heaton Ok. But is it also acurate? I am nor sure weather Minor mode is normaly just Eolian. I guess it depends on which school maybe? Hope you can come to tour sa Bheilg in Brussels some day ^^ Go raibh míle maith at!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

I'd love to come to Brussels someday! And it IS correct to call it Dorian (that's more accurate). But it is also fine to just say Minor (that's more conversational).