I’ve just gotten the Tin Whistle Tool Box and started reading it. For the most part the first section went right over my head. I’m not very good at music theory and the book uses quite a few “musical terms” that I really don’t understand. I’m thinking he’s making it harder than it really is. Don’t get me wrong, Irish Music may seem simple at first but to play it well there are many nuances. However the Tin Whistle Tool Box is supposed to be for the beginner. I’m glad Mr. Larsen is teaching the idea that to learn the whistle by ear is very common. I’d like to know what others think about his two books ( I haven’t gotten the larger book bur I plan to)?
I do think he makes it sound more difficult than it is. However, lots of people like the details.
I’ve actually got the big book, and like it. Overall though, I think I like the Bill Ochs book better for covering the basics. I’d recommend it over Larsen’s for a new player. But I think someone who’s been playing a little while would be able to glean a little more from Larsen’s book.
Jason
If you have absolutely no musical experience whatsoever (as with myself), I highly recommend the book “How to play the Penny Whistle” by Gina Landor and Phil Cleaver. It’s well illustrated with finger notation and very simple. It also helps you learn a little musical notation in the bargain.
I like the bigger book and his explanation and way of viewing Irish music particulars; he eschews the term “ornaments” for “articulations” and explains why. I haven’t ever seen the toolbox book…
Beginning with cuts, he takes you on a careful exploration and learning experience that will only make you better.
There are a few items that people can and do disagree with in terms of execution, but I can’t see how doing it his way first would cripple you for later techniques.
My biggest complaint about the big book is that it won’t stay open because of the binding. Beyond that, it’s a good resource to go back to and practice certain techniques.
I think it’s possible to charge him with over-elaborating but there is a very sound reason. To me, his book represents the first very serious attempt to provide a comprehensive technical explanation of everything about producing Irish music on the whistle and flute, including the CD and many exercises.
Breathnach (Folk music and Dances of Ireland) is a slim tome which explains the music itself and history, though you have to let his sentences sink in and realize there is truly more there and the page count would indicate. Then, Breathnach’s follow-up tune books give you even more practical exposure to the body of dances with some preface and scant end-noted commentary, tune-by-tune. But to me, Larsen is boldy going where no others have exactly, and I think he deserves some latitude and respect for so doing.
If somebody stands on his shoulders and produces a more perfect way of explaining things, that would be understandable. It has happened with many many other musical situations, including guitar methodology, which is an area with which I am most familiar.
The biggest problem would be if every whistler used the book and learned his approach. Then we would all sound the same… There already is starting to be a kind of orthodox recently-learned whistler sound I have noticed that is unlike Miko and other celebrated players.
Too much swoopin’ from below is a hallmark, if you ask me.
Weekender: I think you’re correct that this is a serious attempt to explain Irish Whistle. I’ll have to do more studying to get to the point of understanding the explanations. Which isn’t a bad thing. For the most part I’m impatient.
I have that book (the larger one) and I would never recommend it to a beginner. For one thing, a lot of that would go over a beginners head and also, that amount of reading will probably slow a beginners learning a bit. A beginner should have more of a simple (yet accurate) instruction and then devote much time to playing. All the reading in the world won’t make you a good player if you don’t put your whistle where your mouth is 
. I’ve also witnessed several beginners who purchased that book and thought that they had to cram cuts, taps, and rolls into every crevice of a tune and, as a result, had a very staccato and unnatural sound. I had kids practicing cranns that couldn’t even play to an accurate upper register A and B. To much information will only overload you and take the focus off of the basics needed to get to that level. I picked that book up after having played for about four years and it definitely helped me and pushed me to the next level as well as just giving me some things to think about. I can’t say that I agreed with everything that was written (another reason to not give it to a beginner; they wouldn’t have that discernment) but for the most part it was a very useful tool and a reference that I still look to once in a while. I had the feeling, as I read it, that Larson indeed meant for it to be a very extensive (even exhaustive) resource for the intermediate to advanced player.
Take it to Kinkos and have it spiral bound for $5.00. I did this with O’Neill’s too.
I found the big book very useful, but I’d swap it for some lessons from a good teacher! It is most helpful for those that can already read music and is not a tutor for complete beginners.
It’s pretty fat. Yeah, I did that with ONeills, I just wasn’t sure this one would work…
I hadn’t seriously considered whether or not I suffer from ADD…till I got Grey’s books. The ultra in-depth material sent me in circles. I now look into the Tool Box only when feeling confident and hopeful.
The upside of all this is not having a hint of “orthodox recently-learned whistler sound.” Sound, rather just like Miko…with just a hint of non-ITM incoherence.
Back to the book…?
Mine stays open. If you bed a new book properly then you don’t normally have problems getting it to stay open without breaking the spine. I think this may have been the only useful thing I learnt at college.
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1738298 shows you how.
Jon, you might find this thread interesting.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=513530&highlight=#513530
It’s a whole thread about Grey Larson. Mostly it’s a debate about wether learning by book is a valid way to play ITM, but you might find some useful information about Grey’s books.
(For some reason the url takes you to the middle of the thread. I’m not purposefully directing you to that specific page of the conversation.)
Man, I had never heard of that! Thanks!
I forgot to get back to this and was reminded when I broke out my Larsen’s today.
Kinkos has a larger size spiral that fits. Actually it’s a teeny bit too big but who cares.