The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox

Whistle
1

:smiley: I just got my autographed copy of The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox by Grey Larsen. The initial impression is Wow! I plan to spend the weekend working with the book and my whistles, (taking out some time to mow the lawn.) More later.

2

Great …enjoy (after mowing the lawn first thing :wink: then you won’t get disturbed )!
I am very interested to hear your comments on this book.
Since he has those two books out, one on flute/ whistle and the other on whistles only I would like to hear about the differences.
Have none of those myself but was considering getting one but which…

have fun!
berti

3

‘The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle’ by Grey Larsen was also very insightful book. The book uses modal concept throughout.

I personally dont like modal concept much,but yes, my intuition tells me that I cant find a better ITM tutor for the time being. I don’t know who Grey Larsen is but what a generous guy!! :astonished:

4

First pass on the Toolkit.

It is not for kids! It is a serious, helpful book meant for people who are beginners or intermediate players who want to improve their playing. I found the section on Irish Modal Music to be hard but it forced me to come to an understanding on Modal Music, (a good thing.) The section on posture and practice where very helpful, especially on slowing down and the use of a metronome. I have just started on the section on ornamentation. I have never been able to handle cuts properly. Maybe with the help of this book, I will.

There are two add-ons to the book, both downloadable but at an small additional cost. “The Toolbox Exercises For Finger Coordination” I have found already to be helpful. “The Toolbox Tune Collection” I have not yet gotten it.

So far for me, the book is clearly the best book I have found to get me solidly into the intermediate level.

5

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you’d need in the way of tutoring materials for TW that you cannot get for free on the internet - most of it here at the C&F. Why folks bother with these so called ‘tutor’ books and CDs - say nothing about the ripoff prices - is a mystery to me.

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I would agree with this regarding tune/cd collections. I’ve gotten much more out of recording the sessions and learing from those than from most books.

However, Grey Larsen’s books are not collection but tutorials with an amazing amount of information on technique. I’m only a few chapters in and my playing has already improved a startling amount. Folks have commented on how much better I sound.

I’ve started to change the entire way I think about playing, for the better.

Chris Smith’s book on accompaniment has also helped me a great deal. Again, this is not a book/cd of tunes, but is mainly a theory/how to approach playing book.

(Note, I haven’t seen the whistle only book by Grey Larsen, only the flute/whistle book.)

Eddie

7

toasty wrote:

Why folks bother with these so called ‘tutor’ books
and CDs - say nothing about the ripoff prices - is a mystery to me.

ripoff prices?! Anything would be alike if you didnt need it.
There is always an urge for systematic book,not a mere mishmash.
I am not a collector at all so I needed the most essential book(from my point of view) for ITM.Not to have too close relationship to the music.

And I know that its fatally important some master of arts dont have the word to explain their heavenly arts,that each trained ear and insightful brain to learn anything have its limitation(thats why turor and real teacher help).

ripoff prices?! toasty,Let me believe you read those books already and had your mystery.Then that is supposed to be a mystery.Right? :roll:




…RIPOFF PRICES!? :astonished:

(just kidding,I had an urge to say this three times…).

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Grey Larsen an author …ity on the TW …ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha -

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I have the Grey Larson “Essential Guide to Flute and Tin Whistle” book and CDs.

There are three things that have helped my playing tremendously over the last few years. One is this book. Another is the Scoiltrad lessons from Conal O’Grada. Yet another is playing in the weekly session.

I love Chiff & Fipple and I find it a fascinating place to interact with other musicians. I have many good friends here. However, I have not found it to be a good way to learn the music, and I would caution learners that what you hear online needs to be checked against source material before you put too much faith in it.

The best thing a learner can do, in my opinion, is find a teacher, if they live in an area where such is available. There is no substitute for one-on-one feedback and direction. The next best thing is Scoiltrad and the various tutor books, supplemented (but not replaced by) interactions on public forums such as this one.

And listen to all the good recordings you can get your hands on. What your ears cannot hear your fingers and breath cannot produce.

Hoping I have not offended anyone,

–James

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I for one am horribly offended.

About what I’m not quite sure, but I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

shakes his fist in the air

Has anyone seen both the “Essential Guide…” and the new whistle book? Any reason to buy both? It will take me years to finish getting everything out of the flute and whistle book, but while I’m in a buying mood…

Eddie

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You can see what Grey says are the differences between the books at: http://www.greylarsen.com/store/bookdiff.php

Bob

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I have both. In fact, I have the “Essential Guide”, “The Toolbox”, both supplements, and 10 of Grey’s tune packets. As a college professor, I immediately saw the educational value of Grey’s materials (upon my first glance through the “Essential Guide”). I was, in fact, jaded by myriad poorly conceived instructional sets in the past. Grey’s research, work, and presentation are all outstanding. It amazes me how people like Toasty can make such categorical statements, professing knowledge they do not possess about a book they’ve never even glanced at.

For what it’s worth, I play whistles as well as flute. I find “The Toolbox” (and it’s two what I consider to be requisite supplemental volumes) to be more helpful for the beginner/intermediate player. I halted my studies in the “Essential Guide” in favor of beginning with “The Toolbox” first (even though I’ve been whistling for about 10 years). Some of the material is different, but that is explained fairly well on www.greylarsen.com.

Tommy Kochel

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Along the same lines …

What’s the difference between the Toolbox and Bill Ochs’ Tinwhistle Tutor? Are they complementary? Does the Toolbox replace the Tinwhistle Tutor? Or what.

Best wishes,
Jerry

14

$40.00 for a huge tome with detailed information on general playing, historical information, ornamentation, and note-for-note as well as ornament-for-ornament written transcriptions along with two CDs packed with examples and information;

$30.00 for a very sizable volume dedicated to the whistle with similar kinds of information and a packed CD;

downloadable supplements and tune packets for a few dollars each . . .

“ripoff prices”? Think again and, perhaps, examine your subject matter more carefully before spewing unfounded opinions. :wink:

15

Toasty said:

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you’d need in the way of tutoring materials for TW that you cannot get for free on the internet - most of it here at the C&F. Why folks bother with these so called ‘tutor’ books and CDs - say nothing about the ripoff prices - is a mystery to me.

I would guess that Toasty hasn’t looked at the Larsen books and/or is just trying to get a rise out of us. Grey’s books are so much above and beyond any other “tutorial” I’ve come across that they just don’t compare.

-brett

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Thanks, I think I’ll stick with the “Essesntial…” book for a while.

Eddie

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Once again, the lack of scholarship astounds! Does Toasty (oh, I get it: “toasty” as in “close to the flames”) even own a recording with Grey on whistle? Highly suspect.

Tommy

“I find it hard to take offense at commentary which proves that life without sentience is not only possible, but ongoing.”
–Robert Fripp, “Epitaph” boxed set

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Has anybody checked out the exercise packet yet? Is it different from what is in the flute and whistle book?
Jon

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Yes. It is different. More geared towards beginning and intermediate motor control exercises, but excellent even for the beginning/intermediate player to hone technique.

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The execise addon for me is a very structured way of learning the fingering and to flow from fingering to another. It seems to work for me, what more can I say!