I admit, when I discovered cycling and fell in love with it, my music blogging took a backseat, which is not so bad considering that cycling saved me from anxiety and depression. However, it is time to get back to what I have created since 2009. And that is music blogging. Not just about Celtic music but music in general. I love the way music energizes our souls. And I realize that listening to music is the same as drinking coffee(for coffee lovers, of course, or any type of drink you are fond of). We get that buzz that we could not explain, but we know that we need it to improve our lives. That is why we need musicians. We also need to learn to play an instrument or two. Not to be experts or become recording artists, but to tap into that creative part of us that gives us pleasure. That is why I am so pleased to receive a gift from my friend in England. Paula sent me an Irish wooden “D” flute. It is a challenge to play. I had to do research and learn terms like embouchure and also tuning. This musical instrument is different from the German recorder because of the mouthpiece. You blow the air on a hole to create a tone that can be a hit or miss when you are starting. It would be best if you also had good breathing techniques because it requires a lot of air on top of being precise. The first day I tried to practice, I got so tired and hungry.
There is something magical about the wood as a medium of music. It has warmth and overtones that can give the piece its distinct “favor.” I am watching many wooden flute videos on youtube. I am also taking out my Brendan Mulholland and Calum Steward CDs to reinforce my passion for practicing. I am sure this will result in more artists playing the wooden D flute in future articles.

Check out the videos of Sean Cunningham is you are interested to learn how to play the Irish wooden “D” flute.