As I live in China I do not have access to a teacher. I have been playing the whistle for a couple of months now but really need a good book and/or some form of multimedia tutorial. Can anyone recommend a good source that will take me from beginners level onwards in a methodical (and challenging) way. Also, any opinions on Harper whistles? Many thanks.
[ This Message was edited by: mccormackjohn on 2001-12-14 02:47 ]
You can find some good help online. Here are some suggestions for you.
The](http://www.sessioneer.com/default.asp%22%3EThe) Sessioneer
Dave](http://www.whistleworkshop.co.uk/index.htm%22%3EDave) Auty’s Whistle Workshop
There are other helpful web sites too, but these should keep you busy for a while.
Mick
Try Bill Ochs’ The Clarke Tinwhistle ( works with any D whistle). This is available as a set with a book and CD or Cassette. The book starts out at a complete beginner level, and carries right up through fully ornamented jigs, reels, etc. You can get it from any of the online shopping sources such as Andy’s Front Hall,Lark, etc.
I recently bought “The](http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/tutorials/tutorialsets/thecomplete/thecompl.htm%22%3E%22The) Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor” and although I haven’t really had time to sit down and go through it, it seems to cover just about everything…
And then you’ve got great folks here like Mick Woodruff, Whistle God, who will generously encourage and support the learning process! Priceless! I got my first whistle here in South Dakota from a friend in Australia, had no access to any other learning tools, and got coached by my friend in OZ who used to play. It’s do-able in isolation, really! I do a lot of listening and try to imitate what I hear. Sometimes it’s successful and sometimes it’s not, but that’s part of the process. As long as you’re not playing in the Bejing Opera, you’ll be OK! actually there are a few Chinese songs I know where the whistle will work. Hum…
Let it shine! Anna “RoaringMouse” Martinez
[ This Message was edited by: Anna Martinez on 2001-12-15 00:30 ]
Hmmm...I actually had a hard time with Och's tutor. For true whistle beginners (as in, what do those strange dots on the lines mean?) I think it's a good tutor, but after Ochs hits the section on ornaments, he plays everything ornamented on the tape, but just gives the skeleton tunes in the book. For me, when I was a beginner, this was very, very, very frustrating - obviously, three or so pages of how to ornament hadn't really taught me how to include ornamentation in tunes. So, not really knowing how to insert ornaments into the notated music, but hearing Ochs play excellently ornamented versions of the basic tunes was really disheartening
On the other hand, I started whistling about six years ago, and I think a new edition of Och's tutor has been released. As I haven't seen it, can anyone tell me about it? Is it the same version as the previous one, or has it been expanded?
So, if you think you might fall prey to the disheartenment factor, some other tutors, like Geraldine Cotter's, or perhaps the Mel Bay complete tutor (the names of its authors escape me at present) might be better - they both have a CD/tape of the material available and go more in depth as to how to include variation into a tune. I also believe that the previously mentioned online tutorials, especially Brother Steve's, are excellent resources.
By the way, you mentioned that you live in China? I'm currently in Japan...the whistle is moving East!
~Firefly
Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. The whistle is indeed moving east!
On 2001-12-16 23:22, mccormackjohn wrote:
… The whistle is indeed moving east!
Well, I know of at least 5 whistlers in Singapore, and a few others here who have bought themselves their first whistles. There must be more I’m not aware of. So if you’re ever in Singapore…
Wait did you say 5??
On 2001-12-17 07:16, Eldarion wrote:
Wait did you say 5??
You, your friend the bodhran player (he played a bit the nite you weren’t there), me, Mike and I think Mike’s Electric Muse collaborator has whistles, too, altho she might be playing them only for experimental music, I’m not sure.
A bit of an anti-climax, I know. Trad-wise it’s only you, yr friend, and Mike, with me winging it. Sorry to have got your hopes up. 