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Take your phrasing to a whole new level.

Taught by acclaimed flutist and educator Lorna McGhee

Turn everything you play into a profound message. Learn to convey emotion, craft a narrative, and express yourself with all the meaning and power of spoken words.

The Art of Phrasing with Lorna McGhee

Breathe life into your playing. Express yourself like never before.

The most admired flutists do something special with the music. They turn it into a vivid expression of human emotion, simply by using their breath as the paintbrush. Ever wished to infuse your playing with this kind of depth?

Now, it’s within your reach. In this two-part, in-depth course, Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Flute Lorna McGhee demystifies the art of phrasing. Through selections from beloved repertoire and the first six of Moyse's 24 Little Melodic Studies, get ready to go on an inspired journey of expression — and unlock a world of potential on the flute.

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    Learn to build a story through each phrase, taking any passage you encounter from mundane to meaningful.
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    Discover the commonalities between phrasing and spoken language, and learn the roles of emphasis, tension, rhythm, and harmony.
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    See how to unite breath control, narrative flow, dynamics, and more to express human qualities and leave a lasting impression.
Lorna McGhee
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Lorna McGhee

The esteemed Lorna McGhee has made an indelible mark in the world of flute, blending a storied performance career and a personal commitment to nurturing the next generation of flutists through impactful teaching.

Originally from Scotland, McGhee began to study the flute at a young age, and would eventually attend the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Her career was propelled forward by her success in competitions, including winning the woodwind section of the Royal Overseas League Music Competition in London.

McGhee served as Co-Principal Flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra before moving to North America in 1998. Over the course of her career, she has graced international stages, collaborated with premier orchestras, and released celebrated chamber music recordings. In 2012, she became Principal Flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Beyond her performance career, McGhee has taught at the University of Michigan and the University of British Columbia. Since 2015, she has been on the flute faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, with a pedagogical focus on freeing the sound through body awareness and helping students become "artists of the breath."

Lorna McGhee
explore our courses

Join today to unlock 100s of courses!

Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.

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Warming Up

with Jasmine Choi

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Essentials of Flute Playing

with Marianne Gedigian

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The Art of Phrasing

with Lorna McGhee

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Prokofiev Sonata

with Marina Piccinini

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Breathing

with Alexa Still

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Intelligent Practice

with Alberto Almarza

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Articulation

with Jennifer Grim

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Intonation

with Leone Buyse

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Taffanel & Gaubert's 17 Exercises

with Chelsea Tanner

Real reviews from real customers.

Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their flute skills since joining tonebase.

“Instead of scouring the internet for hours for performance tips and tricks, I now have access to a wealth of high-quality content from renowned artists at my fingertips!“

Omid S.

joined Sep. 2022

"If I got nothing else out of tonebase but the Fundamentals of Flute Playing Course, it would be worth the price for the whole year!"

Lucy S.

joined Jul. 2023

“We [in the community] all give each other wonderful, positive feedback. The teachers also give incredibly detailed ways that we can improve our playing."

Eric P.

joined Apr. 2020

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Worried you’re not getting the most out of your practice? Tired of falling short of your goals?

The Ultimate Practice Toolkit will teach you how to practice with a purpose and make actual progress on your musical goals. The toolkit contains:

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    5-Part Video Course
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    14-Page Practice Guide + Checklist
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    Weekly Goal Setting Worksheet
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    Free PDF workbooks & annotated scores
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    Feedback from our active Community
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    Bonus: The Ultimate Practice Toolkit

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