Does anybody have any recommendations of how I might learn the basics of ornamentation?
I can’t read music but can learn pretty well by ear. I’ve picked up some grace notes when learning “live” from an experienced whistler who visits me occasionally, but due to dearth of whistlers in my area I’ve not been able to expand my repertoire much.
Can anyone recommend any videos, CDs, books or any other means of learning ornamentation that might be suitable for someone like me?
Kelly
As another newbie (I’ve just started whistle myself) I’ve found the following site really helpful. And it has lots of sound clips so you can understand the directions! Good luck!
I highly recomend http://www.madfortrad.com their CD rom tutor is great. Heck they’ll even teach you how to read music. Great shots of the instructor playing ornaments. Worth every cent.
Have you taken a look at Steve Neighbors site Celtic Air? He’s got lots of tips on how to do crans, rolls, cuts, strikes, trills and all that sort of stuff. I don’t have the URL straight away, but perhaps someone can post it…
Bri~
Kelly,
Perhaps there is a fiddle player in your area who can help you as much of the ornamentation on both these instruments is pretty similar and many fiddlers have enough whistle experience to demonstrate the basics.Players of the recorder can also be helpful. 
Mike
[ This Message was edited by: mike.r on 2001-09-27 05:31 ]
On 2001-09-27 05:27, mike.r wrote:
Players of the recorder can also be helpful.
Hee hee! Sharp or Sony? (Recycled joke courtesy of Loren.)
Years ago I met a music critic who said that the only thing he played was a gramophone (that dates me, doesn’t it?). In Ireland also many years ago I enquired about a piper who was a well-known authority on “the music” and was told that what he played most was a pint glass.