So you want to learn a musical instrument, but you're short on cash? Why not learn the Irish tin whistle?  Considered the least expensive instrument of Irish music, one can easily pick up a mass produced tin whistle for very little money.  And for less than the price of one lesson, a budding musician can also pick up Grey Larsen's instructional manual, The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox complete with a CD, musical notations, photographs, diagrams and everything a musician would need to learn to play the tin whistle properly.  Of course, professional tin whistle and flute players could also glean expert advice and savvy know-how from Grey Larsen's multi-media manual.  This includes correcting poor posture, working with air stream, as well as, executing ornamentation. After all this seemingly simple instrument can get quite complex.

Although I have no desire to learn tin whistle, I find Grey Larsen's chapters on music theory, history and techniques useful.  The author and musician has written an extremely comprehensive companion manual to his The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle which came out a few months ago.  Larsen has an open and friendly approach to the instruments and to his readers.  The chapters are set up in such a way that it almost feels like the author is in the room teaching a workshop.  Besides the book and the CD, a tin whistle player could also visit Larsen's web site and download exercises, sound recordings of the author demonstrating the exercises and complete versions of Irish tunes.

This multi-media project was put together by an expert with a passion for the Irish musical tradition as well as, teaching others how to play Irish flute and tin whistles.  His books are highly recommended by professional Irish musicians and the author has also released several of his own recordings. You can learn more at  www.GreyLarsen.com and www.melbay.com 

PLH