Tubes and Holes

[Galant]

About a year ago I suddenly realised that if I was going to play an instrument the tin-whistle was probably a great choice. I loved the sound, it's a simple instrument, cheap and portable.

Well, about a year and five whistles later I'm glad I decided to enter the world of the tube with six holes.

So far I'm pretty much entirely self-taught by ear. I'm a singer and I find the two carry across into one another, so that has helped. I seem to be doing quite well - but I'm reaching the point where I'm finding my repertoire is limited and my progress is slowing. I find that airs and slower pieces come more naturally to me, and jigs and reels less so. Although that could be because I know more slower songs, hymns and the like, than faster songs - of a celtic nature that is.

I figure what I need to do now is start listening to more and more celtic music, and so that's a goal, but I was wondering if there are any other whistlers out there who might be able to pass on a few hints to a beginner who's loving it and can't wait to get better reproduce some of those wonderfully haunting and also foot-tap inducing tunes.

[beerbecue]

Is circular breathing necessary???

[Galant]

No, I don't believe so. At least, I've not heard of it, nor used it - but maybe I've missed something.

[Alan H]

I circular breathe on clarinet sometimes for jazz stuff, but honestly, I think it's a gimmick and I wouldn't waste my time. In four or five years if you want to learn, then great but for now, just learn tunes. To learn tunes you have three options:

1. get sheet music and shart memorizing tunes

2. go to local music sessions with a tape recorder and start listening. Each session will have 100 - 150 tunes that most of the people know. In the span of two months they'll play most of them. If you have them taped, then you can play along at home and learn them.

3. Find a local "slow players" group and start working with them. If there isn't one, then start one! Here's a link to an umbrella SF Bay Area slow players group. I've gone to the one on the mid-peninsula and found it helpful.

http://www.slowplayers.org/index.html

[bikercelt1]

I got started with "The Penny Whistle Book" by Robin Williamson. It's very easy to use, it's still available at most music stores, and it includes both "lesson" material and tunes. There are a lot of good lesson books on both video tape and CD. Of course if we just had a professional penny whistler from some celtic band he could probably give you more suggestions and advice. I bet if you pm'd Jimmy Carbomb he'd get you a good start.

Jamie

[Miah]

Improv, that is the mother of all teachers.

When I was in school try'n to learn hard pieces and all my Teacher told me to listen to the background learn the key signature and feel it. Learn as much about the scales and the harmonics you can and stay in key and let it flow. It may take a long time to get to where you stay in key and all that but with a singing background your ear is probably pretty good. But then again I have no clue about the key and all that of the whistle. So none of that may apply at all.