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

For beginner tin whistle players. Covers all essential techniques as well as teaching you to read and understand music. Contains lots of great melodies and solos in a variety of styles.

All the tools the beginner, novice, and intermediate tin whistle player needs in order to progress to a high level of competence in Irish music. Includes an Orientation to Traditional Irish Music, which puts the music in context, with information on scales and modes, dance tune types, the historical roots of whistle playing, and advice for learning by ear. the book is full of thorough instruction, exercises, and musical examples: from holding, fingering, breathing, and blowing, on up to advanced ornamentation, phrasing, and variations. Features a simple and penetrating new approach to understanding and notating ornamentation that goes beyond any previous method. Also includes history and theory of traditional Irish tin whistle music. for those who don't read music, almost all the exercises and examples appear on the companion CD.

For the beginner to the highly advanced player of Irish flute, tin whistle, or Boehm-system flute. Features a simple and penetrating new approach to understanding and notating ornamentation that goes beyond any previous method, exploring ornamentation techniques never described in print before. Also includes adaptations for Boehm-system flute players, guidance on breathing and phrasing, 49 ornamentation exercises, history and theory of traditional Irish flute and whistle music, and 27 meticulous transcriptions of recordings by these important Irish flute and tin whistle players: John McKenna,Tom Morrison, William Cummins, Séamus Ennis, Willie Clancy, Paddy Taylor, Paddy Carty, Grey Larsen, Josie McDermott, Matt Molloy, Cathal McConnell, Mary Bergin, Donncha Ó Briain (Denis O'Brien), Desi Wilkinson, Breda Smyth, Seán Ryan, Conal Ó Gráda, Micho Russel, Joanie Madden, Kevin Crawford, Catherine McEvoy, and Seamus Egan. for those who don't read music, almost all the exercises, examples and tunes appear on the two companion CDs. Grey has, through his research, patience, and diligence, completed a work on Irish flute and tin whistle that I feel is essential reading for anybody interested in getting it right. - Matt Molloy, Irish Flute player with the Chieftains.

This book is a comprehensive, detailed approach to playing Irish music on the tinwhistle. It has been written especially for new enthusiasts who live impossibly far from Irish musicians and are fretfully asking themselves, “Where Can I Ever Learn To Play?” It contains information on technique and style that more advanced players will also find useful. And, there are 72 dance tunes and airs suitably arranged for the tinwhistle, including some recently-composed pieces and several unusual settings of old standards that even the most jaded musical palates aflame with the insatiable desire for New Tunes will find exhilarating and momentarily satisfying.

Grey Larsen, in the 150 Gems collections, has given us a most welcome follow-up to his encyclopedic volume, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle (Mel Bay Publications, 2003) and The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox (Mel Bay Publications, 2004). The Gems feature not only meticulously-selected tunes, but represent the first major offerings that use Larsen's innovative system of notating Irish ornamentation. These books and online audio will help players gain a deeper understanding of the Irish musical tradition as well as provide new material to enhance the experience of the solo player and Irish session participant alike. Includes access to online audio.

Grey Larsen, in the 150 Gems collection, has given us a most welcome follow-up to his encyclopedic volume, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle (Mel Bay Publications, 2003) and The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox (Mel Bay Publications, 2004). The Gems feature not only meticulously-selected tunes, but represent the first major offerings that use Larsen's innovative system of notating Irish ornamentation. This book and online audio will help players gain a deeper understanding of the Irish musical tradition as well as provide new material to enhance the experience of the solo player and Irish session participant alike.

Volume III of Playing Outside the Lines is the third of a comprehensive four-part Irish flute method book series offering beginning to advanced Irish traditional flute instruction for Boehm and simple system flutists in graduated books, chapters, and exercises. Building on the foundation provided in the first two books of the series, Volume III dives into more complicated Irish traditional flute ornamentation such as rolls, short rolls, crans, and breath-ornament techniques. Volume III contains ornamentation fingering charts; advanced ornamentation options, explanations, and placement guidelines; 62 accompanying audio tracks; and more than 170 exercises. Playing Outside the Lines is the first Irish flute method book series of its kind, containing more than 600 technical exercises, rich and nuanced discussions of Irish flute style and cultural context, previously undocumented techniques, side-by-side explanations for Boehm and simple system flutists (as well as information for musicians transitioning between the two instruments), audio excerpts, simple system flute care and purchasing information, and resources for further study. By the end of the four-part series, Boehm and simple system flutists of any background will have the tools necessary to play Irish music with a deep understanding of the tradition as well as with individual creativity. “A fantastic bible of Irish flute playing. Harrison is a very meticulous and thorough author.” —Viviana Guzman, The Flute View Magazine “An invaluable resource for any flutist.” —Brook Ferguson, Principal Flutist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra “Leslie Anne Harrison’s Playing Outside the Lines is a marvelous gift to all interested in Irish music. Her clear and detailed writing is a huge boon to those embracing the traditional Irish flute and is truly enlightening to those (like me) who want to delve into this music while playing the Boehm flute. From tiniest detail to largest form, Leslie Anne Harrison is there every step of the way. Playing Outside the Lines is a major contribution to flute pedagogy.” —Robert Dick, Performer and Author of The Other Flute

Here are 34 easy-to-play folk, popular and classical favorites arranged for tin whistle (also known as pennywhistle) or Irish flute. Chords are included for guitar, keyboard, or other accompaniment instrument. Also included with this book: • Access to online audio for all 34 songs, with tin whistle, Irish flute, piano, and guitar • Three duet arrangements If you don’t read music, you can still use this book! In addition to music notation, there is a specially designed tablature for tin whistle and Irish flute. What makes these tune arrangements easy? • They are played in the lower two octaves of the whistle and flute’s range, ascending no higher than B in the second octave. • They are in easy tin whistle and Irish flute keys, such as: D major, G major, E minor and B minor. No metal keys are needed on the Irish flute. • They use only eight notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C and C#. • They are also easy to play on soprano and tenor recorder, modern flute, and piccolo. Grey Larsen is a master musician who performs and teaches internationally. He has played tin whistle and Irish flute since the 1970s and has written nine books, including First Lessons Tin Whistle and the best-seller, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. The author recommends using a tin whistle in D or a standard Irish flute (with or without keys) with this book. You can also use soprano and tenor recorders, modern flute, and piccolo. However, the tablature in this book uses only tin whistle and Irish flute fingerings.

Here are 30 easy-to-play Christmas favorites arranged for tin whistle (also known as pennywhistle) and Irish flute. Chords are included for guitar, keyboard, or other accompaniment instrument. Also included with this book: Access to audio downloads for all 30 songs, with tin whistle, Irish flute and guitar Three duet arrangements If you don’t read music, you can still use this book! In addition to music notation, there is a specially-designed tablature for tin whistle and Irish flute. What makes these tune arrangements easy? They are played in the lower two octaves of the whistle and flute’s range, ascending no higher than B in the second octave. They are in easy tin whistle and Irish flute keys: D major, G major, E minor and B minor. No metal keys are needed on the Irish flute. They use only eight notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C and C♯. They are also easy to play on soprano and tenor recorder, modern flute and piccolo. The author recommends using a tin whistle in D or a standard Irish flute (with or without keys) with this book. You can also use soprano and tenor recorders, modern flute and piccolo. However, the tablature in this book uses only tin whistle and Irish flute fingerings.