Here’s a question-
did most of the people here on this board teach themselves tinwhistle, or did they have someone teach them? (wether it be lessons, your friend- whoever)
and here’s another question- how does one go about finding someone who gives tinwhistle lessons, or at least someone willing to teach for a small fee?
I ask this because I got my tinwhistle recently, and have been working with it. Since I am a trained classical/jazz flute player i can read music and play off my ear okay, but I guess you could say I am looking to really learn a lot more then maybe I could teach myself from a book. Only thing is I have no idea how to look for a teacher for the tinwhistle!
I’m in the Boston area (cambridge to be exact) and since Boston is such an Irish influenced town I figure there has got to be someone out there that could teach me a thing or too about tinwhistle. I’m also a starving grad student who owes tens of thousands of dollars to the federal government for my higher education- so I am looking for something economical.
any suggestions would be great.
-Angela
[ This Message was edited by: atarango on 2002-02-20 20:25 ]
I have learned a lot, but I really wish I could have a teacher for at least a few lessons to get me on the right track. I did find one in this area that is pretty cheap–it’s just a matter of saving up for it, I guess. I have seen posts on this board from several people in your area, so I’m sure they can offer help about teachers in your area.
I try to teach myself. I go to sessions when I can - been to a grand total of three in my life! I would love to have a teacher, but I don’t know of any in my area. I too owe the government so it would have to be economical.
I plan to get the Bill Ochs tutorial, I’ve heard very good things about it.
I taught myself for the first few years, but have had the opportunity to take some workshops from Larry Nugent that helped immensly.
As far as looking for a teacher, a good place to start would be an Irish community center - Chicago has the Irish-American Heritage Center, I’m sure there is something similar in Boston. They may offer lessons on a regular basis, or you could find someone there willing to tutor you.
Good luck!
[ This Message was edited by: rebl_rn on 2002-02-20 22:26 ]
An occasional lesson from a teacher
or a workshop is very helpful indeed.
I’ve never had access to regular
lessons, which seem to go too fast
for me anyway, but the few I’ve
taken have gone a long way.
You learn that you don’t play exactly the way the notes are written. You can teach yourself breath control and how to get a good tone, but learning how and when to ornament a tune takes listening to good players.
I started off 1½ year ago. Bought myself a whistle and started tooting on it (I did play other instruments before).
So I discovered C&F - I don’t need to explain what happened then…
If you start without start without a musical background, I think it’s a good idea to start off on your own. Introduce yourself to the instrument, get to know it etc. in your own time.
Through this messageboard I met Jens_Hoppe. We discovered we were almost neighbours (!)
So we got together, and i got to hear a lot more Irish music. It helps to play with others. He also got me in contact with a teacher. It has helped me a lot.
There are many good tutorials and tunebooks with CD’s - but there are things that can’t be explained in a book, and a CD does not tell you about the subtle rhytmic (sp?) adjustments needed to get that ‘Trad feel’
I also attended a workshop with Mary Bergin last November. That was great fun!
As a classically trained player, I don’t think you will need to worry much about the technical aspects, and the only tricky part like rolls are explained beautifully by Brother Steve. Also read his section on Not Lifting A Finger, and experiment with cross-fingerings. And I would say that the most important practice would be to listen, listen, listen. Assuming you want to play Irish Trad, that will be the greater challenge than doing a clean triplet across a c-nat. (And being classically trained, you might start at a disadvantage here, because you might have to unlearn somethings and learn to hear others, particularly rhythm).
If you’re strapped for cash, you can wait with lessions I think. Get all the Ir Trad CDs from the public libraries that you can find. You can ask people on the board what stuff is stylistically good. Find one or two good sessions (which will be easy in Boston) and go there to listen. Work an telling reels from jigs from hornpipes, then try to tell one reel from the next in a set, then try to recognize tunes from one week to the next. Lilt along. Hum the tunes walking down the street. Sing them in the shower.
Angela-
I live in Somerville and play at sessions almost every night. There is more Irish music here than one can know what to do with. Send me an e-mail at christopherlaughlin@hotmail.com and I’ll find you a teacher and maybe you and I can get together for a few tunes.
Best,
Chris
thanks everyone-
you all have given me some great suggestions,and thanks for the website to the Boston celtic music school- surprisingly enough the lessons they give at Harvard in the fall are right next door to the Divinity school (where I am a starving student of theology)and are resonably priced.
now I got a suggestion that I should just “listen” a lot- and that that would help tremendously, so here’s another question for all you whistlers out there- which CDS do you condsider the best for “listening and learning?”
This is in no way comprehensive, I don’t claim to have listened to more than a fraction of what’s out there. But others will chime in.
Matt Molloy, Paul Brady, Tommy Peoples
Kevin Burke, If the Cap Fits
Kevin Burke/Jack Daly, Eavesdropper
Joe Burke/Andy McGann/Felix Dolan, A Tribute to Michael Coleman
Mary Bergin, Fedoga Stain 1 & 2
Martin Hayes, Martin Hayes
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh/Frankie Kennedy, Ceol Aduaidh
As you see from this list, I don’t think it makes sense to only listen to whistle or flute players. If you like the more group based stuff, you can pick up anything by Planxty or the Bothy Band or Altan. Other groups, like Dervish, Patrick Street, or Lunasa, have a more… a different sound that is great but not ideal if you want to get a sense for the stylistic roots of the music. (Hope I didn’t just open a can of worms.)
Angela, I took a class with Kathleen Conneely (who teaches for Comhaltas) at Gaelic Roots last year. She’s a great whistle player, and a real sweetheart too! I wish I could take classes with her all the time.
After playing (sort of) the whistle for several years I did decide to take some lessons. I found a flute player, former music major who is very helpful. Now if I can only find time to practice the techniques!
I’ve found that for myself (someone who is rather lazy about things in general ) having a regularly scheduled lesson at least once a month really keeps me on my toes. I’ve got a time frame to work with and a couple of tunes that I need to get down and up to speed on every month. It also makes me feel more like I’m “officially” learning, rather than just playing around with the whistle. If you can’t find a whistle tutor, I would say find ANY trad. Irish musician (or whatever type of music you play on whistle) and see if they’ll evaluate your playing once a month. Even if they play a different instrument they can constructively comment on your playing.
However, having a tooter tutor can really help you improve your playing quickly.
) having a regularly scheduled lesson at least once a month really keeps me on my toes. I’ve got a time frame to work with and a couple of tunes that I need to get down and up to speed on every month. It also makes me feel more like I’m “officially” learning, rather than just playing around with the whistle. If you can’t find a whistle tutor, I would say find ANY trad. Irish musician (or whatever type of music you play on whistle) and see if they’ll evaluate your playing once a month. Even if they play a different instrument they can constructively comment on your playing.