On St. Patrick's Day 2004, I attended the tin whistle workshop that got me started. I had played some whistle before, but I didn't sound Irish at all. Two years later, the day before St. Patrick's Day 2006, a few friends and I played ITM in a pub, and got some money too. Our style was (IMO) awful, but people enjoyed the music and tapped their feet and sang and yelled and clapped their hands.
This is the most rewarding musical experience in my life. Two years ago, I thought I'd never be able to play at an acceptable level, since I dragged around my classical musical training.
During these two years, ITM taught me many things.
I've learned that "it's too difficult, it's beyond my reach" doesn't hold if you love the music you strive to play.
I learned that ITM provides for a lifetime of improvement and enjoyment.
That a 5 Euro whistle is not a toy as I thought at first look, but an outstanding musical instrument that will keep you busy for all of your life.
That being an experienced classical musician doesn't mean a thing when it comes to playing ITM. And that you can impress classical musicians talking about D Mixolidian, A Dorian and such.
I've learnt that I was right when I maintained that learning music by ear and playing it from memory was a Good Thing, in spite of what scornful classical players thought about it.
Most important of all, I've learnt that there's a huge community of ITMers who will be glad to give the poor beginner a good piece of advice.
So, I want to thank all who helped me out during these first two years of ITM. To celebrate this rite of passage, I'm going to change my nickname - these days very few people still call me goccia (gotcha!). My new nick will be Guidus.
Well done, and carry on !
Your posting does indicate the great gulf between "trained" musicians and ITM. I have shown a tune on the page to a classical musician, and they will play, go "Huh ?", and then ask for the next one. They don't get what you do with it, because they have been so trained to work in one way.
And.like you, I can see the improvement in myself; three years ago I went, with some trepidation, to my first session for many years, and came away so pleased that I had managed to participate in about a third of the evening. Last Friday I was running the session.
Sidetracking onto the showing music to classical musicians, they do have fantastic technique, but they do expect to get much more information from the music.
Just for interest, has anyone ever tried giving a classical player, not just the bare bones of the tune, but the whole thing written out in the language they understand, with ornamentation, the rhythm fully notated, pitch slides, the lot. It probably wouldn't sound right, but it might help bridge the gap.
so it was you that made the DIY website i visited? i've got my PVC pipe i the garage, just waiting for dad to remember how to work the lathe for the fipple block. they wouldn't sell me any less than 3m of pipe, so hopefully i will get one half-decent whistle out of it! (don't worry Q and Conan, i won't play it in the session). i used to play classical as well. trad is waaaaay better : )
Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
On St. Patrick's Day 2004, I attended the tin whistle workshop that got me started. I had played some whistle before, but I didn't sound Irish at all. Two years later, the day before St. Patrick's Day 2006, a few friends and I played ITM in a pub, and got some money too. Our style was (IMO) awful, but people enjoyed the music and tapped their feet and sang and yelled and clapped their hands.
This is the most rewarding musical experience in my life. Two years ago, I thought I'd never be able to play at an acceptable level, since I dragged around my classical musical training.
During these two years, ITM taught me many things.
I've learned that "it's too difficult, it's beyond my reach" doesn't hold if you love the music you strive to play.
I learned that ITM provides for a lifetime of improvement and enjoyment.
That a 5 Euro whistle is not a toy as I thought at first look, but an outstanding musical instrument that will keep you busy for all of your life.
That being an experienced classical musician doesn't mean a thing when it comes to playing ITM. And that you can impress classical musicians talking about D Mixolidian, A Dorian and such.
I've learnt that I was right when I maintained that learning music by ear and playing it from memory was a Good Thing, in spite of what scornful classical players thought about it.
Most important of all, I've learnt that there's a huge community of ITMers who will be glad to give the poor beginner a good piece of advice.
So, I want to thank all who helped me out during these first two years of ITM. To celebrate this rite of passage, I'm going to change my nickname - these days very few people still call me goccia (gotcha!). My new nick will be Guidus.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Guidus
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Well done, and carry on !
Your posting does indicate the great gulf between "trained" musicians and ITM. I have shown a tune on the page to a classical musician, and they will play, go "Huh ?", and then ask for the next one. They don't get what you do with it, because they have been so trained to work in one way.
And.like you, I can see the improvement in myself; three years ago I went, with some trepidation, to my first session for many years, and came away so pleased that I had managed to participate in about a third of the evening. Last Friday I was running the session.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Good on ya! Guidus. Hope it continues well.
Sidetracking onto the showing music to classical musicians, they do have fantastic technique, but they do expect to get much more information from the music.
Just for interest, has anyone ever tried giving a classical player, not just the bare bones of the tune, but the whole thing written out in the language they understand, with ornamentation, the rhythm fully notated, pitch slides, the lot. It probably wouldn't sound right, but it might help bridge the gap.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by TomB-R
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Congrats, and thanks for sharing. All good lessons you have repeated here, and I wish you many more years of enjoyment!
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
I bought my first Whistle almost 3 years ago. I could have never guessed how much I would love it.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
ahh how touching. keep up the good work!
# Posted on March 21st 2006 by banana512
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Way to go Guidus. Reading your comments feels like a warm breeze on this first day of spring. Uplifting. Keep going !
# Posted on March 21st 2006 by pennhorse
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
hi guidus
so it was you that made the DIY website i visited? i've got my PVC pipe i the garage, just waiting for dad to remember how to work the lathe for the fipple block. they wouldn't sell me any less than 3m of pipe, so hopefully i will get one half-decent whistle out of it! (don't worry Q and Conan, i won't play it in the session). i used to play classical as well. trad is waaaaay better : )
# Posted on March 21st 2006 by flisstle
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
Yes, it was me. That's another thing I learnt... and I'm sure you'll get a *very* whistle out of the first 30 cm.
# Posted on March 22nd 2006 by Guidus
Re: Two years of ITM: what I've learnt
meant *very good*.
# Posted on March 22nd 2006 by Guidus