OAIM co-founder / tin whistle and flute tutor Kirsten Allstaff releases her new solo album "FOUR / 4". Watch the album promo of Uplifting Irish music with beautiful video @ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lZmyQz9lprQ.html
The next lessons are on the OAIM website. You simply sign up, which is free, and head to the tin whistle free lessons page or the Whistle Basics course page. Also, there are free downloadable mp3's and pdf's of the tunes.
Hi Kirsten, Just bought a whistle in Ireland last week and am back home in Canada now. We enjoyed our visit immensely and would love to come back sometime. Beautiful country, very friendly people and we were sad to leave. The lessons look great. I'm enjoying following along and know I will will how it's done from you! Thank you! Doug Ritchie
Hi, I bought this tin whistle a few years ago as a present for my daughter. She didn't use it because it was to dificult she said. I am trying to play it because I really love it sound. Thank you very much for this tutorial.
Hi Mariella, Delighted you picked the tin whistle. You're welcome for the tutorial. Here's a link to the course page - www.oaim.ie/tin-whistle/learn-tin-whistle/ Let me know how you are getting along, Kirsten
She is so amazing, she takes it slowly, and really makes sure you understand. SHE doesn't waste time with tabs, and we can learn by ear, while also learning the notes! She is just amazing! She seems shy, but willing to put herself out in front of everyone, which is awesome!!
@@buckensns There are different definitions for shy, I mean lacking in bravado, not terrified, or meek. She certainly seems very sure of herself, so that isn't what I meant.
@@buckensns I don't know anything about that, culturally. In terms of my verbiage though, I am wrong, my word should have been closer to aloof, or demure, rather than shy, as she is perfectly self-expressed, as I intended to point out, in my initial post. Apologies. This is such a great way to learn, I hate it when people are trying to teach me which keys to cover, and where the tabs are, I can't track that! I can only play with them, by ear. Lazy, maybe. 😁
Hi, I'm guitar player and blues harpist mainly plus a little mandolin, but there is an active Irish music scene in Tokyo where I live north of (20+ years now). I've had these old tin whistles gathering dust for over ten years now. I tried using them to record basic accompaniment to a song back in 2008 and never touched them again--although I have always liked the sound and the basic idea of the instrument and like Irish folk music. Well, now we are all self-isolating because of you know why, and I got these three tin whistles D, C, G down as I was coming to my office in Chiba Prefecture where I'm holding up in my office for the time being. I found your channel and by using your instruction, well, so so, so good. I'm confident that by going through your videos I'll become a tin whistle player at last.
@@onlineacademyofirishmusic It's going really well and I am looking forward to getting back to you 2nd video. I have really just been focusing hard on being able to play Rattlin' Bog without any (or almost no) mistakes, and I'm basically there. But another thing happened that sidetracked me. I found that both the beat, line-length and key of Rattlin Bog is also the same as The J. Geils Band's "Centerfold" and I've gotten quite good at playing that song too--the entire song, not just the hook. If you think about it, about the hook line of that song it's basically a folk tune and not entirely un-Irish sounding. So I do three entire rounds through Rattlin' Bog go straight into Centerfold and then back to Rattlin' Bog. What fun! I'm thinking to have our band play that song, and I'll let our lead take all the guitar and I'll whip out the tin whistle!
I'm like reverendayglow and using my social distancing opportunity to finally learn how to play the whistle I got 20 years ago in Dublin. Also, as a pro classical trumpeter and teacher, I thought it would be good for me to cross-train on a folk instrument, learning by ear/rote and that it may help me build compassion for my beginner trumpet students.
After 2 days of watching this video and practicing I can play the tune at it's regular speed! I can officially play my first song on the tin whistle without having to think about the notes! Thank you, from America!! :)
I thought I was really not doing well because I had to keep pausing this at first and practicing but I've literally learnt this song in 20 minutes ! Thankyou so much
Sounds a lot like the first of parting glass,As a Newfoundlander I am Irish as well.Thank you for these videos and thanks for being easy on the eye's :-)
Thank you Kirsten and OAIM so much for these videos! I am new to the tin whistle and also playing music in general, so this goes a tad fast for me, but as you mentioned, I can rewind and rewatch as much as I need to, and Kirsten is a very thorough teacher! I've only had my whistle for two days, but I can already feel improvement!
@@onlineacademyofirishmusic I'm still practicing. I love this instrument. I'm trying to learn Foggy Dew by ear. I think I've almost got it..... (??) Lol maybe something that sounds close...
The next video is on the Online Academy of Irish Music website - oaim.ie. Go to the site, create a free account and go to the tin whistle page of the site.
Hi - Bb is not too common a key - If you are getting another whistle, try getting a D whistle as this is what most people play and most tutorials on youtube are using D. Well done for learning Scotland the Brave!! On the whistle, you can play almost 2 octaves - bar the last high note.
Hi Ícaro, Delighted you liked the tutorial, thanks for letting me know!! Ask me any questions about your tin whistle progress and I'll get back to you asap. Kirsten :)
Full song played at normal speed: 0:35 First part 1:42 bb - a g ee Second part 2:20 d gg a b aa Again first: 3:05 bb a g ee final phrase 3:13 d DD b a gg (D = high D, you 3:52 slower recap of all of this "Second part" half 6:13 bgag bgag bDDbaga bgag bgag bDDbaga ORNAMENT / playstyle : (I just observe ad try to note down the most frequently used ornaments in this song, I'm a noob however so take em with a grain of salt) - most b's are played by taping the second hole before placing her finger on the b (you have to do it fast to make the sound nice) - most of it is played in what in piano would be legato - tied together, "one big blow" instead of many separate blows - you should help the fingers by blowing differently in various situations (she doesn't speak about it but for me the sound is nicer; you have to blow as if you're spitting "tfu" and "tfu-ru-tfuu" with your mouth instead of just "hoo" and "hooo hoo hoo"
Her finger exercise: d-f e-g f-a g-b a-c# b-D c#-E D D-b c#-a b-g a-f g-e f-d efd. (PS: E is the same as "e" but you have to blow kind of harder, and squish/suck in-up your throat while blowing to get the high E note - or any of the higher notes you'll be meeting in the future. It also helps to pull the plastic mouth part a tiny bit upwards so it's not all the way as low as possible. The best is to practice while your neighbours are at work, cause the high notes are kinda piercing and not blowing hard enough in attempts to be more silent will produce terrible screetchy sounds which are much worse)
Thank you, Kirsten! I'm ABSOLUTE beginner, I've never played any instruments, I've never read notes (have only basic knowledge about them), besides in Bulgaria we use Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si notations. Even so, thanks to your lessons I managed to make my tin whistle produce something almost acceptable :)
Hi Aneliya, Well done for starting to play tin whistle. In Irish music we develop our ear as soon as possible and generally use ABC notation to learn the tunes if we need it. Did you learn this tune? Kirsten
Oh, yes, I did :) I was so exited and motivated that I challenged myself to play by ear some simple tunes and I managed! :) It was a good exercise to get familiarized with the whistle :)
Great, Tin Whistle Basics Course is here: www.oaim.ie/tin-whistle/learn-tin-whistle/ Let me know if you manage to get the next tune by ear (probably much harder). And don't get stuck on that, as we generally use both the sheet music and our ear in combination to speed up the learning process.
David, you can play two octaves. Increase the breath pressure and go back to the "bell note" which in this case is Bb. Try play Bb with light breath, then increase your blow and watch how you're an octave higher. do the same for verious notes. A good place to get advice is a web site called "chiff and fipple". Google that term and it should pop up.
Hi Everyone, It's Kirsten here :) Thanks for all the great comments and likes .. If anyone has ANY questions about this tin whistle lesson, or general Irish music/whistle queries, please feel free to ask them here. Happy practicing !! And remember to subscribe to our channel and click the bell to get notified of our new video releases.
Hey, I'd love to learn to play a folk instrument, because I love the music. I'd love to learn how to play a flute, do you have any tips for me? Like, what is the best type of flute to start with and where can I get one? Thank you :)
KingDevil444 We have a brilliant Flute Basics course.. First 6 lessons are free .. Check it out here - oaim.ie/flute-basics | With regard to buying a beginner flute, there are some pitfall's to be avoided .. First of all, the cheap Chinese and Indian flutes that are going around, are nearly impossible to play, even for very experienced players like me :) I always recommend Martin Doyle flutes for beginners, as they are quite cheap and really easy to play. You can pick one up for €625, here's the website - www.martindoyleflutes.com/ If that's too expensive, then you can buy a polymer flute .. Check out this thread on the subject - thesession.org/discussions/21987 Hope this helps! Kirsten
Hi, Lesson number three is on the OAIM website.. Click the link to be transported straight to it :) oaim.ie/whistle-basics/lesson-3-we-wont-go-home-until-the-morning
Hello there, my granddaughter is 7 and learning this instr ument and I am so impressed that I have asked her to teach me! So far all I can manage is Mary had a Little Lamb, but we are getting there! Many thanks from limerick... she'll be teaching her teacher next after watching you!!
Charles, I'm not familiar with 'Soodlums' make of whistle. It shouldn't be too hard to get a clear tone from the whistle. It may be worth buying a new one . Glad that you are enjoying the tutorials
Hi Kirsten! I bought me a tinwhistle D, that is the only one I can get here in Iceland. I´m now practicing video nr. 2 and I love it. Thank you for your so very good lessons ;)
Thank you so much for these videos! I somehow stumbled across this today and it made me actively look for my whistle that was hidden in some box, somewhere. Will be following the Beginner playlist 100%! :)
I got my tin whistle about 6 years ago but didnt really use it two days ago when I found it in one of my boxes when looking for a peice of paper, I then decided I was going to learn it. I found your lessons online and they have helped me so much, I think that starting to learn it at my age (13) is a great choice as when I'm older I can carry on instead of forgetting things. Thank you for the lessons, you are a wonderful teacher 😁
On the topic of old whistles. I recently found an old flute in my house (30 years old).I was wondering if I can just start playting on it right away, or if i need to do anything with it first.
I agree - it is easier to learn the tunes with the ornamentation. I don't think that Kirsten teaches any ornamentation in this lesson as it is geared toward the absolute beginner, however, with her other lessons on oaim.ie, she normally teaches the tunes with ornamentation in them.
So gentle and clear in your teaching-- like the whistle itself. Today I had an intuition-- get a whistle and learn to play. I'm 64-- and happily a newbie. If I live to be 90, I might get good at this. Thanks to this marvelous young teacher!
hi Merwin! so nice you are learning! it is never too late. Today I got mine and I am so happy I am learning to play my first instrument! How are you doing with the whistle? hope you have learned more
@@adrianojedaf So kind of you to respond! Yes Rattlin Bog was my first tune-- I have a few more under my belt now. Your first lessons gave me the confidence to keep playing, and it always gives me some joy when I play a tune. Will be back for some more lessons!
Yes, you can get it on the website OAIM.IE. Simply create a free account and head to the tin whistle page.. The lesson is there with an mp3 of the tune and pdf of both the staff notation and ABC notation, all free :)
I recently got myself a tin whistle and I found this channel, thought I'd give it a go. I have been learning recorder for over a year so the first lesson was a bit basic for me (very well presented though!). This second lesson was a little more challenging and I lost my way on the last exercise, the broken scale. But I'll persevere!
Hi Everyone, It's Kirsten here :) Thanks for all the great comments .. If anyone has ANY questions about the lessons, or general Irish music/whistle queries, please feel free to ask them here. Happy practicing !!
I learnt in school but my brother didn't. I stopped when I went to secondary school meaning I'm way out of practice. I found my old sheet music the other day. Sure enough, this song was on it.
I must say.... You're an awesome teacher. And I Loooovvvve The Bog. I'm so excited. Just having issues with the screech and good sound but that will come with practice.
Great Videos. But I have an advice for you. You can put in all of the descriptions timings for different part of the exercises so we can instantly change between the slow play and the fast play, between one part of the song and another, between the first part of the video where you describe the song and the second part where you give the D major exercises. And yeah, greetings from Skopje, Macedonia
hi, i'll get my irish tin whistle tomorrow, i saw the first lesson and this lesson, and i learned it very fast... i'll going to try it tomorrow... and all this, with only hearing. i have no seen, and i using computer with reader to find videos, and i started with tin whistle. i'll try it
Thanks for the great comments!! Delighted that you've enjoyed the lessons .. Post again soon and let us know how you are getting along with your whistle/flute. Take care!!
These lessons are wonderful. I'm a beginner looking to get skilled enough to play some tracks by a famous swiss folk metal band called Eluveitie. I suggest you listen to Isara and see what you think ^^ This thing is a lot tougher to learn than I first thought :P
Thank you for your lessons, it is helping with my traumatic brain injury. My only request is to maybe exagerate your fingers raised because it hard to tell sometimes if they are on whistle or hovering above. Maybe finger polish or different camera angel.
+Paula Pierce Thanks for this feedback, we'll certainly consider it the next time we record tin whistle tutorials. Good luck with the injury - get well soon! Kirsten :)
Excellent! Are you going to try the next tune in the series? (We won't go home in the morning) . You can learn it for free on the OAIM website here - oaim.ie/course/1/tin_whistle_basics
Thanks so much, delighted you liked the lesson - please check out all the tin whistle lessons we have on our website - oaim.ie/instrument/1/tin_whistle_
Dear Kirsten First of all, let me thank yee ever so much fer yer brilliant videos and really detailed explanations, simply brilliant !! Playing Sax ( alto and soprano ) as well as clarinet myself, i thought it would not be a hard task to learn the tin whistle as well ,since i truely love the sound of OI-rish music ;) .. Well , sadly its way harder than i thought. . Especially overblowing is quite a problem for me, mostly i end up 2 octaves higher than intended .. I see, that you are playing a different kind of whistle than i bought, me got the " original Clarke ". My question , is my whistle probably more difficult to play, as for overblowing, or is it just me with an incorrect airflow and , or mouth position ? Again, thanks a lot fer the tutorials and best greetings from Vienna, Austria ;) Derek
Kirsten is using a John Sindt whistle. To get started, you need a tin whistle in the key of D. Any one will do really, although we recommend Cillian O'Brien Improved available @ custys music dot com.
I love every lessons of your Mam, Im learning your Paddy Taylor's Jig now. It's quiet not familiar tin whistle here in Philippines but tin whistle is very different from other wind intruments so I'd like to learn it more and it's Irish history. :D thank you Mam.
I absolutely love your teaching. This is how I learn. Just had my whistle a few days. Have lots to learn. But I will do it. Is it ok for A Scot to play an Irish whistle, just kidding.
How long does it take to get pretty good at playing the tin whistle? I've got my first one coming in the post this week, and am really excited! It sounds like a great beginner instrument to learn to play, and really fun too. Is youtube and practice enough to become good? Nobody in my town teaches music if any kind as far as I can tell. Cheers!!! ^_^
Hi, You can progress quickly on the whistle, but simply using yt clips is going to slow you down. I'd recommend taking my course because of the pace that I present the lessons. I introduce new concepts at a time when you are ready, which helps guide you through from beginner to intermediate quickly and efficiently. Here's a link to my course home page, check it out! - www.oaim.ie/whistle-basics
I have trouble hitting the high D. But I just picked up the whistle yesterday so I suppose I just need to practice. I play the piano already so not new to music but never really played a flute seriously.
Try blowing out the tin whistle. You cover the square hole in the mouth piece and blow hard through the whistle. There should be no sound. This unclogs your tin whistle from condensation that can build up in there and effect the tone. Let me know if that helps.
![Irish Tin Whistle Lesson #2 - [The Basics] Rattlin' Bog 🎵🎵](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
