I am new to this site as well as to whistles. Can anyone recommend videos and books to get to help self teach playing? I bought a Chris Abell yesterday while I was in North Carolina. I am also looking for info on stores in the Atlanta area as well as someone that possibly teaches. I also will be going to Birmingham, Al tomorrow and wondering if any good places to see whistles and music in that area. Any help is appreciated.
Hi cecilg,
Welcome to C&F!
Being also a newcomer, I wouldn’t venture any advice and will leave that to the experts that abound here in great quantity and quality. Except to say; use the search function, the knowledge in these forums is vast.
May your whistling thrive!
I am a newbie as well and I find Grey Larsen’s books with cds very good.
I second the Larsen books. Also, most any good ITM CD is a good tutorial. Just listen and imitate.
I say Bill Ochs’ book. That is how I learned. Your first Whistle is more expensive than any one Whsitle I have ever owned.
Brian Finnegan’s Tin Whistle Tutorial-madfortrad
It’s a wonderful whistle tutorial…
That’s how i have learned a year ago, and i participated is several gigs already. it teaches you from the basic to the begginer while giving you tangible video& sound demonstrations…
madfortrad charge high prices, so search after it via internet.
Ditto on the Ochs book and recording. Easy to follow, starts at the absolute basics (blow in this end) great selection of tunes, nice discussion of ornamentation.
Thanks for all the info. I have ordered several books and videos. I am really looking forward to this and hoping that I didn’t wait too long in life to begin. Did any of you guys start later or must one start learning at an early age?
One must start when one starts, as long as one isn’t necessarily looking to make it a career. I started in my mid forties; I love it, I’ve come light years from whence I started (the backyard boos have turned to applause), but won’t be joining the Chieftains any time soon…
Philo
Started in my 30s, never got serious enough to play for anyone but myself. That said, I have found great pleasure in playing for and by myself for over a decade, and in recent years, have begun to entertain the thought of playing for others.
I’m 40 something and started a couple years ago. It’s great fun, and I don’t own a TV (by choice) so I actually can learn new things in the evenings.
Mostly I play by and for myself. Sometimes I play with family - half of us play some instrument at one level or another.
Start with the Bill Ochs book. It get’s you right into playing a little. The Larsen books are great, but might put a beginner off (lot’s of technical stuff).
You should try to put some breath through that whistle every day if you can, to keep the moisture content right. That’s a good thing, it will make you put some practice time in. Oil it regularly. That’s a really special whistle, so take good care of it.
Have fun!
I’ve never seen these videos, but I would second this…brian is, imo, the best tin whistle player in the Irish music scene today, and I’ve heard great things about the videos.