Well I actually had some time to sit down in front of my computer and record a tune that my whistle teacher asked me to learn this past Tuesday and I just got done memorizing it. My next steps are to do a variation of the tune by adding long rolls. I am having problems with long rolls, so I will practice quite a bit more on them before I try recording the song with them. I present to you…“My Darling Asleep”.
Please let me know what you think. I know I have to get much better but considering that I started last October…and spent most of December and beginning of January sick…I think it is pretty good.
I’m curious as to why you’re having difficulty with the c#. I was wondering if it was because you were lifting all of your fingers and were afraid to drop the whistle, maybe? If so, try Brother Steve’s tip on not lifting a finger:
You have to play about with that a bit, depending on your particular whistle. Some whistles don’t like you keeping a lot of fingers down. But, on others, it’s the way to go.
Try Brother Steve’s tips pages in any case. They’re really worthwhile.
I don’t really have criticism to offer–there were some minor issues around the “break” between C-sharp and D, but as long as you try to play it as cleanly as you can, time and experience will take care of that.
Just some thoughts as to the tune itself–I would divide the tune up into short, question-and-answer phrases. I would try to avoid breathing at the repeats, and at the repeats you might consider playing some passing tones to go smoothly back into the melody.
I think you did a fine job and it sounds like you have a lovely whistle!
