Expert Whistle Skills #1
The aim of this course is to discover and enhance the learner's own playing style, and to increase their confidence through learning and incorporating a wide range of ornaments, variations and other advanced stylistic features such as crans, trills, slides, and tonguing in their playing. The learner will discover new ways of adding texture and colour to a carefully selected repertoire of challenging jigs, slip jigs, reels, and hornpipes which are learnt by ear (transcriptions are also provided) Importantly, the learner is given the tools to transfer these newly acquired skills to tunes which they already have in their repertoire.
'The Baltimore Salute'
The reel 'The Baltimore Salute' in the key of G will be taught, with particular focus on incorporating vibrato and bounces into the tune.
The hornpipe, 'The Blackbird' will be taught in this lesson. Trills, slides and rolls are the focus of this class.
In this lesson the jig, "An Sean Duine" will be taught. Thomas's study of bounces and rolls are continued.
This lesson will teach the reel, "The Moneymusk". The followings techniques - short rolls, triplets and 'ti-ka-ta' tonguing are all explored.
"The New Policeman" is the tune featured in this lesson. The study of trills, vibrato, rolls, vibrato and variation is continued.
In this lesson the jig, "Garret Barry's" will be taught. Cranns and ornaments of the note C sharp will be introduced.
The reel "The West Clare Reel" will be taught in this lesson and the study of cranns will continue. Thomas will demonstrate how to 'half hole' effectively to attain the note of G sharp.
In this lesson the jig "Whelan's Jig" will be taught. Rolls and their ability to create rhythmic and melodic variation in a tune will be discussed.
This lesson will teach the hornpipe "Kit O'Mahony's". This tune is in the key of G major. Melodic variation is the main focus of this class.
This lesson will teach the reel, "The Swallow's Tail". It provides an in-depth study on how to incorporate rhythmic variation into the tune, how to switch between octaves for the purpose of melodic variation and how to incorporate the half note 'E flat' for effect.
The slip jig, "Give Us a Drink of Water" will be the focus of this class. This tune is in the key of G major. Ways of using articulation: 'ti-ka-ta' tonguing and stacatto will be examined.
In this lesson the barn dance "Vincent Broderick's" will be taught. This tune is in the key of D major. This is a 3 part tune - the study of 'ti-ka-ta' tonguing will continue.
This lesson will teach the reel, "The Crock of Gold". Melodic variation will be the main focus.
- The Blackbird
- An Sean Duine
- The Moneymusk
- The New Policeman
- Garret Barry's
- The West Clare Reel
- Whelan's Jig
- Kit O'Mahony's
- The Swallow's Tail
- Give Us a Drink of Water
- Vincent Broderick's
- The Crock of Gold
Tutor Info
Thomas Johnston
From Scotstown in Co. Monaghan, Thomas began learning the uilleann pipes and whistle at an early age. He has enjoyed successes on both instruments at All-Ireland level, and with extensive experience in giving private tuition, teaching workshops and adjudicating, he is a much respected uilleann pipes and whistle tutor. Thomas graduated from the BA Irish Music & Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick in 2006, and was subsequently awarded a place on the University's Advanced Scholars Programme...[Read More]
