Hi!
I’ve been playing with whistles for a few years, but would like to actually start playing them.
Anyone have recommendations for their favorite instructional videos/cds/apps? I have and like the Clarke book and cd, but I’m very rusty at sight reading and playing “by ear”
If you don’t mind paying a small amount–check out Blayne Chastain’s online lessons:
www.blaynechastain.com
Then hit “iTeach”. I’ve been doing them for months, and there’s a great intro, a set of basic technique lessons, then a tune a week (at this point probably about 20 tunes or so). On most he goes through them with ornamentation, then without, phrase by phrase. I think they’re the next best thing to a live teacher, and have learned immensely from them (no personal/commercial interest on my part).
There are some other cool resources online, such as tradlessons (find them on youTube, then go to their site). They’re excellent and free, but I don’t think they’re as thorough as Blayne’s can be.
The Larsen books are highly informative, especiallly for learning about the instrument and learing ornamentations. I have both the tinwhistle tool book and his larger, more expensive book that covers both whistle and flute. I’d sell you the tinwhistle toolbook at a slight discount if you’d like, because I found out after buying the bigger one that the whole whistle book is also included in the whistle/flute book (and my whistle one is in totally new condition).
You’ll get lots of other ideas from this site, but that’s a start! Best, Jaydoc
The 3-CD version of Cathal McConnell’s Irish Pennywhistle tutorial is another excellent resource. Beware, there is an abridged single-CD version which would be OK for beginners, but in the 3-CD version he goes into much greater depth – it’s a tutorial you can learn from for years, plus his whistle playing is a delight to listen to.
http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/product.aspx?ID=643
If you have an analytical mind, definitely pick up one of Grey Larsen’s books. He describes things in great detail, but can sometimes make my eyes glaze over. But when I’m learning a new technique, I always get a lot from working through his description and suggestions.
I’m also another satisfied customer of Blayne Chastain (again no personal/financial investment). His videos are very thorough, much more so than what you tend to find on DVD, because they’re streamed through the internet so there aren’t issues with fitting everything on a single DVD. On his weekly tune videos, he teaches a simple version phrase by phrase, so you don’t need to rely on sheet music or puzzling things out by ear, and then later goes on to demonstrate options for ornamenting the tune. There are also MP3 versions of the tune to download for your iPod & PDF sheet music if you need it. There are also introductory lessons on how to play both whistle and flute, and and a library of videos demonstrating various ornaments and other techniques. It’s really one of the best-conceived internet teaching resources I’ve had the pleasure to be a student of. And it’s not expensive, either, and I’m officially poor.
Thanks! I’ve added those to my list and will do more research! 
It sounds like I have some really good leads