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Updated in [October 16th, 2023]

What does this course tell?
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This free online Irish tin whistle course is designed to help the beginner develop those skills and techniques that will give their tin whistle playing an authentic Irish sound. It is ideally suited to students who have completed our basic Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 courses and want to progress, or to any beginner who can play basic tunes by ear or by following notes. It’s one thing to play a straightforward tune but it’s quite another to pepper your playing with ‘cuts’, ‘taps’ and ‘rolls’, the ornamentations that make Irish folk music so vibrant. Here, accomplished musician Brian O'Loughlin teaches you how to acquire the digital dexterity behind ornamentation over a couple of lessons, before moving on to applying your new skills. Throughout the course, he teaches the tune first, then devotes a lesson to focusing on where and how to add ornamentation.
The lessons begin with a class on cuts and one on taps and rolls before Brian moves on to teaching the jig, 'Gander in the Pratie Hole'. Download the notes from the resources section of the course to follow the lesson more easily. Brian breaks the tune down into parts and demonstrates where and how to add ornamentation after each part. The next tune you will learn is the first reel in this series of courses, ‘The Silver Spear’. Learning your first reel is a milestone on any instrument, as it’s the fastest type of tune in Irish music and among the most popular. Here, Brian teaches you how to play each part slowly and with practice you can build up your speed. The final tune in the course is another popular reel, 'Rolling in the Rye Grass'. As with every tune, Brian plays it through at the proper speed so that you can hear how it should be. In the final two lessons, he teaches the whole tune first, then spends the final lesson demonstrating how and where you can add ornamentation.
If you are relatively proficient in the Irish tin whistle and want to broaden your repertoire and learn how to recreate authentic traditional Irish sounds, this free online tin whistle course provides the perfect training. Our tutor, Brian O'Loughlin is an accomplished flute player from County Clare in the musical heart of Ireland, on the west coast. From a well-known musical family, he has been a member of some of Ireland’s top ceili bands as well as performing with a trio. By completing this course, you can learn those all-important techniques that are fundamental to developing as a tin whistle player. You can also gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment. Complete this course and with practice, you will master the deftness of playing that has been setting Irish music apart for centuries. You will also learn more of the favourites played at 'seisiúns' (music sessions) across Ireland and beyond. If you want to elevate your playing with those techniques and ornamentations that colour Irish folk music, this is the course for you!


We considered the value of this course from many aspects, and finally summarized it for you from two aspects: skills and knowledge, and the people who benefit from it:
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What skills and knowledge will you acquire during this course?
During the Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Intermediate course, students will acquire the following skills and knowledge:
1. Developing authentic Irish sound: The course is designed to help students develop the skills and techniques necessary to give their tin whistle playing an authentic Irish sound.
2. Ornamentation techniques: Students will learn how to incorporate ornamentations such as cuts, taps, and rolls into their playing, which are essential for vibrant Irish folk music.
3. Digital dexterity: The course focuses on improving students' digital dexterity, enabling them to execute ornamentations with precision and speed.
4. Learning specific tunes: Students will learn popular Irish tunes, including the jig "Gander in the Pratie Hole," the reel "The Silver Spear," and the reel "Rolling in the Rye Grass."
5. Breaking down tunes: The instructor, Brian O'Loughlin, breaks down each tune into parts, teaching students where and how to add ornamentation after each part.
6. Building repertoire: By completing the course, students will broaden their repertoire of traditional Irish tunes and gain a deeper understanding of the music played at seisiúns (music sessions) in Ireland and beyond.
7. Certification: Students have the opportunity to gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment, demonstrating their proficiency in the techniques and repertoire covered in the course.
8. Mastering deftness of playing: With practice, students will master the deftness of playing that has set Irish music apart for centuries, allowing them to elevate their playing and recreate authentic traditional Irish sounds.
Who will benefit from this course?
This course is beneficial for individuals who have completed beginner courses in Irish tin whistle or have basic knowledge of playing the instrument. It is particularly suited for those who want to progress in their tin whistle playing and develop the skills and techniques necessary to achieve an authentic Irish sound.
Professionals in the music industry, such as musicians, flute players, and members of ceili bands, can benefit from this course as it provides training in ornamentation and techniques that are fundamental to developing as a tin whistle player.
Additionally, individuals who are interested in traditional Irish music and want to broaden their repertoire can benefit from this course. It teaches popular tunes played at music sessions in Ireland and beyond, allowing learners to elevate their playing and recreate authentic traditional Irish sounds.

Course Syllabus

Improve your Irish Tin Whistle Playing

Course assessment