hi, just picked up a penny whistle in the key of d not even a week ago. first time ever holding one in my hands but it's been a dream of mine to learn to play this instrument.
the basics themselves have not been difficult to figure out, I can already play a few songs, including danny boy, and what I could pick up of white orange and green and felhims lil boat by ear. few basic tunes that pretty much anyone can play on anything like amazing grace and all. My real passion of course, is celtic music. There is something very spiritual in this music that ya don't find in many other genres of music.
Anyways, I'm taking learning this instrument very seriously, I spend several hours a day on it and have even begun teaching myself to read music so that I can truely learn to play.
anything, anything at all that anyone wants to give me for suggestions, advice whatever I'd greatly apreciate it. a big help would be how to help minimise the spit getting into the instrument cause it seems like I'm having ot shake it out every few minutes.
while I am still looking for whistlers in my area, I would be very happy if anyone here who has msn and a microphone, if they would like to add me and play with me, give me advice and help me with technique. I know it's a bit more difficult online but it's definately better than nothing and would definately be fun.
as you can see I tend to babble a bit, so I'll wrap this post up.
I just want to reiterate how serious I'm taking learning this instrument and how much I would apreciate any advice or help anyone would be so kind as to give me =)
msn is llamanator3000@yahoo.com
thank you for your time and patience
what would be some simple songs that you would all recommend me trying to learn?
I also know rising of hte moon, forgot to mention that one, thats very pretty. I also don't know the difference between a horn pipe and a waltz or any other of the various kinds of songs ya seem to have on here, an explanation of those would also be helpful, sorry if I come off as over eager =)
You might already know this, but you have to keep in mind that Irish or Scottish traditional music is originally something to dance to. Before learning various techniques, you need to learn to play some tunes very steadily. And be patient and take time to practice scales and arpeggios to get used to your instrument. As for the scale of D, try playing like: DEF, EFG, FGA, GAB, .... and DEFD, EFGE, FGAF, GABG, ..... Of course, you could do dcB, cBA, BAG, .... and dcBd, cBAc, BAGB, ..... etc, etc. Once you get used to the basic fingering patterns, you can learn new tunes very quickly. Just don't skip the basics or rush to very advanced techniques.
South Wind is a nice starter tune.
Yes learning to read music is a bonus, but picking up tunes by ear after listening lots and lots and lots will move you onto a higher plain
My general, humble advice is to forget songs, and learn to play dances right from the beginning. This way you'll be naturally "forced" to develop the specific pulse in your music, which, I guess, is most important in ITM.
You'll find a lot of good advice from Brother Steve, as well as some tunes to begin with. If you have a metronome, use it.
thank you very much for all the replys I didn't expect this in 5 minutes.
I'm in wisconsin, sorry I will set up my profile now, I found this site looking for help in playing white orange and green. (tabhair Dom Do La'mh) I was able to play the meat of the song by ear, the recording i'm listening to is by column MacOireachtaigh, what I'm having trouble with is all that fancy pantsy stuff that comes long after the words end, lot of other instruments playing it's a lil difficult to actually pinpoint the whistle. I got a bit of it down but then it just goes wild, and it's so very beautiful but unfortunately I haven't managed to learn it yet and was looking for a short cut.
I'm reading through the first sight right that you showed me right now Barfly and already my technique has improved, thank you very very much, I'll go to each and every sight you all have been so kind to post in succession, thank you very much.
Hey llamanator the tune you are learning to play is already on "The Session" you can find it here and play the midi file to help you. I don't know this tune myself
yuppers that be the link that I got off google that lead me to this site, thank you very much for looking, hopefully this thread doesn't get deleted any time soon, by book marking it, it in itself has become a very fine manual
Don't worry about the thread being deleted they stay there for eternity. The very first thread from June 2001 is still there.
llamanator don't you ever sleep. It's now 7.47 am in Wisconsin by my reckoning. Don't over do it.
It's always good to have a break when learning tricky passages and you find when you come back to it refreshed it will become easier.
Don't forget the Chiff & Fipple website. I wouldn't mind betting there are a few whistlers near you.
llamanator
Beware of being misled by what I am sure is the wrong notation in the third and fourth bars of the sheetmusic version of Teetotaler's (reel) on the Session.( link kindly given by Barfly)
I'm only a novice with ITM, and dont know the tune anyway but I would suggest it should be;
( last 2 1/8 notes 3rd bar d e, 4th bar all 1/8 notes, f sharp d g d f sharp e d c sharp)
I dont use ABC so if this doesn't make sense, Sorry!
TAG
When trying to pick up the "fancy pantsy stuff" :D from recordings, you could try some of the software programs that allow you to slow down the music such as the Amazing Slow Downer (http://www.ronimusic.com/) or Transcribe (http://www.seventhstring.com/). That would also allow you to play along any recording at the speed your comfortable with or repeat a particular section over and over until you get it, etc.
you might want to try www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions. the 'virtual session' will give you the opportunity to learn some popular tunes both from the sheet music and by ear. teetotalers is on there as well.
A lot of sound advice and useful links above. Besides learning/practising you've got to listen, listen and listen to the music. Here's a link to Ceili House on RTE (Irish Radio) . There's three years of programs in their archive. Should keep you occupied for a while
llamanator,
One piece of advice, you only need one whistle, and maybe a spare in case the first one gets squished or something. Resist the urge to buy multiple whistles, and more and more expensive whistles. This is an addictive behavior, which you will no doubt read about on the chiff and fipple website.
You don't want to be standing up in front of a 12 step group saying "Hi, my name is _____________, and I am a whistle collector."
My suggestion is to find a group of like minded musicians, be it accordion, whistle, fiddle, harmonica - who, like you are in love with the music and want to improve.
Usually you will find them hanging around sessions - they may not be playing - especially if the craic is too quick for their current skills - but I'm sure they would love the opportunity to play in a slow session, a learning/tune sharing session, where pace isn't everything and the people don't mind going over the tricky phrases a few times.
That's what we've done here - it's been great for my skills and exposing me to a number of new/someone else's favourite/unusual tunes - that I might never have come across.
It can help build your confidence for playing in a group - so that when you do join a session, you aren't completely new to such situations.
The other thing to do is to hook up with a teaching festival somewhere - a few concentrated days of music, amongst those who can really play, will blow your mind and your technique.
like you i've become mildly (my family may disagree here) obsessive about the music - and it seems to fill all my available time.
All the best -
Nathan
Tips to minimise spit:
1) Chew gum, it encourages you to swallow the spit rather than keep in in the mouth and blow it down the whistle.
2) Suck the spit back out. You can do that in mid tune when you take a breath, quicker than shaking the whistle and without spraying others.
3) Being nervous helps - your mouth goes dry
4) Warm your whistle - it reduces condensation.
brand new whistler
brand new whistler
hi, just picked up a penny whistle in the key of d not even a week ago. first time ever holding one in my hands but it's been a dream of mine to learn to play this instrument.
the basics themselves have not been difficult to figure out, I can already play a few songs, including danny boy, and what I could pick up of white orange and green and felhims lil boat by ear. few basic tunes that pretty much anyone can play on anything like amazing grace and all. My real passion of course, is celtic music. There is something very spiritual in this music that ya don't find in many other genres of music.
Anyways, I'm taking learning this instrument very seriously, I spend several hours a day on it and have even begun teaching myself to read music so that I can truely learn to play.
anything, anything at all that anyone wants to give me for suggestions, advice whatever I'd greatly apreciate it. a big help would be how to help minimise the spit getting into the instrument cause it seems like I'm having ot shake it out every few minutes.
while I am still looking for whistlers in my area, I would be very happy if anyone here who has msn and a microphone, if they would like to add me and play with me, give me advice and help me with technique. I know it's a bit more difficult online but it's definately better than nothing and would definately be fun.
as you can see I tend to babble a bit, so I'll wrap this post up.
I just want to reiterate how serious I'm taking learning this instrument and how much I would apreciate any advice or help anyone would be so kind as to give me =)
msn is llamanator3000@yahoo.com
thank you for your time and patience
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
Two links that you will find useful, for sure:
http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/
http://www.whistletutor.com/
Good Luck!
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Barfly
Re: brand new whistler
what would be some simple songs that you would all recommend me trying to learn?
I also know rising of hte moon, forgot to mention that one, thats very pretty. I also don't know the difference between a horn pipe and a waltz or any other of the various kinds of songs ya seem to have on here, an explanation of those would also be helpful, sorry if I come off as over eager =)
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
thanks, for the links, I posted at the same time as you Barfly, otherwise it would have been in my previous post, did not expect such a swift responce
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
By the way, what is "your area"? Your profile doesn't say much
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Barfly
Re: brand new whistler
You might already know this, but you have to keep in mind that Irish or Scottish traditional music is originally something to dance to. Before learning various techniques, you need to learn to play some tunes very steadily. And be patient and take time to practice scales and arpeggios to get used to your instrument. As for the scale of D, try playing like: DEF, EFG, FGA, GAB, .... and DEFD, EFGE, FGAF, GABG, ..... Of course, you could do dcB, cBA, BAG, .... and dcBd, cBAc, BAGB, ..... etc, etc. Once you get used to the basic fingering patterns, you can learn new tunes very quickly. Just don't skip the basics or rush to very advanced techniques.
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by slainte
Re: brand new whistler
Welcome to the world of whistling
The Chiff and Fipple Website have a forum for all things whislty a lot of helpful people there
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/
South Wind is a nice starter tune.
Yes learning to read music is a bonus, but picking up tunes by ear after listening lots and lots and lots will move you onto a higher plain
All the best and enjoy
Mikk
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by mikk
Re: brand new whistler
As to getting familiar with specific dances - you will find whole lot of information at this forum, also I would recommend the following site: http://www.irishtune.info (some dance definitions at http://www.irishtune.info/rhythm/)
My general, humble advice is to forget songs, and learn to play dances right from the beginning. This way you'll be naturally "forced" to develop the specific pulse in your music, which, I guess, is most important in ITM.
You'll find a lot of good advice from Brother Steve, as well as some tunes to begin with. If you have a metronome, use it.
Have Fun!
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Barfly
Re: brand new whistler
Some tunes I find nice to begin with, in order to get familiar with some most popular dances:
Deirdre's Fancy (Slip Jig)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1538
Up Sligo (Jig)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/537
The Teetotaler's (Reel)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/114
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Barfly
Re: brand new whistler
WOW O_O
thank you very much for all the replys I didn't expect this in 5 minutes.
I'm in wisconsin, sorry I will set up my profile now, I found this site looking for help in playing white orange and green. (tabhair Dom Do La'mh) I was able to play the meat of the song by ear, the recording i'm listening to is by column MacOireachtaigh, what I'm having trouble with is all that fancy pantsy stuff that comes long after the words end, lot of other instruments playing it's a lil difficult to actually pinpoint the whistle. I got a bit of it down but then it just goes wild, and it's so very beautiful but unfortunately I haven't managed to learn it yet and was looking for a short cut.
I'm reading through the first sight right that you showed me right now Barfly and already my technique has improved, thank you very very much, I'll go to each and every sight you all have been so kind to post in succession, thank you very much.
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
Hey llamanator the tune you are learning to play is already on "The Session" you can find it here and play the midi file to help you. I don't know this tune myself
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/454
Cheers
Mikk
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by mikk
Re: brand new whistler
yuppers that be the link that I got off google that lead me to this site, thank you very much for looking, hopefully this thread doesn't get deleted any time soon, by book marking it, it in itself has become a very fine manual
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
btw I'm learning that south wind that Mikk told me would be a good starter, yeah, a very lovely tune =) thank you all so very much =)
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler
Don't worry about the thread being deleted they stay there for eternity. The very first thread from June 2001 is still there.
llamanator don't you ever sleep. It's now 7.47 am in Wisconsin by my reckoning. Don't over do it.
It's always good to have a break when learning tricky passages and you find when you come back to it refreshed it will become easier.
Don't forget the Chiff & Fipple website. I wouldn't mind betting there are a few whistlers near you.
Mikk
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by mikk
Re: brand new whistler
12 whistlers from Wisconsin registered on the C&F website.
Mikk
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by mikk
Re: brand new whistler
Here's some information regarding you spit query:--
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=36673&highlight=minimise+spit
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/moist.htm
Mikk
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by mikk
Re: brand new whistler
llamanator
Beware of being misled by what I am sure is the wrong notation in the third and fourth bars of the sheetmusic version of Teetotaler's (reel) on the Session.( link kindly given by Barfly)
I'm only a novice with ITM, and dont know the tune anyway but I would suggest it should be;
( last 2 1/8 notes 3rd bar d e, 4th bar all 1/8 notes, f sharp d g d f sharp e d c sharp)
I dont use ABC so if this doesn't make sense, Sorry!
TAG
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by tag
Re: brand new whistler
When trying to pick up the "fancy pantsy stuff" :D from recordings, you could try some of the software programs that allow you to slow down the music such as the Amazing Slow Downer (http://www.ronimusic.com/) or Transcribe (http://www.seventhstring.com/). That would also allow you to play along any recording at the speed your comfortable with or repeat a particular section over and over until you get it, etc.
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by heike
Re: brand new whistler
hi
you might want to try www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions. the 'virtual session' will give you the opportunity to learn some popular tunes both from the sheet music and by ear. teetotalers is on there as well.
enjoy!
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by flisstle
Re: brand new whistler
llmanator,
A lot of sound advice and useful links above. Besides learning/practising you've got to listen, listen and listen to the music. Here's a link to Ceili House on RTE (Irish Radio) . There's three years of programs in their archive. Should keep you occupied for a while
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/
Enjoy and good luck !
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Strathfoyle
Re: brand new whistler
llamanator,
One piece of advice, you only need one whistle, and maybe a spare in case the first one gets squished or something. Resist the urge to buy multiple whistles, and more and more expensive whistles. This is an addictive behavior, which you will no doubt read about on the chiff and fipple website.
You don't want to be standing up in front of a 12 step group saying "Hi, my name is _____________, and I am a whistle collector."
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: brand new whistler
My suggestion is to find a group of like minded musicians, be it accordion, whistle, fiddle, harmonica - who, like you are in love with the music and want to improve.
Usually you will find them hanging around sessions - they may not be playing - especially if the craic is too quick for their current skills - but I'm sure they would love the opportunity to play in a slow session, a learning/tune sharing session, where pace isn't everything and the people don't mind going over the tricky phrases a few times.
That's what we've done here - it's been great for my skills and exposing me to a number of new/someone else's favourite/unusual tunes - that I might never have come across.
It can help build your confidence for playing in a group - so that when you do join a session, you aren't completely new to such situations.
The other thing to do is to hook up with a teaching festival somewhere - a few concentrated days of music, amongst those who can really play, will blow your mind and your technique.
like you i've become mildly (my family may disagree here) obsessive about the music - and it seems to fill all my available time.
All the best -
Nathan
# Posted on May 13th 2006 by Brown Creeper
Re: brand new whistler
find a teacher, the best one you can find. second best thing is attend workshops.
# Posted on May 13th 2006 by Brendan
Re: brand new whistler
Begad but that Ceili House link is a cracker!!
# Posted on May 13th 2006 by breandan
Re: brand new whistler
thank you all =) an update so that ya all know I'm taking your advice and that you haven't been wasting your time, I'm still going through the sites
I'm going through each page and stay there a couple days working on the technique and the songs that go along with it, I'm currently on "cutting"
I've learned southwind, and britches full of stitches (the latter is FAST O_O) and now on the chanter's tune.
# Posted on May 17th 2006 by llamanator
Re: brand new whistler (spit problem)
Tips to minimise spit:
1) Chew gum, it encourages you to swallow the spit rather than keep in in the mouth and blow it down the whistle.
2) Suck the spit back out. You can do that in mid tune when you take a breath, quicker than shaking the whistle and without spraying others.
3) Being nervous helps - your mouth goes dry
4) Warm your whistle - it reduces condensation.
# Posted on August 20th 2007 by Rickster