First Lessons Tin Whistle (Book + Online Audio/Video/PDF Supplement)

The tin whistle has an alluring voice — yearning, melancholy, joyous, playful — both youthful and ancient. Its music can sound like wind, birdsong, flowing water. With this book, you can learn to make beautiful whistle music:

  • even if you’ve never played a musical instrument
  • even if you don’t read music
  • no matter how young or old you are
First Lessons® Tin Whistle is for beginners and for those who have tried to ...more
Product Number:
30043M
Format:
Book + Online Audio/Video/PDF Supplement
Skill Level:
Beginning-Intermediate
Notation Type:
Standard Notation
Pages:
40
Binding:
Saddle Stitched
Size:
8.75 x 11.75
ISBN:
1-5134-6282-2
ISBN13:
978-15134-6282-0
Series:
First Lessons
Publisher:
Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
Date Published:
8/20/2019

The tin whistle has an alluring voice — yearning, melancholy, joyous, playful — both youthful and ancient. Its music can sound like wind, birdsong, flowing water. With this book, you can learn to make beautiful whistle music:

  • even if you’ve never played a musical instrument
  • even if you don’t read music
  • no matter how young or old you are
First Lessons® Tin Whistle is for beginners and for those who have tried to play the whistle (also known as a pennywhistle) but need more help. This book leaves no stone unturned, offering valuable insights and detailed instruction you won’t find anywhere else — expert guidance that will smooth your way and steer you clear of the pitfalls newcomers often encounter. In addition to music notation, this book offers two highly accessible alternatives:
  • A much-improved tablature system
  • Suit Code — a new and inventive fingering shorthand using the suits of the deck of cards
With this book you’ll get:
  • Access to audio and video downloads
  • 23 tunes from Irish, Scottish, Northumbrian, Welsh, English, Breton and African American traditions, along with melodies from Beethoven and Dvorák
  • An introduction to Irish tin whistle ornamentation
Grey Larsen is a master musician who performs and teaches internationally. He has played the whistle since the 1970’s and has written nine books, including the best-seller The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. The author recommends using a tin whistle in the key of D with this book.

Welcome! 
Making the Best Use of This Book 
Further Offerings 
What Is a Tin Whistle? 
Acquiring a Tin Whistle 
Anatomy of the Tin Whistle 
Let’s Make Some Sound 
Whistle-Friendly Notes and Scales 
The Names of the Notes 
The Relaxed Whistle Hold 
Why Use the Left Hand as the Top Hand? 
Seven Steps to Finding Your Personal Whistle Hold 
Alternatives to the Bottom Hand Pinky Anchor Point 
Training Your Bottom Hand Pinky Using a Rubber Band 
Resting Position for the Fingers, and Economy of Motion 
Tin Whistle Embouchure 
Clearing the Windway 
Breathing and Posture 
Tuning the Whistle 
Using Your Tongue 
Conjunct and Disjunct Tonguing: Connected and Disconnected Notes 
Tonguing a Low-Register Cs 
Exploring Air Speed and Pressure 
Try Disjunct Tonguing 
Try Conjunct Tonguing 
Playing a Low-Register B
Exploring the Extreme Low End of the Air Speed Range
Exploring the Extreme High End of the Air Speed Range 
How Do We Increase Air Speed? 
Vibrato 
Two Groups of Three Holes, and the Fingering Patterns We Use 
Suit Code: A New Shorthand for Tin Whistle Fingerings 
Hot Cross Buns, in A major 
Minimizing Finger Movement 
Why Is It So Important to Memorize Fingerings and Note Names? 
Merrily We Roll Along, in Two Keys
Finding and Sealing Finger Hole Air Leaks 
Feel the Buzz 
Hot Cross Buns, in G major
Tin Whistle Tablature 
Shady Hollow
Learn Your Fingerings by Heart 
Practicing 
Lonely Island 
Introducing High-Register Notes 
Lonely Peaks and Valleys 
Introducing Bottom Hand Fingering with the Note Fs 
Adding Standard Music Notation and Introducing Slurs 
Smooth Sailing 
Found a Penny on the Road 
Introducing the Note E 
An Dro 
Introducing the Note D
Two Fingerings for High D 
Largo from Dvorák’s Ninth Symphony
The Spade, At Last 
A Deeper Look at Tuning the Whistle 
Moving Groups of Fingers, and “Crossing the Break” 
Introducing the Note Cn 
Joy to the World 
Ode to Joy 
Using the Two High D Fingerings 
A Fingering Chart 
The Londonderry Air/Danny Boy
Letting Go of Suit Code 
Bonnie at Morn 
Letting Go of Tablature 
Morning Has Broken 
Amazing Grace 
Scarborough Fair 
Simple Gifts 
All the Pretty Little Horses 
An Introduction to Irish Tin Whistle and Flute Ornamentation 
We Shall Overcome 
Star of the County Down 
The High Caul Cap 
The Leitrim Fancy
Collections of Easy Tunes for Tin Whistle and Irish Flute 
Continuing Your Journey

 
Audio Sample 1
Audio Sample 2
Audio Sample 3
Series: First Lessons
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Book + Online Audio/Video/PDF Supplement
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