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I thought I’d share with you something I picked up yesterday on the flute. I recorded it with GarageBand, which by default gives you a metronome to accompany you. At first I thought it was a good idea, as my sense of rhythm is a bit all over the place, but firstly my playing and the metronome started to amicably go their separate ways, and then when the recording was over I couldn’t turn it off!

I’ve never recorded myself before playing - what’s interesting is that things you think are awful-sounding when playing don’t sound near as bad when you listen to it. All the more reason to escape that critical mind, and just get into the heart, I say. The funny thing is that you actually make a lot less mistakes when you just decide to play from the heart.

I haven’t a clue what the tune is called - I got it off a YouTube recording of Mick O’Brien and Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh playing about three years ago. When I was beginning to play the flute, Caoimhin very kindly and selflessly took the time to give me some valuable tips; any mistakes (and there are many) are solely as a result of a lack of dedication and a general I-know-best attitude on my part, rather than a reflection on his teaching.

Here’s the video so you can see what it should sound like: (Ha, that reminds me of one time I was in the car with my brother Colm and about to play an Irish music album he hadn’t heard before; I casually remarked that I’d learned some tunes from this album and he might recognise them. Bet you I won’t recognise them at all! he said, laughing)