Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion learning the penny whistle

DS9 has just starting music class and is learning the penny whistle. I'm so excited for him and he is practicing a lot. Finally learning something this year! I have seen very little that he has had to put any effort into this year. So althought this seems a bit minor, I'm just gonna be happy about it and enjoy it. He is even teaching DD6 and being patient about it. (I hope that lasts)

I play the pennywhistle (tin whistle, as it's called in my part of the world) and have taught it to a few groups of kids. They always love it, and it's always a challenge on multiple levels, both mental and physical. I hope for the sake of your ears your son has the breath control thing down!

If you haven't already, you and your son should check out http://www.thesession.org. It's got thousands of tunes, plus listings for local trad music sessions if your son wants to find some people to play with (one session I used to play in had a 12-year-old fiddler who was perfectly well-accepted as one of the group).

thank you.

Do you know of a website that has starter songs on it for kids?

DS9 is doing fine on the penny whistle. I feel bad for the kids that have a hard time of it. In class yesterday, the kids who did not get it after 2 days of practice were sent into the hall to practice.

I don't know of any websites, I'm afraid. You might try The Whistle Shop for books (http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/tutorials/tutorial.htm).

I learned my first few songs from the book that came with my whistle, but after that basically learned everything by ear - that's the trad music way (and, according to several music teaching methods, a much more important skill for beginning musicians than sightreading - I happen to be a firm believer in this myself). Try challenging your son to figure out how to play some of his favorite songs.

Could he actually learn to play by ear by himself without instruction at age 9?

He is 9 and may have some natural musical ability. I'm not really sure. His K teacher, who played the guitar, said he does. He was the only one in his class of 6, to get a xylophone song well. He also has a beautiful voice. I am not musically talented.

I checked out the site, and the tutorial looks good. I see if kids want to give it a try.

Here's another site that gives free lessons. whistle tutor

You can find lots of sites with free sheet music, just google. You can also find people playing on youtube.

GS10 picked up irish jigs really easily on the penny whistle, now he's learning other styles. He had a year of music theory when he was 7-8, as well as piano instruction at that time. He started the flute this past fall, the theory stayed with him so he's not doing extra theory right now.

I'd suggest a tutor sooner, rather than later.

It's VERY possible to play by ear that early - or earlier. I could do it on the piano by the time I was six. If he can sing on key, he's almost there; the only thing he has left to do is practice with the whistle enough that he can find the notes by instinct instead of hunting for them. At some point (for me, learning the whistle on my own but with years of piano and viola behind me, it was about two weeks in), he'll be able hear the note in his head and play it on the whistle immediately, without having to think about how many fingers to put down. If he wants to actively try to develop that, I'd suggest practicing scales and arpeggios a few minutes a day (not so long it gets boring) at the start to help him get a feel for where the notes are. Then start him on easy songs like Frere Jacques that have plenty of "climbing" and not so much "skipping" (that is, the notes tend to go up or down by one rather than jumping around). Down by the Sally Gardens, which is on the tutorial site OHGrandma recommended, is good for this too.

Here's a treat for whistle & flute lovers, Sir James Galway He switches between the penny whistle & flute on this song. I'm trying to get GS10 more interested in this style than just Irish jigs!

thanks!

Another whistle forum here, Chiff and Fipple