- 13 lessons teaching how to play 13 popular Irish tunes.
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No instrument lends itself more to upholding the mystical legacy of Ireland much better than the Low Whistle. You could argue for the flute of course, but there’s just something about the low whistle that has etched out its own mark on contemporary Irish music. Whether it be from the fame brought to it by Davy Spillane in the Riverdance repertoire, the haunting notes from Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On made famous from the movie Titanic, or the iconic “The Lonesome Boatman” from legend Finbar Furey. If you’re a whistle player we could almost guarantee your heart will go on to the low whistle at some point!
We have created our first Low Whistle course to satisfy those whistlers who are ready to level up their playing and add a pretty cool instrument to their collection. But don’t worry if you haven’t secured your low whistle yet, this course can be followed by tin whistle and flute players alike.
By the end of the course of 13 lessons, you’ll have mastered some pretty cool embellishments that really shine on low whistle which include tonguing technique, rolls, bounces, taps, triplets and especially sliding up and down notes and vibrato.
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Course Structure
This course is aimed at the intermediate level, which means we expect you to be fairly handy with the tin whistle before upgrading to the low whistle.
To do justice to the low whistle it calls for a certain type of repertoire. Slow airs are very suited to the instrument due to its atmospheric nature. Reels sound best on this instrument when played slowly.
As the low whistle is capable of more dramatic embellishments – like slides and vibrato – tunes played at a slower tempo leave space for these embellishments to ring out.
The course begins with a slow song air ‘The May Morning Dew’, which showcases the low whistle in its full glory, demonstrating slides up and down between notes and various vibrato techniques. Then follows some simple tunes which allow you to focus on how to hold the instrument correctly with simple ornamentation to enhance and soften the tunes.
Throughout the course, the focus is on tonguing technique, rolls, bounces, taps and triplets – and especially sliding up and down notes and vibrato.
Remember, all these lessons are applicable to both the tin whistle and the flute as the same fingering and finger techniques apply. The tutor’s choice of repertoire reflects his home province of Munster.
Tunes taught are:
Slow Airs:
Slieve na mBan
Éamon an Cnoic
The May Morning Dew
An Cailin Deas na Croite
Jig: Slieve Russell
Slip Jig: Dever the Dancer
Polka: Seamus Begley’s
Reels:
Green Fields of Rosbay
The Man of the House
Castle Kelly
Hornpipe: The Hills of Coore
Planxty:
Planxty Irwin
Fanny Power
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Sheet Music and Mp3s available to Download for each Tune
Sample Sheet Music
Download The May Morning Dew ABC Sheet Music
Download The May Morning Dew Standard Sheet Music
Sample The May Morning Dew
Your Tutor
Born and raised in France, Tom Delany hails from an upbringing steeped in traditional music. His lively rhythmic style is truly unique. Having toured the world, performing in both solo and group contexts, from the United States to New Zealand, he boasts musicianship beyond his years. Tom has been playing Irish traditional music since the age of twelve, when his father Rory, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1980’s, taught him to play the tin whistle. By thirteen, Tom had picked up the uilleann pipes, and was already performing regularly around France. Read more.
Detailed questions and discussion on the course can be found in the Community Forum, available to paying members only.
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