hi there
I am, say, a newcomer to ITM and i'm wondering whether you could help me pumping up my knowledge about it...
any tips, facts, etc. warmly welcomed
m
Never refer to it as ITM off this site.
Never buy an instrument with a piece of celtic decoration on it, or anything to do with Guinness.
The cool guys are the ones with beards, beer bellies, and battered instruments. ( The only exception to this last statement are the beautiful young ladies .)
Exactly, Pete. If it weren't for the beautiful young ladies that come to our session people would look at us and think it was a session for gay ugly guys. I explained this to one such lovely young lady and thanked her for coming, and she said, "Hey, I don't want people to think you guys are my bitches."
In our case you want to be facing the bar. Each week a new mini-drama developes there it seems. If your back is to the bar you only get to hear about it later from other musicians.
You got that right, John, I've been cooked by the ovens at Cruise's in Ennis once or twice. They wait until the seats around the table are wedged and then the barman stokes the fire until it's roaring.
1. If you're playing the box, try to choose a chair with no arms.
2. Always strive to find the very small gap between being "Not relaxed enough to play", and "Too drunk to play"
3. Never come in the door when Wild Bill Hickock has his back to it.
4. Try to avoid playing instruments that you have to strap yourself into in places you might have to leave in a hurry.
1)Never rip on other people's music taste that might hear you playing a trad CD or you practicing your instrument. You're only asking for an earfull and you'll never be able to defend it. Only ITM fans think it's cool cept for maybe a few drunk punters who only like it on March 17th.
2) Don't expect the general population to tolerate even short durations of sean nos singing.
3) When would-be music experts (an every one seems to think they are) start in, just say "It's an Irish thing you wouldn't understand." It at least will give most people paus and ends it pretty much right there.
Following on from Button's suggestion, I think a more practical solution, [ than a bucket ] would be a sponge that fitted round the end of the flute, but didn't interfere with the air flow.
That constant drip, drip, drip would be annoying & distracting & where would they pour the spit, once the bucket was full? Correct, into the nearest pint!
As for unseen's idea - a simpler solution is just make sure you never get on the wrong side of a flute player! They have a mean temper, as a rule!
& as for ottery's suggestion:
"4. Try to avoid playing instruments that you have to strap yourself into in places you might have to leave in a hurry" - well, I think he's obviously on the wrong site with that one!
This thread has been very revealing, hasn't it? I mean, we now know that Pete has a beard, beer belly & a battered instrument!
"The cool guys are the ones with beards, beer bellies, and battered instruments!
As Marie is obviously a beginner, I think bb's suggestion is a little premature. She should, after all learn the tune correctly & then play the basic tune before starting to mess around with it.
I think that is exactly where some beginners go wrong today. The boy bands of ITM often record a funky, syncopated version of the tune, which a newbie thinks is the real tune, so they learn it, & ten minutes later put their own funky syncopations on the first funky syncopations they heard & the tune is totally lost - scary thought, eh dudes?
While gian is just talking dirty again with his - 'Italians do it better' I mean, can you show us the scientific evidence for this theory, with photos, if possible?
Either you lot have all sussed that you were being set up by "mairie" and have responded in kind, or you have just alienated forever another poor, young, earnest, willing student of The Music. (Notice how I didn't use The Initials?)
I make it a regular habit to strap myself into places I can't get out of in a hurry. Literally and metaphorically. What does that tell you?
My cell phone, I will have you know, is building up its repertoir. It plays O'Farrell's Welcome, Drowsy Maggie, the Carraroe Jig, and Toss the Feathers. Like many musicians suggest for learning, it doesn't play many tunes, but it plays those tunes really well.
Back to advice: If you're a newby, never start off a tune that everyone knows - they'll either despise you for being boring or for nicking the tune that's part of the set they're going to play later. Also never play a tune that no-one else knows, 'cos that won't get you anywhere either. Also when you hear a fight developing at the bar, carefully put your best bow back in the case and get your plastic one out instead.
Yo Mairie, you should start off by playing one of drum things 'boran' that everyone likes to hear in sessions. Just get a cheap one, thats all you need. Find yourself a session, get tore in, beat the shayte out of it, you'll be made most welcome, everyone will give you lots of usefull tips on how and where to play it. You'll be an expert in no time at all. Then you could perhaps move on to the penny whistle after that, who knows.
It's just late-middle-aged spread.
And I thought I'd arouse a bit of fellow-feeling, too.
John Bull, with a name like that, what could you know of ITM ? Yet, dammit, you're right !
And, swisspiper, not always - look at Liam O'Flynn, still going strong. And how long did Seamus Ennis live for ?
Pete,
I know there was a piper leavinh three centuries, cannt remember his ame just now, but tht's the exception which belongs to every rule
Seamus Ennis was 63 years old...
swisspiper, I believe the dude you are thinking of was actually a Harper:
"Denis O'Hampsey, another blind harper from the Roe Valley brought the melody down to the 19th century. Denis was born at Craigmore near Garvagh in 1695, lived in three different centuries and died in 1807 at the age of 112 years. Shortly after Denis' birth his father, Bryan Darragher, moved to Magilligan to inherit the family farm. When only three he contracted smallpox and lost his sight.
blas, I don't know if I'm full of sh*te or not, I'll let ye guys be the judge of that [ ......thundering roar of 'ayes' heard in the distance! ] but after 30 years of playing pub sessions every week I know I AM full of smoke - other peoples!
The sooner that poisoning process ends for me, the better!
To bearded and beer bellied, we can also add balding and grey haired. With only a couple of exceptions, this covers most of the men at sessions I play at (and I cover all four categories)!
Sorry Ptarmigan big disagreement here! Its never too early to start learning to play correctly - and anyone worth their salt as a tune player knows you never play the tune the same way all of the time.
Anyway that is the way I was taught and it didnt do me any harm, thats like saying "oh just learn the tune and dont worry about all the bad habits you are going to pick up - forget about your bowing it isnt important right at the moment - deal with them later".....which really -is pretty stupid when you think about it.
Its always good to have that stuff in your mind from the begining - otherwise your just going to end up sounding classical and its much harder to undo bad habits after the fact.
How can learning to play the basic tune correctly be a bad habit?
Surely it could be looked on as being a sound foundation if you learn a good solid version of a tune, 'before' you start to add & subtract & vary it each time?
I didn't say the way you learned was a bad way, but neither did I say that you should learn bad habits or try to develop bad bowing. Surely you can learn a simple version of a tune without picking up either of those?
I think it is useful to always have a fairly 'close to original' version of the tune in the back of your mind, hence I would always recommend regularly going back & listening to 'good' old versions of tunes to hear where they have come from.
I think that's important!
I fear that too many younger musicians are only listening to the highly funky, jazzy, over syncopated, modern, boy band versions of tunes & not taking into account where the tune came from & what it was, to start with.
OK I admit, it's yet another old, fat, baldy, beardy musician talking, but we are asked to give our opinions on these threads - & this is mine.
There is always more than one way to skin an armadillo & this is just the one I recommend & I don't, for the life of me, see how it would make anyone sound classical, just because they learn the basics first!
Anyone who heard me play certainly wouldn't call my style classical!
You have your way & if it works for you, then fine, but any beginner reading this thread should be aware that there is more than one approach.
Yes, but I never ever said Syncopated or Jazzy - I meant very basic variations like, instead of doing a note triplet do a bowed triplet. Which is what all the old masters do themselves. I also said its good to have it in your mind when you start -Kind of like having all the facts when you start. Easy.
"Kind of like having all the facts when you start."
Wouldn't that be a bit like needing to know the Dictionary or the Encyclopedia Britannica before we started to read books?
No, but seriously - I agree, there are some basic facts which are essential, but as a complete beginner, I think you are not capable of appreciating their relevence until you have been playing for a while and trying to teach someone a number of variations when they are still trying to memorise the basic tune just makes learning all the harder.
Your approach makes me wonder just how many musicians you have actually taught yourself, over the years & how successful you feel these methods you describe, have been?
It's all very well to theorise, but I think it's only once you have actually put your ideas into practice, that you find out whether they really work, or not.
Ive taught a few, not to say I'm very good at it though - I cant read music and have absolutely no theory therefore as far a teaching goes I am not very good. But I know how I started learning - and I also had many different teachers over the years, and that is one thing that they all (inlcuding the very first one) have said over and over again.
As you say each to there own - I was just stating what has worked for me....obviously it may not work for everyone.
After reading through this thread I'm wondering if we've inadvertently given our young Mairie a couple of facts that will only serve to dissuade her from taking up ITM.
hi guys,
thanx t oall of you for your advices... sometimes I had problems keeping me up at the chair while laughing
oldstring is right, it's amazing what has happened when you're not online for 1 (!) day...
it might be too late for "curlew" 's advice (start with playing the bodhran) since I've already started playing the tin whistle and the guitar. and I'm practicing singing - I love to sing
the sad thing for me is that I don't live in Ireland (you may have noticed that my English is not that fluently ) but in austria and the number of sessions being played here is quite rare. so i can't just go into a pub, get myself drunken and learn by trying (as I'd love to )
Today, people use tin whistle and penny whistle as synonyms--the terms are pretty much interchangable. Only a few select people (like me!) still play whistles made with tin (and even the Clarke whistles are only tin plated, not solid tin). And they hardly cost a penny any more. So neither is entirely correct. Within the tradition, I find people just refer to them as whistles, and everyone knows what they mean, and they throw on a key (like A whistle) or the word 'low' to indicate that they are something other than the traditional D whistle.
Sorry, you probably didn't hear that so I'll repeat it:
BUTT OUT BUTTON!
As you'll see from his bio, Mairie, our PB has been hosting sessions in the San Francisco area since 1888, so it's little wonder his hearing is failing.
This is why he shouts here & why we must shout back at him. But if you write in small letters, he can't hear you - OK.
aah, that's why...
but don't you worry, they can't get me out of this ITM business that easy - although I've only been into it for a while now (not to compare with THE PHANTOM BUTTON'S 117 YEARS EXPERIENCE)
Facts about ITM one should know
Facts about ITM one should know
hi there
I am, say, a newcomer to ITM and i'm wondering whether you could help me pumping up my knowledge about it...
any tips, facts, etc. warmly welcomed
m
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never play the tune the same way all the time. Add different ornaments etc every single time.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by bb
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
What instrument(s) do you (want to) play? What (if any) is your musical background?
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by ragaman
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Many traditional Irish tunes are derived from Scottish tunes. And some frequent contributors to this site are Scottish.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by slainte
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
most of the people donìt like ITM.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by gian marco
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
The people that play it aren't afraid to pull somebody's leg.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
If the Box players can't keep up, your playing too fast.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Or playing with the wrong box players!
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Italians do it better
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by gian marco
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Italian musicians are compulsive liars
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
ITM musicians are mental institution out-patients.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never refer to it as ITM off this site.
Never buy an instrument with a piece of celtic decoration on it, or anything to do with Guinness.
The cool guys are the ones with beards, beer bellies, and battered instruments. ( The only exception to this last statement are the beautiful young ladies .)
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Exactly, Pete. If it weren't for the beautiful young ladies that come to our session people would look at us and think it was a session for gay ugly guys. I explained this to one such lovely young lady and thanked her for coming, and she said, "Hey, I don't want people to think you guys are my bitches."
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Sessions in pubs or in any other public place are public performances.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never sit with your back to the door,
unless you want a crick in the neck.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never sit with your back to the door anyway.
Ask Wild Bill Hickok.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never sit with your back to the fire
Unless you want to set fire to your erse.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Johannes J
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
In our case you want to be facing the bar. Each week a new mini-drama developes there it seems. If your back is to the bar you only get to hear about it later from other musicians.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Do you mean they're running Corrie on the telly with the sound off ?
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never sit with your back facing the session.
Unless you're fat and ugly
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
You got that right, John, I've been cooked by the ovens at Cruise's in Ennis once or twice. They wait until the seats around the table are wedged and then the barman stokes the fire until it's roaring.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
1. If you're playing the box, try to choose a chair with no arms.
2. Always strive to find the very small gap between being "Not relaxed enough to play", and "Too drunk to play"
3. Never come in the door when Wild Bill Hickock has his back to it.
4. Try to avoid playing instruments that you have to strap yourself into in places you might have to leave in a hurry.
I think that covers most things, Mairie.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
But Ottery, she's asking about Irish music.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Well, she should have said so ...
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Don't put down you pint under the bottom of a playing flute
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by gian marco
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Someone should invent a wee little bucket that hangs from the business end of the flute and catches the drips.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Here's three tips on ITM and social behavior.
1)Never rip on other people's music taste that might hear you playing a trad CD or you practicing your instrument. You're only asking for an earfull and you'll never be able to defend it. Only ITM fans think it's cool cept for maybe a few drunk punters who only like it on March 17th.
2) Don't expect the general population to tolerate even short durations of sean nos singing.
3) When would-be music experts (an every one seems to think they are) start in, just say "It's an Irish thing you wouldn't understand." It at least will give most people paus and ends it pretty much right there.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Chef Paul
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Chef, that last one is really good. If you have to put your pint under a Flute make sure it is a Boxwood Flute, they drip less.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Following on from Button's suggestion, I think a more practical solution, [ than a bucket ] would be a sponge that fitted round the end of the flute, but didn't interfere with the air flow.
That constant drip, drip, drip would be annoying & distracting & where would they pour the spit, once the bucket was full? Correct, into the nearest pint!
As for unseen's idea - a simpler solution is just make sure you never get on the wrong side of a flute player! They have a mean temper, as a rule!
& as for ottery's suggestion:
"4. Try to avoid playing instruments that you have to strap yourself into in places you might have to leave in a hurry" - well, I think he's obviously on the wrong site with that one!
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
This thread has been very revealing, hasn't it? I mean, we now know that Pete has a beard, beer belly & a battered instrument!
"The cool guys are the ones with beards, beer bellies, and battered instruments!
As Marie is obviously a beginner, I think bb's suggestion is a little premature. She should, after all learn the tune correctly & then play the basic tune before starting to mess around with it.
I think that is exactly where some beginners go wrong today. The boy bands of ITM often record a funky, syncopated version of the tune, which a newbie thinks is the real tune, so they learn it, & ten minutes later put their own funky syncopations on the first funky syncopations they heard & the tune is totally lost - scary thought, eh dudes?
While gian is just talking dirty again with his - 'Italians do it better' I mean, can you show us the scientific evidence for this theory, with photos, if possible?
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Number one fact:
The people who play it are probably insane (c.f. above thread).
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
lohiouhasflghi9pugbab paqhfghik
Sorry my insanity took over.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
You, Silver Spear, eh? You talkin' to me? Huh? You talkin' to Me?
Could you detect my best 'Robert De Niro' type New York accent there?
Ooooops sorry, just slipped off my trolley............nurse..............
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Oh sorry Silver, just re-read your bio & I realise now that your comment was in fact autobiographical!
e.g. Your major other interests include - "cell phones, coffee,...etc"
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Either you lot have all sussed that you were being set up by "mairie" and have responded in kind, or you have just alienated forever another poor, young, earnest, willing student of The Music. (Notice how I didn't use The Initials?)
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by oldstrings
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Well. Yes.
To both above comments.
I make it a regular habit to strap myself into places I can't get out of in a hurry. Literally and metaphorically. What does that tell you?
My cell phone, I will have you know, is building up its repertoir. It plays O'Farrell's Welcome, Drowsy Maggie, the Carraroe Jig, and Toss the Feathers. Like many musicians suggest for learning, it doesn't play many tunes, but it plays those tunes really well.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Back to advice: If you're a newby, never start off a tune that everyone knows - they'll either despise you for being boring or for nicking the tune that's part of the set they're going to play later. Also never play a tune that no-one else knows, 'cos that won't get you anywhere either. Also when you hear a fight developing at the bar, carefully put your best bow back in the case and get your plastic one out instead.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by RichardB
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Yo Mairie, you should start off by playing one of drum things 'boran' that everyone likes to hear in sessions. Just get a cheap one, thats all you need. Find yourself a session, get tore in, beat the shayte out of it, you'll be made most welcome, everyone will give you lots of usefull tips on how and where to play it. You'll be an expert in no time at all. Then you could perhaps move on to the penny whistle after that, who knows.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by curlew
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Warning: Irish Traditional Music Is Dangerous to Health and May Cause Death from all kinds of Liver and Other Diseases.
Pipers live even more risky, most of them dye in their fities / earls sixties.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by swisspiper
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Every tune you learn the name of is known under a different name by other people.
75% of tunes usually played are reels.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Martin Milner
Cool guys with beer bellies.
It's just late-middle-aged spread.
And I thought I'd arouse a bit of fellow-feeling, too.
John Bull, with a name like that, what could you know of ITM ? Yet, dammit, you're right !
And, swisspiper, not always - look at Liam O'Flynn, still going strong. And how long did Seamus Ennis live for ?
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Pete,
I know there was a piper leavinh three centuries, cannt remember his ame just now, but tht's the exception which belongs to every rule
Seamus Ennis was 63 years old...
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by swisspiper
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Ooops, too many typos
Living in three centuries, end of 18th to the begin of the 20th
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by swisspiper
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Never take advice from another trad musician. They`re all full of sh*te.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by blas
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
"Never take advice from another trad musician."
Sounds like sound advice to me & as we see from your bio that you are a trad musician:
"Flute player, playing a long time now. Love trad and all things to do with it, ....... I get to work in the Trad Arts sector and get paid for it."
So I'm sure Mairie will ignore your advice!
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
swisspiper, I believe the dude you are thinking of was actually a Harper:
"Denis O'Hampsey, another blind harper from the Roe Valley brought the melody down to the 19th century. Denis was born at Craigmore near Garvagh in 1695, lived in three different centuries and died in 1807 at the age of 112 years. Shortly after Denis' birth his father, Bryan Darragher, moved to Magilligan to inherit the family farm. When only three he contracted smallpox and lost his sight.
More:
http://www.theoriginofdannyboy.com/
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
"Warning: Irish Traditional Music Is Dangerous to Health"
Thankfully, not quite so dangerous to health any more, in Eire at least, since they banned smoking!
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
See what I mean............?
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by blas
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
blas, I don't know if I'm full of sh*te or not, I'll let ye guys be the judge of that [ ......thundering roar of 'ayes' heard in the distance! ] but after 30 years of playing pub sessions every week I know I AM full of smoke - other peoples!
The sooner that poisoning process ends for me, the better!
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
To bearded and beer bellied, we can also add balding and grey haired. With only a couple of exceptions, this covers most of the men at sessions I play at (and I cover all four categories)!
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Tsk Tsk Al - bragging again!
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
All the generalizations anyone will ever tell you about trad music are all wrong. Don't listen to anyone.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Sorry Ptarmigan big disagreement here! Its never too early to start learning to play correctly - and anyone worth their salt as a tune player knows you never play the tune the same way all of the time.
Anyway that is the way I was taught and it didnt do me any harm, thats like saying "oh just learn the tune and dont worry about all the bad habits you are going to pick up - forget about your bowing it isnt important right at the moment - deal with them later".....which really -is pretty stupid when you think about it.
Its always good to have that stuff in your mind from the begining - otherwise your just going to end up sounding classical and its much harder to undo bad habits after the fact.
# Posted on February 13th 2006 by bb
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
bb - You say Potayto I say Potaato!
How can learning to play the basic tune correctly be a bad habit?
Surely it could be looked on as being a sound foundation if you learn a good solid version of a tune, 'before' you start to add & subtract & vary it each time?
I didn't say the way you learned was a bad way, but neither did I say that you should learn bad habits or try to develop bad bowing. Surely you can learn a simple version of a tune without picking up either of those?
I think it is useful to always have a fairly 'close to original' version of the tune in the back of your mind, hence I would always recommend regularly going back & listening to 'good' old versions of tunes to hear where they have come from.
I think that's important!
I fear that too many younger musicians are only listening to the highly funky, jazzy, over syncopated, modern, boy band versions of tunes & not taking into account where the tune came from & what it was, to start with.
OK I admit, it's yet another old, fat, baldy, beardy musician talking, but we are asked to give our opinions on these threads - & this is mine.
There is always more than one way to skin an armadillo & this is just the one I recommend & I don't, for the life of me, see how it would make anyone sound classical, just because they learn the basics first!
Anyone who heard me play certainly wouldn't call my style classical!
You have your way & if it works for you, then fine, but any beginner reading this thread should be aware that there is more than one approach.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Yes, but I never ever said Syncopated or Jazzy - I meant very basic variations like, instead of doing a note triplet do a bowed triplet. Which is what all the old masters do themselves. I also said its good to have it in your mind when you start -Kind of like having all the facts when you start. Easy.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by bb
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
"Kind of like having all the facts when you start."
Wouldn't that be a bit like needing to know the Dictionary or the Encyclopedia Britannica before we started to read books?
No, but seriously - I agree, there are some basic facts which are essential, but as a complete beginner, I think you are not capable of appreciating their relevence until you have been playing for a while and trying to teach someone a number of variations when they are still trying to memorise the basic tune just makes learning all the harder.
Your approach makes me wonder just how many musicians you have actually taught yourself, over the years & how successful you feel these methods you describe, have been?
It's all very well to theorise, but I think it's only once you have actually put your ideas into practice, that you find out whether they really work, or not.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Ive taught a few, not to say I'm very good at it though - I cant read music and have absolutely no theory therefore as far a teaching goes I am not very good. But I know how I started learning - and I also had many different teachers over the years, and that is one thing that they all (inlcuding the very first one) have said over and over again.
As you say each to there own - I was just stating what has worked for me....obviously it may not work for everyone.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by bb
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
After reading through this thread I'm wondering if we've inadvertently given our young Mairie a couple of facts that will only serve to dissuade her from taking up ITM.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
ha ha, only a couple?
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Aye, probably, but I'm sure she'll be attracted to the notion of all us Fat, Old, Baldy, Beardy musicians!
At the very least, she now has a better idea of how these threads work, or don't work, as the case may be!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Well! This windup has garnered sixty replies so far!
Have we no lives to go to?
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by oldstrings
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Hey Oldstrings. That's the 2nd thread that has gone cold after a posting by you [see - Coolest Dude]. ...........X Files music heard in distance...
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'll try to do better next time
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by oldstrings
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Aye, yo'd better, or we might have you exiled even further away, next time! Ha Ha
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
hi guys,
thanx t oall of you for your advices... sometimes I had problems keeping me up at the chair while laughing
oldstring is right, it's amazing what has happened when you're not online for 1 (!) day...
it might be too late for "curlew" 's advice (start with playing the bodhran) since I've already started playing the tin whistle and the guitar. and I'm practicing singing - I love to sing
the sad thing for me is that I don't live in Ireland (you may have noticed that my English is not that fluently
) but in austria and the number of sessions being played here is quite rare. so i can't just go into a pub, get myself drunken and learn by trying (as I'd love to 
)
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Move to Ireland Mairie, you`ll have more fun.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by blas
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
that's exactly what I think as well.
for the next few years I'll be stuck here but I'm planning to stay in Ireland for a while this summer...
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
p.s.:
is there any difference between the tin whistle and the penny whistle?
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Aye Mairie, here's a classic penny Whistle:
http://ms.en.alibaba.com/product/50122679/50555409/Promotion_gifts/Football_Whistle.html
& here's yer Tin Whistle:
http://www.clarketinwhistle.com/
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Ha Ha - here are the facts Mairie:
http://www.historicalfolktoys.com/catcont/5301.html
Well, if your coming to Ireland this Summer, don't forget to pack your 'sense of humour'!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Today, people use tin whistle and penny whistle as synonyms--the terms are pretty much interchangable. Only a few select people (like me!) still play whistles made with tin (and even the Clarke whistles are only tin plated, not solid tin). And they hardly cost a penny any more. So neither is entirely correct. Within the tradition, I find people just refer to them as whistles, and everyone knows what they mean, and they throw on a key (like A whistle) or the word 'low' to indicate that they are something other than the traditional D whistle.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
great sense of humour, Ptmargian... (i mean that)
I never leave my sense of humour behind
(at least I hope so...)
thanks, from now on I'll refer to it as "D-whistle" ...
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
QUICK, MAIRIE, STOP NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE -- DON'T LET ITM RUIN YOUR LIFE!!! PUT DOWN YOUR WHISTLE AND RUN AWAY!!!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
ha ha
what's up to you, Phantom?
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
QUICK, MAIRIE, STOP NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE -- DON'T LET "The Phantom Button" PUT YOU OFF PLAYING ITM!!! PICK UP YOUR WHISTLE AND RUN THIS WAY!!!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
DON'T LET PTARMIGAM FOOL YOU, MAIRIE -- HE'S JUST DESPARATE FOR COMPANY IN HIS MISERY!!!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Hey, but out button. Don't give away all my secrets! Leave a man some pride!
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
Sorry, you probably didn't hear that so I'll repeat it:
BUTT OUT BUTTON!
As you'll see from his bio, Mairie, our PB has been hosting sessions in the San Francisco area since 1888, so it's little wonder his hearing is failing.
This is why he shouts here & why we must shout back at him. But if you write in small letters, he can't hear you - OK.
# Posted on February 14th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
aah, that's why...
but don't you worry, they can't get me out of this ITM business that easy - although I've only been into it for a while now (not to compare with THE PHANTOM BUTTON'S 117 YEARS EXPERIENCE)
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by mairie
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
You sound fun. Alright, we`ll let you in, but you`re not to tell anyone else......
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by blas
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
After all, Mairie, we're just a small, select band here - only 23195 at the last count!
Must admit though, it is getting to be a bit of a squash - at the AGM!
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Facts about ITM one should know
thanks a lot - what a pleasure
a band (lovely to call this a band anyway) comprising 23195 members actually isn't that small at all, is it?
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by mairie