I have played the classical, silver flute for more than twenty years. But I wanted to expand and try some new things. At first I actually debated over the ocarina or a whistle. I decided ocarina, which was fun to learn and play. Then last Christmas I got a Woodi whistle for a present. I have absolutely fallen in love with the instrument, and though I like the ocarina, I wish I had tried this years ago. Thanks for all your videos, you've been great to learn from. Keep them coming!
Hi! Congratulations, your comment was picked to win the giveaway :) I'll need to get a good shipping address for you, so when you have a minute please reach out on Instagram (or TikTok or Twitter or pretty much anything @Whistletutor) or through my contact at whistletutor.com, either way - cheers!
Had to check I didn't write this comment myself :) Played classical flute 40 years ago in the school orchestra, so adding vibrato from the diaphragm on a low D is simple and easy. But the high D is a whole different animal, where I can't do so much to each note and there's just simple more notes in there. Strangely, after a few years playing Howards Low D and Low C, I briefly considered the ocarina, before picking up a brass high D session whistle from Michael Burke.
I got into playing the whistle about 15 years ago with my daughter , she was 10 yrs old at the time, I loved the irish music and I wanted something to do with her that would be bonding time, we enjoyed it for many years until she grew up and moved away 🥹. I still play today for myself , with friends and in sessions….and it’s my little passion. I cherish the memories with my daughter when we use to play at home, at the beach , on a hike, we always took our whistles with us ! ….and I have a constant remembrance of my sweet daughter every time I play my whistle 😊 it’s actually really beautiful ☀️ ☘️
I got into the whistle when I started as a Living Historian. We portray Irish immigrants during the US Civil War and wanted some Irish traditional music in the camp.
Went to a local pub in town and there was a group of Celtic musicians playing. When I heard this fellow with a low d whistle jump into the mix I knew I had to learn to play that instrument. Ordered a Tony Dixon low D and am really digging your tutorials! Thanks!
I’ve been playing recorder forever and even play a few Irish tunes during gigs. I figured it was about time I picked up the whistle and play the tunes properly. Been playing for about a year now. Thanks for the tutorials.
I first got into tin whistle because that's what we were taught to play in elementary school. Then when I picked up a fife at a gift shop in Washington DC and learned to play it, I decided maybe it was worth going back to the whistle and ordered a little brass Tony Dixon. The first song I learned was Galway Girl (nOT the Sheeran version) and went from there. I've always been drawn to folk music in general because you don't face the confines of classical music. I can't read music, and I probably can't play that well, but whenever I pick up one of my instruments I'm able to express my feelings in a way that words don't do justice. That was pretty cheesy but y'all get the vibe.
I’m teaching homeschool kids (26 of them) in 3 different classes. I already play piano, a bit of guitar and flute, but your video got me interested in actually playing some Irish music myself. Thanks!
Never liked flutes, whistles or most wind instruments (played mostly rock music forever)until I found the shakuhachi. Always loved the Japanese culture and Zen.Made one then bought one and i still totally suck. Can barely make consistent sound from my bamboo shaku. I also I love my Scandinavian heritage and music so i was building my second Talharpa. Went to the music shop to pick up some cello tuners and supplies for my build and seen a cheap waltons whistle and said what the heck. I wanted to have a bunch of instruments around anyways. Drums, horns, harps, etc. Didn't touch the whistle for atleast two weeks. I was bored one day so I learned a few basic songs and seemed to pick it up pretty quick. Now I'm looking at upgrading and have done tons of research on low whistles. I feel like this one is so quirky and cheap. I am hooked and ready to move forward. 😂 Probably one of the most fun instruments to play plus i can take them anywhere. Im not even crazy on irish music but I really enjoy playing.
I got into playing the tin whistle just on a whim at the Dublin Airport. I picked up a Feadog whistle for a few euros just because I wanted something "Irish" from my trip. I got hooked and been learning how to play it since that day :) Also, my 6 year old daughter is getting curious about it and "playing" with me with another whistle of her own.
I got interested in the whistle after watching the opening to Riverdance back in the 90's. It took me a long time to get into it. Recently I watched it again and man that song still haunts me. Now I try to play every day.
I started on the Highland pipes as a child. My parents bought a whistle (I think maybe for my sister) that just sort of laid around the house for years. One summer we were driving to bagpipe camp and I grabbed the whistle on a whim and tried playing GHB tunes on it. It actually sounded okay (although a little too squeaky for some of the grace note combos) so I kept at it, learning how to add tonguing and take away extra grace notes that weren’t helpful. I eventually stopped playing the pipes but kept at it with the whistle, and after grabbing a few more in different keys started jamming with some of my exchange student friends in college. That was almost a decade ago and I’ve been gigging on the whistle ever since. I’m now at the point where I’m starting to teach friends how to play, and having a decent whistle I can loan to people until they decide to purchase their own would be swell.
never really found an instrument that suited me until last year, round a friends house someone started playing a mouth harp, it was the first time that i really appreciated it as a real instrument as i found myself toe tapping to the whistle like melody beneath the twanging! at that moment i had flash back to meeting a backpacker who travelled with his whistle, and remebered how at the time i love the sound of it and have been a longtime folk music listner. the day i got back from my friends house i bought a faedog and i basically havent put it down since! thanks for all the vids man, appreciate it!
Oddly, I saw a Facebook ad for someone teaching a tin whistle course and decided to grab one (but not the course). I'd already been a big fan of some Irish music like The High Kings and Seamus Kennedy, so it seemed like a good match. I thought having a small instrument like that to take with me on mountain bike rides and play while out in the woods might be kind of fun. Thanks for this new breakdown on ornaments. I'm getting to where I can kind of play them, but they never sound right when I try to work them into music. Guess I just need to listen to more people play and see what works for them.
What got me into whistle was I start playing bagpipes when I was a little kid, and at the time (late 90s), I noticed that everyone who played pipes in recording bands also played whistle. Never really thought about it, I guess, the two instruments kinda just seemed to go together all the time. I caved to peer pressure 🤣
Hi got into whistling after listening to kwela music as a kid. Kwela is an African off beat style (Spokes Mashiyane was the master of kwela tin whistle playing). Have been following your tutoring videos for few months now. Thanks
Being Irish I’ve been exposed to Irish music throughout my life. Always wanted to play a musical instrument but lacked formal training. Was told the whistle was the easiest instrument to play, only six holes after all. Not sure if they were pulling my leg or had to much Guinness that day. I quickly discovered there’s a lot more to playing the whistle than tapping six holes. Thank God for whistletutor and other online tutorials. It’s now been 4 years and I enjoy playing more than ever. Thanks for keeping me going Sean.
I mostly play bagpipes and Scottish music, but recently, after listening some of bands just wanted to broaden the music and my abilities and started to learn whistle as well :)
I got into playing the whistle after seeing Lee Forshner play with the Dropkick Murphys during their live stream at Fenway Park. I then started listening to Flogging Molly, and then into traditional Irish music. It looked fairly simple and I had never tried a wind instrument before, so I got a Clarke Original as my first whistle. I now have a collection, but I haven’t yet acquired a Dixon, which I have been curious about.
I got into playing as a kid, but never really took it seriously until I unlocked the beauty of the low whistle. I then decided to explore tin whistle again properly and signed up to the Online Academy of Irish Music and found this channel around the same time. My Killarney nickel whistle arrived in the post a few weeks ago, and now I'm addicted 🤩
Always wanted to learn how to play now at eighty l am learning and absolutely loved it 🥰🎶🥰 also play it in a Ukulele group on some of our songs and I have learned so much from you! Thank you 🙏🎶
I would say it was out of pure love for the irish music. As a child in Spain I could only catch small fragments of music here and there (Mike Oldfield, Braveheart, Titanic...) that always kept my attention. There was something that made that music stocked in my head and resonated deep inside me. As I grew up, I found about the instruments used but never got my parents into buying me a set of pipes. When I was 26, randomly I found myself at a session and as I was a bit drunk so I started chatting with the pipper at a break. He would let me try the thing and at that moment something in my head clicked. "I'm an adult and I have the money now, I should take on this shit". And there began my path into irish/folk music
I did Irish céilí dancing years ago (the 70's to be exact at the Renaissance fair in Northen California) and dabbled in whistle at that time. I later took up recorder and Baroque flute and then during the pandemic took up Irish flute as a "Pandemic Project". As an Irish flute player, how could I resist getting back to playing whistle also?
I tried out for band when I was in Jr. High. The teacher refused to have me in her class. She said she couldn't teach me because I had a learning disability when I was younger. So I lost out on that opportunity. I taught myself how to play tin whistle instead. I have been playing ever since. 💞
Found a tin whistle at a Disney shop. At the time I was disappointed that it wasn't a recorder. Little did I know it was an Irish whistle After a UA-cam rabbit-hole and some time learning on my own, I ended up writing one of my Master's theses on Irish traditional music!
As a broke student I walked in a music store for the first time, and found a tin whistle as the only instrument I could afford. After a month of only looping over 'the Hobbit' tune, I checked some videos to learn folk songs and traditional tunes. Then I found your channel and learn (and liked) more and more tunes! After watching your video on the matter, I joined an Irish session in my city, and now I'm learning with the old masters there too ! Thanks again for the sparkle!
I got into whistle playing as I was an outdoorsman that wanted an instrument that would fit easily in my bushcraft kit and would blend well with my love of living history. The Irish music is because of my heritage and love of Appalachian folk music which is the mountain child of the Irish and Scottish musical tradition.
I was playing guitar. Than I got a dog and he is pretty fearless, not afraid of anything... except the guitar... So we're training him to get used to that, but that takes time. So I was complaining to my better half that I missed making music in the evening, and she presented me with a tin whistle she had bought years and years ago but that she never used. It was an awful sounding Waltons D (not the mellow, the regular) that was only really playable in the first octave. But I started playing on it anyway. After a couple days my wife ordered me a better whistle because she couldn't stand the sound any more. Long story short. The dog is still afraid of the guitar, and I'm still playing the tin whistle today. And still having fun with it. Mostly playing sea-shanties and some Irish songs, mainly the songs done by the Pogues and the Dubliners.
During one of the first Covid lockdowns I sumbled upon a talented teacher who issues a "self-paced-self-trained" videos with the whistle included ... I found it super fun and never left it ever since. brilliant little instrument !
I fell in love with the way that this simple instrument gives amazing melodies in the right hands !! Such a huge power in this little thing 💚 easy to play basics, but a journey to discover all about it !!
Great instruction - I heard the prior video on ornaments and felt a little overwhelmed. This time through, I'm excited to start adding to the tunes I know well. Another video giving examples as to when and what ornament you would add could also help the less musically inclined, such as myself. I already have the Dixon Nickle Trad and agree it is a great whistle.
We’ll, I’m sure I’m late for any giveaway, but recently retired from Dmv and now time to do other things, musically. Having a Irish background, my daughter and myself were drummers in Kells Bagpipe band in Portland or, my granddaughter recently picked up Irish step dancing, she’s 7, and I thought I would try this, so I got the whistle and book from the piano bench and went to utube. My right hand is arthritic, but I’m going to do this no matter what, thanks for the ornament lesson, and wish me luck
I'm from a place that almost no people know what Irish whistle is, Hong Kong. The music store here only sells mainstream instruments like guitar, violin, piano, etc. One day, I went to a music store and asked the salesmens whether they had "that instrument" for sale. He said "Sorry. No!" but right after that he said "Wait! wait! Do you mean a very short tube like this with a few holes on it?". Eventually, he found me a feadog Brass D (with a little red tutorial book) from the bottom of their glass showcase. Only one, and it was there for years. Then I'm very happy to go home and play this thing all day long~~~ I discovered I love celtic music since I got a concert DVD of The Corrs in 2002 (Or 2003). I remember I was thrilled when I first time listened to the last track of that DVD, "Toss the Feathers"~ After that, I kept finding Irish music to listen to and self-learning to play the whistle.
I got into playing within just the past few months actually. I’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument but could never really find one that really spoke to me or fit my life style. Then I discovered the tin whistle in an ad on facebook and knew that it was the perfect instrument to try and learn. It’s cheap, it’s easy enough to learn while still being a fun challenge, I can take it with me any where, and it just simply makes beautiful music. So I’ve been slowly working on getting better. I’ve been primarily watching your videos to help teach myself.
I grew up with music but mostly classical vocal music. I played organ for a while but it's not a very portable instrument. I ended up marrying an Irish Dance teacher and fell in love with traditional Irish music. So 10 years ago I decided to learn the penny whistle and in doing so, I found a wealth of good lessons on the Internet. I live in a rural area so there are no local tutors, so sites like yours have been a Godsend. I play an old fashion Clarke which still gets the job done but I would love to upgrade to a Dixon. Thank you for all the content on your site!
I got into Irish music by trying to connect with my heritage. It always seems to connect me to a happy place and why wouldn't someone want to be happy. 👍 Played on and off for several years. Picking up the whistle again commiting to it.
My dad bought me my first tin whistle in Gettysburg back in 2016, a simple clarke style whistle, and I couldn't play it until about two years ago, when I wanted to actually play music, tunes like the Narnia Lullaby and Concerning Hobbits, and I learned my first two tunes from Nixxiom and moved forward from there. Now I play with some level of ease with my Tony Dixon whistle, and am also transitioning into low whistle, and I prominently play the Irish tunes now, and I am unashamed of it.
I wanted something for a different kind of playing because the guitar is quite boring in some ways. So I decided to start with a whistle because of my love for Celtic music. I also play the recorder, which I find more sophisticated and flexible, but the whistle allows me to spread my emotions better.
I’ve got at this point 20 minutes of total playing time…ever. Bought a whistle because I love how simple and down to earth it feels. Can’t wait to belt out some traditional tunes!
I've been going to sessions in Dublin for years, always just sat back and sang songs and didn't have much to add when the tunes came out. But then in then since lockdown I decided to have a go at learning some! Your lessons are great help, thank you!
I realize this feed is a year old, but since you are interested to know...When I was a teenager, I participated in my church's pioneer trek. Knowing I was a flute player, my accompanist lent me her wooden irish whistle and invited me to play on the trail. So, for three days, while my peers pulled a handcart, I played whistle Western style. I learned to play marches, square dances, and all the American yank favorites. While I can play a mean Yankee Doodle, I never learned to play Irish style. So that is what I'm doing now. Thank you for the tutorials.
I found a Feadog tin whistle in a junk shop in Sonoma County, CA back in February of this year. It was in brand new condition and only few bucks, so I grabbed it. I'd never played before. I fell in love right away and have been playing literally every day since. It's awesome to have an instrument that makes such beautiful music and that can be taken literally anywhere in your pocket or backpack. I play when I hike, in the stairwell at work first thing in the morning (excellent acoustics!), and everywhere else. Thanks for making these wonderful tutorials and reviews!
great video once again! I got into tin whistle first through primary school (I'm Irish) where it was kind of a fun mandatory thing we did alongside classes - however, I had forgotten all about it, even when involved in an Irish trad group in secondary school playing piano, until recently where I dug out my old, dented cheap whistles and started learning it once again, and now I've devoted myself to listening and learning as many tunes as I can - these videos are a massive help towards that!
Nice tutorial as usual Sean. I started messing around with the tin whistle after my grandfather died and my gran gave me an old Clarke's original whistle ( which was in C ) that belonged to him. I still often play that whistle to this day and it's still in tune.
I started playing about two and a half months ago. I've always loved everything Irish. Being retired now I wanted something do, so I started playing the tin whistle. I actually started playing several years ago but that was before UA-cam and all I had was a book and a cassette tape. Do you know how hard it is to find a tune on a cassette tape when it has over 100? So I decided to pick it up again and I found channels like yours and some others, that have really inspired me to learn again. I currently know four tunes and I practice for an hour and a half a day, hopefully someday I'll be as good as you are.
I stumbled upon a live session in a pub in Ireland when i was visiting a few years back and immediately fell in love. I'm a long-time bagpiper, but have been growing increasingly passionate about the whistle.
I always enjoyed the sound of the whistle so classicly Celtic... my beloved fella died 4 months ago and I have been so lost . I was listening to some sad Irish ballads , perhaps to feel more sad , I don't know . But it was like I caught on fire about the the prospect playing and have been playing for one month now and loving it. I enjoy your u tubes been working my way threw them .
My grandfather sung cousins and myself many traditional and rebel songs growing up... I'm Australian born but family life in a nutshell was still very Irish (mum and the family just couldn't let go of the old country) When I was younger he found out I was learning guitar (which I still play) he was in awh and overjoyed by that news (I was young and kinda didn't really care) many years later and he has passed on, I stumbled across a friend's tin whistle and decided to give it ago, then I was instantly thrown back to that memory of my grandfather, I haven't been playing long but I know grandpa would be looking down with a huge grin on his face
I got into tin whistle (and low whistle) by listening to Dryante Zan's game music covers. I fell in love with the haunting tone of low whistles. I could definitely use another high D whistle since I mainly have low whistles.
I was watching Star Trek the Capt. was playing a whistle and the song The Inner Light. I also like Irish music. So I purchased one but didn't know how to play the Ornaments. Thank you.
I, too, have played silver concert flute for all of my 78 years. Over the years, I've tried many, many other instruments - just for the enjoyment of making music on various "transducers" changing that which is my heart into sound waves. I'm certainly not a master of any of these instruments, but, still, I enjoy the playing at whatever level I happen to be at. Penny whistle came along years ago. It's incredibly portable, so that I always have one with me for spontaneous outbreaks of music (usually just making stuff up, though I do have a repertoire of Irish tunes (including a love of O'Carolan). Mainly, though, I love the whistle because it is just so much fun. Thanks for your videos ; you explain things so clearly and you continually stress that we should always play around to find what works best for ourselves. Take care...
Guitar players: as far as I've discerned Cut = Pull Off/Hammer On Strike = Hammer On/Pull Off Roll = Cut + Strike = Pull Off/Hammer On + Hammer On/Pull Off Now, mic a penny whistle to a wah pedal 🤘
I took up the penny whistle because my partner who is Scottish suggested the bagpipes😂!! I’m in my 60’s and always look for the next challenge. I’m really enjoying the learning and appreciate you passing you skill & knowledge to others. Great work, keep it going.
I bought a bodhran drum first and while finding youtube lessons for the bodhran i came across tutorials for tin whistle yours included and ordered a cheap and cheerful clarkes sweettone straight away, i absolutely love messing about trying to learn to play it, it is so much fun.
I played bagpipes in a marching band when I was a teenager. We even marched down fifth Avenue on Saint Paddy‘s day, but I was mostly a filler, not learning any ornaments and a handful of tunes. When I retired, I tried to pick up the bagpipes again, but with asthma, I could not blow them. So getting into tin whistle seem to be the way to go. I am enjoying playing them and I am finding your videos on exercises and ornaments Very helpful. Are you still doing Dixon whistle giveaway?
I think my path to Irish music went through some Celtic-style music from movie soundtracks (Concerning Hobbits?) and somehow I found my way to start playing Irish music on the fiddle and later on whistle
I always liked Irish music. But it was when I saw The Cores on a UA-cam video playing, Toss the Feathers, that I decided to order one and learn how to play. I love your channel
I started playing in 2001. I was already plying Thai traditional music. I started to join medieval larp games and wanted to play something cool while at the tavern :) then I just fell in love with Irish music and kept learning :)
How on earth did evolve from blowing air down a metal tube with holes in ,which was great for scaring the pigeons away from the peas in the garden to investing in my Killarney whistle. Well honestly i cannot remember, but probably I progressed from creating a shattering 3rd octave Pigeon scaring screech to a more muted noise sufficient to frighten off the neighbours cats . Then I must have noticed that a whole variety of high pitched screeches were available if different holes were covered, eventually evolution led to the astounding discovery that occasionally some of the screeches actually sounded, well sort of OK. Inevitably one fine day we discovered a tune on this metal tube with holes in ,I believe it was Twinkle Twinkle little Star..................! One thing led to another, now we can enjoy playing the likes of Boolavogue, Whiskey in the Jar or Ashokan farewell...BUT I would not wish to swap my Killarney Brass D for any other whistle, Dixon or otherwise!!!. LOL. Keep up the good work Sean!
I was riding the Empire Builder from Portland to Milwaukee and I fell in love with this Irish guy in the observation car. He had a penny whistle. Knowing I would probably never see him again I bought one and started to learn how to play.
I got into whistle playing after a friend of my dad gave me The Wide World Over by The Chieftains for my birthday, about 16 years ago. From that moment, I knew I wanted to play the whistle and the Uilleann pipes.
I got into the whistle in March of 2020 to have something to do with being bored with COVID. I also saw a fellow playing whistle and killing it in The Oban Inn in Oban, Scotland in September 2019 and was fascinated by it. There was a big trad session and they were playing what I now know is the Ramnee Ceilidh, which I'm currently trying to learn. I've been playing now for a little over 2 years and have gotten pretty decent for being self-taught.
i’ve always loved irish music but the recent formation of a Flogging Molly tribute has sparked the new interest. i’ve been having a blast learning (surprisingly quickly having never played any wind instruments), but as the singer/guitarist i can’t play it in the band. trying to get the fiddle player into it.
This was realy helpfull, I learned something new❤ Thank you The giveaway is over But I feel like shareing anyways I got the tin whistle because I got into irish music ( to listen to as a genre, its so preaty) and I tried to play some tunes on my ocarina but most of the tunes where to high for the instrument or had to many notes So I bought a tin whistle on a whim (wich was made easyer by how cheap you can get them) And I am loveing the instrument So it was a good call
I’m a music teacher in the states. I play mainly woodwinds and I’ve been a huge lover of Irish music. A local bar at Uni had a weekly group playing and I always found my self there! I’d love to learn to play myself, And create a group!
Now you’ve done it! Now I have to sit down with this and parse what I’ve been doing since playing along with Chieftains albums since the 70s. Friends turned me on to the O’Riada live album and that led to the Chieftains. Can’t remember if I bought my first whistle before I went to Ireland in 76, but I got at least one there (Still have them. Jerry Freeman fixed one for me). I set it aside for a few decades (trumpet), but about four years ago my fiddle friends caught me playing and so I became the whistle guy. There’s two new apprentices on the scene and they keep asking how I do ornaments and I don’t know how to answer. So I’m sending them this link.
I play the Native American flute, but my middle name is O’Neil so I had to try the Tin Whistle. It was in my blood. When traveling a whistle is easer than a NAF. And it is fun to transpose a tune I know from the flute to the whistle and Vice-a-versa. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
How I got into tin whistle… it’s a long(ish) story so I’ll condense it I recently started playing recorder after a 20 year break… I’m loving rediscovering music and the tin whistle just appealed to me. So I class myself as a relearner to the recorder, but a beginner with the whistle. I enjoy playing folk music and the whistle sounds better with traditional Celtic songs
I started playing the tin whistle about 2.5 years ago during the pandamic. I've been playing drums for 24 years but it was a long dream of mine to learn tin whistle eversince i heard Eluveitie... and since i loved playing a recorder back in Elementry i thought how hard can it be? The pandamic was just an excuse to do it!
This is kind of a lame story, but I just had a Generation dupe laying around for quite some time and I just decided to pick it up and start playing, and being a silly beginner I started with the hard stuff, Morrisons Jig, etc. and it was really tough, the whistle really didn't help much either, and I stayed with it for about three years now - but I pushed on had significant improvement and a few months ago I got myself a Feadog because of your review, and boy, what a difference does it make, although I still want more whistles, can't never have to many, right?
Home schooling with Classical Conversations is the way I heard about the Tin Whistle "D". I have two little ones trying to learn as well. I'm also working on some Christian songs. Thanks for the great videos!
Honestly, what got me into playing was half Lockdown hobby, half annoying my 7-year old son. He now doesn't hate when I play, so maybe that's improvement? I've stumbled for a long while on ornaments. Knowing when to add them, which one is best, etc. Not to mention my fingers don't want to do them half the time. :-) Why slide up instead of sideways? I think this is the first time any video I've watched specifically says to go in a particular direction.
I was simply watching different youTube videos and came across the Irish Whistle for the first time a few months ago and was enamored with the tunes I was hearing and after coming across your UA-cam channel that convinced and inspired me to get started.. and that's where I'm at.. a newbe learning how to play with your videos and a used book "the clarke tin whistle"... Thanks for all you do in promoting the Tin Whistle!
I wanted an instrument that I could take with me & play when I had a few minutes in car. Over Covid we did a lot of store pickups like everyone else it was a waiting game. I found one lot of used whistles on EBay’s online auction site. It’s been great to learn the Irish penny whistles tunes so much I’ve given some of those whistles to friends & family to get them started. Thanks you the videos have been very helpful on my Irish music journey.
I first got into tin whistle a few years ago at the sterling of the pandemic, i was laid off Fron my job and just didn’t know what to do with myself, I didn’t want to start an expensive hobby but I did wanted to start something new to keep me busy and my mind at ease. so that’s when I saw on Amazon for something cheap to keep me busy a generation tin whistle for 12 dollars, I printed of the finger charts off Google images and I’ve kinda been playing since!
I travel a lot for work, I’ve been playing the Bass Guitar for years but it’s not the easiest instrument to travel with so it’s hard to progress due to long periods of being unable to play. I need something I can just stick in my pocket and take out wherever I go. I love Irish reels and jigs so for me, the tin whistle is perfect.🍀
I started tin whistle with my 8 years daughter last year. Unfortunatly, she quitted because the sound was too shrill for her. She wanted to play low whistle but her hands are too small for the moment. But I keep on and I'm a slow learner. Hope my daughter will play with me later...
I got into the tin whistle a couple of years ago. I saw one of your videos and thought, “ I want to start playing the tin whistle”. So I watched your video on how to start the tin whistle and bought the Woody Whistle USA. I’m looking on getting a better one.
I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but I had rediscovered Celtic Woman at the beginning of this year. That led me down the rabbit hole of wanting to learn how to play the Great Highland Pipes.. Which then led me to picking up the tin whistle after seeing how similar the pipers grip looked with the low whistles
![Crooked Road to Dublin [reel] Tin Whistle Lesson](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kBSf8dHo9Wo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Crooked Road to Dublin [reel] Tin Whistle Lesson](/img/tr.png)
![2 Advanced Ornaments (Triplets & Double Taps) on Tin Whistle [and GIVEAWAY DRAWING!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JPNKeyqivIU/mqdefault.jpg)
I have played the classical, silver flute for more than twenty years. But I wanted to expand and try some new things. At first I actually debated over the ocarina or a whistle. I decided ocarina, which was fun to learn and play. Then last Christmas I got a Woodi whistle for a present. I have absolutely fallen in love with the instrument, and though I like the ocarina, I wish I had tried this years ago.
Thanks for all your videos, you've been great to learn from. Keep them coming!
Hi! Congratulations, your comment was picked to win the giveaway :) I'll need to get a good shipping address for you, so when you have a minute please reach out on Instagram (or TikTok or Twitter or pretty much anything @Whistletutor) or through my contact at whistletutor.com, either way - cheers!
@@whistletutor I'll send it through the link you provided. Thank you so much!
Had to check I didn't write this comment myself :) Played classical flute 40 years ago in the school orchestra, so adding vibrato from the diaphragm on a low D is simple and easy. But the high D is a whole different animal, where I can't do so much to each note and there's just simple more notes in there. Strangely, after a few years playing Howards Low D and Low C, I briefly considered the ocarina, before picking up a brass high D session whistle from Michael Burke.
I got into playing the whistle about 15 years ago with my daughter , she was 10 yrs old at the time, I loved the irish music and I wanted something to do with her that would be bonding time, we enjoyed it for many years until she grew up and moved away 🥹. I still play today for myself , with friends and in sessions….and it’s my little passion. I cherish the memories with my daughter when we use to play at home, at the beach , on a hike, we always took our whistles with us ! ….and I have a constant remembrance of my sweet daughter every time I play my whistle 😊 it’s actually really beautiful ☀️ ☘️
I always like Irish music and the sound of the tin whistle. It’s something I would like to learn.
I got into whistling when I first was looking for a good traveling instrument that I could take anywhere.
I got into the whistle when I started as a Living Historian. We portray Irish immigrants during the US Civil War and wanted some Irish traditional music in the camp.
Went to a local pub in town and there was a group of Celtic musicians playing. When I heard this fellow with a low d whistle jump into the mix I knew I had to learn to play that instrument. Ordered a Tony Dixon low D and am really digging your tutorials! Thanks!
Spider Stacey and Mary Bergin got me into the whistle. Each in their own way of course.
Always liked the traditional Irish tunes, but Braveheart did it for me
I’ve been playing recorder forever and even play a few Irish tunes during gigs. I figured it was about time I picked up the whistle and play the tunes properly. Been playing for about a year now. Thanks for the tutorials.
I first got into tin whistle because that's what we were taught to play in elementary school. Then when I picked up a fife at a gift shop in Washington DC and learned to play it, I decided maybe it was worth going back to the whistle and ordered a little brass Tony Dixon. The first song I learned was Galway Girl (nOT the Sheeran version) and went from there. I've always been drawn to folk music in general because you don't face the confines of classical music. I can't read music, and I probably can't play that well, but whenever I pick up one of my instruments I'm able to express my feelings in a way that words don't do justice.
That was pretty cheesy but y'all get the vibe.
I’m teaching homeschool kids (26 of them) in 3 different classes. I already play piano, a bit of guitar and flute, but your video got me interested in actually playing some Irish music myself. Thanks!
Never liked flutes, whistles or most wind instruments (played mostly rock music forever)until I found the shakuhachi. Always loved the Japanese culture and Zen.Made one then bought one and i still totally suck. Can barely make consistent sound from my bamboo shaku. I also I love my Scandinavian heritage and music so i was building my second Talharpa. Went to the music shop to pick up some cello tuners and supplies for my build and seen a cheap waltons whistle and said what the heck. I wanted to have a bunch of instruments around anyways. Drums, horns, harps, etc. Didn't touch the whistle for atleast two weeks. I was bored one day so I learned a few basic songs and seemed to pick it up pretty quick. Now I'm looking at upgrading and have done tons of research on low whistles. I feel like this one is so quirky and cheap. I am hooked and ready to move forward. 😂 Probably one of the most fun instruments to play plus i can take them anywhere. Im not even crazy on irish music but I really enjoy playing.
I got into playing the tin whistle just on a whim at the Dublin Airport. I picked up a Feadog whistle for a few euros just because I wanted something "Irish" from my trip. I got hooked and been learning how to play it since that day :)
Also, my 6 year old daughter is getting curious about it and "playing" with me with another whistle of her own.
Nice bit of The Mountain Top at the beginning there! Been on my list of tunes to learn for a while. Cracking tune!
I got interested in the whistle after watching the opening to Riverdance back in the 90's. It took me a long time to get into it. Recently I watched it again and man that song still haunts me. Now I try to play every day.
I started on the Highland pipes as a child. My parents bought a whistle (I think maybe for my sister) that just sort of laid around the house for years. One summer we were driving to bagpipe camp and I grabbed the whistle on a whim and tried playing GHB tunes on it. It actually sounded okay (although a little too squeaky for some of the grace note combos) so I kept at it, learning how to add tonguing and take away extra grace notes that weren’t helpful.
I eventually stopped playing the pipes but kept at it with the whistle, and after grabbing a few more in different keys started jamming with some of my exchange student friends in college. That was almost a decade ago and I’ve been gigging on the whistle ever since.
I’m now at the point where I’m starting to teach friends how to play, and having a decent whistle I can loan to people until they decide to purchase their own would be swell.
never really found an instrument that suited me until last year, round a friends house someone started playing a mouth harp, it was the first time that i really appreciated it as a real instrument as i found myself toe tapping to the whistle like melody beneath the twanging! at that moment i had flash back to meeting a backpacker who travelled with his whistle, and remebered how at the time i love the sound of it and have been a longtime folk music listner. the day i got back from my friends house i bought a faedog and i basically havent put it down since! thanks for all the vids man, appreciate it!
Oddly, I saw a Facebook ad for someone teaching a tin whistle course and decided to grab one (but not the course). I'd already been a big fan of some Irish music like The High Kings and Seamus Kennedy, so it seemed like a good match. I thought having a small instrument like that to take with me on mountain bike rides and play while out in the woods might be kind of fun.
Thanks for this new breakdown on ornaments. I'm getting to where I can kind of play them, but they never sound right when I try to work them into music. Guess I just need to listen to more people play and see what works for them.
What got me into whistle was I start playing bagpipes when I was a little kid, and at the time (late 90s), I noticed that everyone who played pipes in recording bands also played whistle. Never really thought about it, I guess, the two instruments kinda just seemed to go together all the time. I caved to peer pressure 🤣
Hi got into whistling after listening to kwela music as a kid. Kwela is an African off beat style (Spokes Mashiyane was the master of kwela tin whistle playing). Have been following your tutoring videos for few months now. Thanks
Being Irish I’ve been exposed to Irish music throughout my life. Always wanted to play a musical instrument but lacked formal training. Was told the whistle was the easiest instrument to play, only six holes after all. Not sure if they were pulling my leg or had to much Guinness that day. I quickly discovered there’s a lot more to playing the whistle than tapping six holes. Thank God for whistletutor and other online tutorials. It’s now been 4 years and I enjoy playing more than ever. Thanks for keeping me going Sean.
I mostly play bagpipes and Scottish music, but recently, after listening some of bands just wanted to broaden the music and my abilities and started to learn whistle as well :)
I got into playing the whistle after seeing Lee Forshner play with the Dropkick Murphys during their live stream at Fenway Park. I then started listening to Flogging Molly, and then into traditional Irish music. It looked fairly simple and I had never tried a wind instrument before, so I got a Clarke Original as my first whistle. I now have a collection, but I haven’t yet acquired a Dixon, which I have been curious about.
Thanks, this was a very good and informative video breaking these ornaments down into easy to follow and understand techniques!
I was just curious about tin whistle, thanks for giveaway
Thanks. I spend a lot of time in the woods and am interested in playing better (much better).
I got into playing as a kid, but never really took it seriously until I unlocked the beauty of the low whistle. I then decided to explore tin whistle again properly and signed up to the Online Academy of Irish Music and found this channel around the same time. My Killarney nickel whistle arrived in the post a few weeks ago, and now I'm addicted 🤩
I got into playing because it’s a small and fun instrument to have on rock climbing trips.
Always wanted to learn how to play now at eighty l am learning and absolutely loved it 🥰🎶🥰 also play it in a Ukulele group on some of our songs and I have learned so much from you! Thank you 🙏🎶
I would say it was out of pure love for the irish music. As a child in Spain I could only catch small fragments of music here and there (Mike Oldfield, Braveheart, Titanic...) that always kept my attention. There was something that made that music stocked in my head and resonated deep inside me. As I grew up, I found about the instruments used but never got my parents into buying me a set of pipes. When I was 26, randomly I found myself at a session and as I was a bit drunk so I started chatting with the pipper at a break. He would let me try the thing and at that moment something in my head clicked. "I'm an adult and I have the money now, I should take on this shit".
And there began my path into irish/folk music
I did Irish céilí dancing years ago (the 70's to be exact at the Renaissance fair in Northen California) and dabbled in whistle at that time. I later took up recorder and Baroque flute and then during the pandemic took up Irish flute as a "Pandemic Project". As an Irish flute player, how could I resist getting back to playing whistle also?
I tried out for band when I was in Jr. High. The teacher refused to have me in her class. She said she couldn't teach me because I had a learning disability when I was younger. So I lost out on that opportunity. I taught myself how to play tin whistle instead. I have been playing ever since. 💞
Found a tin whistle at a Disney shop. At the time I was disappointed that it wasn't a recorder. Little did I know it was an Irish whistle After a UA-cam rabbit-hole and some time learning on my own, I ended up writing one of my Master's theses on Irish traditional music!
As a broke student I walked in a music store for the first time, and found a tin whistle as the only instrument I could afford. After a month of only looping over 'the Hobbit' tune, I checked some videos to learn folk songs and traditional tunes. Then I found your channel and learn (and liked) more and more tunes! After watching your video on the matter, I joined an Irish session in my city, and now I'm learning with the old masters there too !
Thanks again for the sparkle!
I got into whistle playing as I was an outdoorsman that wanted an instrument that would fit easily in my bushcraft kit and would blend well with my love of living history. The Irish music is because of my heritage and love of Appalachian folk music which is the mountain child of the Irish and Scottish musical tradition.
I was playing guitar. Than I got a dog and he is pretty fearless, not afraid of anything... except the guitar... So we're training him to get used to that, but that takes time. So I was complaining to my better half that I missed making music in the evening, and she presented me with a tin whistle she had bought years and years ago but that she never used. It was an awful sounding Waltons D (not the mellow, the regular) that was only really playable in the first octave. But I started playing on it anyway. After a couple days my wife ordered me a better whistle because she couldn't stand the sound any more. Long story short. The dog is still afraid of the guitar, and I'm still playing the tin whistle today. And still having fun with it. Mostly playing sea-shanties and some Irish songs, mainly the songs done by the Pogues and the Dubliners.
During one of the first Covid lockdowns I sumbled upon a talented teacher who issues a "self-paced-self-trained" videos with the whistle included ... I found it super fun and never left it ever since. brilliant little instrument !
I fell in love with the way that this simple instrument gives amazing melodies in the right hands !! Such a huge power in this little thing 💚 easy to play basics, but a journey to discover all about it !!
Great instruction - I heard the prior video on ornaments and felt a little overwhelmed. This time through, I'm excited to start adding to the tunes I know well. Another video giving examples as to when and what ornament you would add could also help the less musically inclined, such as myself. I already have the Dixon Nickle Trad and agree it is a great whistle.
We’ll, I’m sure I’m late for any giveaway, but recently retired from Dmv and now time to do other things, musically. Having a Irish background, my daughter and myself were drummers in Kells Bagpipe band in Portland or, my granddaughter recently picked up Irish step dancing, she’s 7, and I thought I would try this, so I got the whistle and book from the piano bench and went to utube. My right hand is arthritic, but I’m going to do this no matter what, thanks for the ornament lesson, and wish me luck
I'm from a place that almost no people know what Irish whistle is, Hong Kong. The music store here only sells mainstream instruments like guitar, violin, piano, etc. One day, I went to a music store and asked the salesmens whether they had "that instrument" for sale. He said "Sorry. No!" but right after that he said "Wait! wait! Do you mean a very short tube like this with a few holes on it?". Eventually, he found me a feadog Brass D (with a little red tutorial book) from the bottom of their glass showcase. Only one, and it was there for years. Then I'm very happy to go home and play this thing all day long~~~
I discovered I love celtic music since I got a concert DVD of The Corrs in 2002 (Or 2003). I remember I was thrilled when I first time listened to the last track of that DVD, "Toss the Feathers"~ After that, I kept finding Irish music to listen to and self-learning to play the whistle.
I got into playing within just the past few months actually. I’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument but could never really find one that really spoke to me or fit my life style.
Then I discovered the tin whistle in an ad on facebook and knew that it was the perfect instrument to try and learn. It’s cheap, it’s easy enough to learn while still being a fun challenge, I can take it with me any where, and it just simply makes beautiful music. So I’ve been slowly working on getting better. I’ve been primarily watching your videos to help teach myself.
I grew up with music but mostly classical vocal music. I played organ for a while but it's not a very portable instrument. I ended up marrying an Irish Dance teacher and fell in love with traditional Irish music. So 10 years ago I decided to learn the penny whistle and in doing so, I found a wealth of good lessons on the Internet. I live in a rural area so there are no local tutors, so sites like yours have been a Godsend. I play an old fashion Clarke which still gets the job done but I would love to upgrade to a Dixon. Thank you for all the content on your site!
I got into Irish music by trying to connect with my heritage. It always seems to connect me to a happy place and why wouldn't someone want to be happy. 👍
Played on and off for several years. Picking up the whistle again commiting to it.
My dad bought me my first tin whistle in Gettysburg back in 2016, a simple clarke style whistle, and I couldn't play it until about two years ago, when I wanted to actually play music, tunes like the Narnia Lullaby and Concerning Hobbits, and I learned my first two tunes from Nixxiom and moved forward from there. Now I play with some level of ease with my Tony Dixon whistle, and am also transitioning into low whistle, and I prominently play the Irish tunes now, and I am unashamed of it.
I wanted something for a different kind of playing because the guitar is quite boring in some ways. So I decided to start with a whistle because of my love for Celtic music. I also play the recorder, which I find more sophisticated and flexible, but the whistle allows me to spread my emotions better.
I’ve got at this point 20 minutes of total playing time…ever. Bought a whistle because I love how simple and down to earth it feels. Can’t wait to belt out some traditional tunes!
I've been going to sessions in Dublin for years, always just sat back and sang songs and didn't have much to add when the tunes came out. But then in then since lockdown I decided to have a go at learning some! Your lessons are great help, thank you!
I realize this feed is a year old, but since you are interested to know...When I was a teenager, I participated in my church's pioneer trek. Knowing I was a flute player, my accompanist lent me her wooden irish whistle and invited me to play on the trail. So, for three days, while my peers pulled a handcart, I played whistle Western style. I learned to play marches, square dances, and all the American yank favorites. While I can play a mean Yankee Doodle, I never learned to play Irish style. So that is what I'm doing now. Thank you for the tutorials.
Thank youu~how super vlog!
I found a Feadog tin whistle in a junk shop in Sonoma County, CA back in February of this year. It was in brand new condition and only few bucks, so I grabbed it. I'd never played before. I fell in love right away and have been playing literally every day since. It's awesome to have an instrument that makes such beautiful music and that can be taken literally anywhere in your pocket or backpack. I play when I hike, in the stairwell at work first thing in the morning (excellent acoustics!), and everywhere else. Thanks for making these wonderful tutorials and reviews!
great video once again! I got into tin whistle first through primary school (I'm Irish) where it was kind of a fun mandatory thing we did alongside classes - however, I had forgotten all about it, even when involved in an Irish trad group in secondary school playing piano, until recently where I dug out my old, dented cheap whistles and started learning it once again, and now I've devoted myself to listening and learning as many tunes as I can - these videos are a massive help towards that!
So, so damn helpful
Nice tutorial as usual Sean. I started messing around with the tin whistle after my grandfather died and my gran gave me an old Clarke's original whistle ( which was in C ) that belonged to him. I still often play that whistle to this day and it's still in tune.
Though I’ve never played a tin whistle I really would like to learn. Such a small simple instrument but it sounds amazing
I started playing about two and a half months ago. I've always loved everything Irish. Being retired now I wanted something do, so I started playing the tin whistle. I actually started playing several years ago but that was before UA-cam and all I had was a book and a cassette tape. Do you know how hard it is to find a tune on a cassette tape when it has over 100? So I decided to pick it up again and I found channels like yours and some others, that have really inspired me to learn again. I currently know four tunes and I practice for an hour and a half a day, hopefully someday I'll be as good as you are.
I stumbled upon a live session in a pub in Ireland when i was visiting a few years back and immediately fell in love. I'm a long-time bagpiper, but have been growing increasingly passionate about the whistle.
Thank you very much, very helpful for Thin Wistlers Beginners.
I always enjoyed the sound of the whistle so classicly Celtic... my beloved fella died 4 months ago and I have been so lost . I was listening to some sad Irish ballads , perhaps to feel more sad , I don't know . But it was like I caught on fire about the the prospect playing and have been playing for one month now and loving it.
I enjoy your u tubes been working my way threw them .
My grandfather sung cousins and myself many traditional and rebel songs growing up... I'm Australian born but family life in a nutshell was still very Irish (mum and the family just couldn't let go of the old country) When I was younger he found out I was learning guitar (which I still play) he was in awh and overjoyed by that news (I was young and kinda didn't really care) many years later and he has passed on, I stumbled across a friend's tin whistle and decided to give it ago, then I was instantly thrown back to that memory of my grandfather, I haven't been playing long but I know grandpa would be looking down with a huge grin on his face
You’ve completely demystified ornamentation for me! I was so perplexed and overwhelmed haha. Thank you so much!!
I got into tin whistle (and low whistle) by listening to Dryante Zan's game music covers. I fell in love with the haunting tone of low whistles. I could definitely use another high D whistle since I mainly have low whistles.
I was watching Star Trek the Capt. was playing a whistle and the song The Inner Light. I also like Irish music. So I purchased one but didn't know how to play the Ornaments. Thank you.
I, too, have played silver concert flute for all of my 78 years. Over the years, I've tried many, many other instruments - just for the enjoyment of making music on various "transducers" changing that which is my heart into sound waves. I'm certainly not a master of any of these instruments, but, still, I enjoy the playing at whatever level I happen to be at.
Penny whistle came along years ago. It's incredibly portable, so that I always have one with me for spontaneous outbreaks of music (usually just making stuff up, though I do have a repertoire of Irish tunes (including a love of O'Carolan).
Mainly, though, I love the whistle because it is just so much fun.
Thanks for your videos ; you explain things so clearly and you continually stress that we should always play around to find what works best for ourselves. Take care...
Guitar players: as far as I've discerned
Cut = Pull Off/Hammer On
Strike = Hammer On/Pull Off
Roll = Cut + Strike = Pull Off/Hammer On + Hammer On/Pull Off
Now, mic a penny whistle to a wah pedal 🤘
I am retired mechanical engineer. Began playing bodhran in sessions and wanted to progress to melody instrument.
I took up the penny whistle because my partner who is Scottish suggested the bagpipes😂!! I’m in my 60’s and always look for the next challenge. I’m really enjoying the learning and appreciate you passing you skill & knowledge to others. Great work, keep it going.
Please enter me in giveaway... Lord of the Dance is what sparked my interest in the tin whistle.... thank you for all you do.
I bought a bodhran drum first and while finding youtube lessons for the bodhran i came across tutorials for tin whistle yours included and ordered a cheap and cheerful clarkes sweettone straight away, i absolutely love messing about trying to learn to play it, it is so much fun.
I taught recorder to students and I also became very interested in Irish music and whistles
I played bagpipes in a marching band when I was a teenager. We even marched down fifth Avenue on Saint Paddy‘s day, but I was mostly a filler, not learning any ornaments and a handful of tunes. When I retired, I tried to pick up the bagpipes again, but with asthma, I could not blow them. So getting into tin whistle seem to be the way to go. I am enjoying playing them and I am finding your videos on exercises and ornaments Very helpful. Are you still doing Dixon whistle giveaway?
I have tinkered with it since hearing The Poques, Streams of Whisky.
Like deployed 👍
We wanted to expand on our kids’ recorder learning experience to enjoy more folk music. The family that plays together…!!!
I think my path to Irish music went through some Celtic-style music from movie soundtracks (Concerning Hobbits?) and somehow I found my way to start playing Irish music on the fiddle and later on whistle
I played guitar in the school céilí band in Dublin and decided I wanted to play the melodies. I now do gigs with bands in Brisbane.
I always liked Irish music. But it was when I saw The Cores on a UA-cam video playing, Toss the Feathers, that I decided to order one and learn how to play. I love your channel
Started playing with a whistle just because it was on the table. Found your channel much later and started actually playing the whistle.
I started playing in 2001. I was already plying Thai traditional music. I started to join medieval larp games and wanted to play something cool while at the tavern :) then I just fell in love with Irish music and kept learning :)
How on earth did evolve from blowing air down a metal tube with holes in ,which was great for scaring the pigeons away from the peas in the garden to investing in my Killarney whistle. Well honestly i cannot remember, but probably I progressed from creating a shattering 3rd octave Pigeon scaring screech to a more muted noise sufficient to frighten off the neighbours cats .
Then I must have noticed that a whole variety of high pitched screeches were available if different holes were covered, eventually evolution led to the astounding discovery that occasionally some of the screeches actually sounded, well sort of OK. Inevitably one fine day we discovered a tune on this metal tube with holes in ,I believe it was Twinkle Twinkle little Star..................!
One thing led to another, now we can enjoy playing the likes of Boolavogue, Whiskey in the Jar or Ashokan farewell...BUT I would not wish to swap my Killarney Brass D for any other whistle, Dixon or otherwise!!!. LOL.
Keep up the good work Sean!
I was riding the Empire Builder from Portland to Milwaukee and I fell in love with this Irish guy in the observation car. He had a penny whistle. Knowing I would probably never see him again I bought one and started to learn how to play.
I got into whistle playing after a friend of my dad gave me The Wide World Over by The Chieftains for my birthday, about 16 years ago. From that moment, I knew I wanted to play the whistle and the Uilleann pipes.
I got into the whistle in March of 2020 to have something to do with being bored with COVID. I also saw a fellow playing whistle and killing it in The Oban Inn in Oban, Scotland in September 2019 and was fascinated by it. There was a big trad session and they were playing what I now know is the Ramnee Ceilidh, which I'm currently trying to learn. I've been playing now for a little over 2 years and have gotten pretty decent for being self-taught.
i’ve always loved irish music but the recent formation of a Flogging Molly tribute has sparked the new interest. i’ve been having a blast learning (surprisingly quickly having never played any wind instruments), but as the singer/guitarist i can’t play it in the band. trying to get the fiddle player into it.
This was realy helpfull, I learned something new❤
Thank you
The giveaway is over
But I feel like shareing anyways
I got the tin whistle because I got into irish music ( to listen to as a genre, its so preaty) and I tried to play some tunes on my ocarina but most of the tunes where to high for the instrument or had to many notes
So I bought a tin whistle on a whim (wich was made easyer by how cheap you can get them)
And I am loveing the instrument
So it was a good call
I’m a music teacher in the states. I play mainly woodwinds and I’ve been a huge lover of Irish music. A local bar at Uni had a weekly group playing and I always found my self there!
I’d love to learn to play myself, And create a group!
Now you’ve done it! Now I have to sit down with this and parse what I’ve been doing since playing along with Chieftains albums since the 70s. Friends turned me on to the O’Riada live album and that led to the Chieftains. Can’t remember if I bought my first whistle before I went to Ireland in 76, but I got at least one there (Still have them. Jerry Freeman fixed one for me). I set it aside for a few decades (trumpet), but about four years ago my fiddle friends caught me playing and so I became the whistle guy. There’s two new apprentices on the scene and they keep asking how I do ornaments and I don’t know how to answer. So I’m sending them this link.
I play the Native American flute, but my middle name is O’Neil so I had to try the Tin Whistle. It was in my blood. When traveling a whistle is easer than a NAF. And it is fun to transpose a tune I know from the flute to the whistle and Vice-a-versa. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
How I got into tin whistle… it’s a long(ish) story so I’ll condense it
I recently started playing recorder after a 20 year break… I’m loving rediscovering music and the tin whistle just appealed to me. So I class myself as a relearner to the recorder, but a beginner with the whistle.
I enjoy playing folk music and the whistle sounds better with traditional Celtic songs
I started playing the tin whistle about 2.5 years ago during the pandamic. I've been playing drums for 24 years but it was a long dream of mine to learn tin whistle eversince i heard Eluveitie... and since i loved playing a recorder back in Elementry i thought how hard can it be? The pandamic was just an excuse to do it!
This is kind of a lame story, but I just had a Generation dupe laying around for quite some time and I just decided to pick it up and start playing, and being a silly beginner I started with the hard stuff, Morrisons Jig, etc. and it was really tough, the whistle really didn't help much either, and I stayed with it for about three years now - but I pushed on had significant improvement and a few months ago I got myself a Feadog because of your review, and boy, what a difference does it make, although I still want more whistles, can't never have to many, right?
Home schooling with Classical Conversations is the way I heard about the Tin Whistle "D". I have two little ones trying to learn as well.
I'm also working on some Christian songs.
Thanks for the great videos!
Honestly, what got me into playing was half Lockdown hobby, half annoying my 7-year old son. He now doesn't hate when I play, so maybe that's improvement?
I've stumbled for a long while on ornaments. Knowing when to add them, which one is best, etc. Not to mention my fingers don't want to do them half the time. :-)
Why slide up instead of sideways? I think this is the first time any video I've watched specifically says to go in a particular direction.
I was simply watching different youTube videos and came across the Irish Whistle for the first time a few months ago and was enamored with the tunes I was hearing and after coming across your UA-cam channel that convinced and inspired me to get started.. and that's where I'm at.. a newbe learning how to play with your videos and a used book "the clarke tin whistle"... Thanks for all you do in promoting the Tin Whistle!
Watching these videos got me in to the whsitle. il look forward to trying out the new whsitle lol..
I wanted an instrument that I could take with me & play when I had a few minutes in car. Over Covid we did a lot of store pickups like everyone else it was a waiting game. I found one lot of used whistles on EBay’s online auction site. It’s been great to learn the Irish penny whistles tunes so much I’ve given some of those whistles to friends & family to get them started. Thanks you the videos have been very helpful on my Irish music journey.
I first got into tin whistle a few years ago at the sterling of the pandemic, i was laid off Fron my job and just didn’t know what to do with myself, I didn’t want to start an expensive hobby but I did wanted to start something new to keep me busy and my mind at ease. so that’s when I saw on Amazon for something cheap to keep me busy a generation tin whistle for 12 dollars, I printed of the finger charts off Google images and I’ve kinda been playing since!
I travel a lot for work, I’ve been playing the Bass Guitar for years but it’s not the easiest instrument to travel with so it’s hard to progress due to long periods of being unable to play.
I need something I can just stick in my pocket and take out wherever I go.
I love Irish reels and jigs so for me, the tin whistle is perfect.🍀
I started tin whistle with my 8 years daughter last year. Unfortunatly, she quitted because the sound was too shrill for her. She wanted to play low whistle but her hands are too small for the moment. But I keep on and I'm a slow learner. Hope my daughter will play with me later...
I got into the tin whistle a couple of years ago. I saw one of your videos and thought, “ I want to start playing the tin whistle”. So I watched your video on how to start the tin whistle and bought the Woody Whistle USA. I’m looking on getting a better one.
I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but I had rediscovered Celtic Woman at the beginning of this year. That led me down the rabbit hole of wanting to learn how to play the Great Highland Pipes.. Which then led me to picking up the tin whistle after seeing how similar the pipers grip looked with the low whistles