No net

I'm sorry to all, but I don't have internet for these last days, nor will I have in the next, my laptop has a problem and I have to wait for it to be repaired :(

Concerning the Whistle, I've been playing the songs in Bill Ochs book, I wish I could play at night, that would make me improve much better... oh well! We have what we have!

Cheers and have a good weekend!

Loooong week!

This has been a loooong week! Unfortunatly, not for the Whistle, but for work!

I hope to have a couple of minutes to play tomorow, because today was prety much impossible, and I guess I'm going to sleep right now.

Sorry for the lack of good posts this week... I hope to revive the blog during the weekend.

Cheers

Improvising

Hello fellow whistlers.

I'm sorry for not posting everyday, but life's been busy lately!

Today I played with my mind only... :P

I'm noticing that when I have little time, I skip the "regular tunes" and I just improvise a bit... it doesn't work too well with the Tin Whistle, but it works quite well with the Low D, specially playing "aires".

When I summon the courage, I'll make a video or a recording of it for you to listen.

Cheers!

Weekend

Hello folks!

The blog had his moment of glory with the interview, we're on top of the 600th unique visitor (or I.P. address :P)!!! Thank you all!

In the future I'm doing some more interviews, and the next one is already planned and accepted!!! I'll let you know later who it is.

For now I'll try to be back to my practising with the whistle, maybe later in the day.

Cheers to you all and have a nice weekend!

Interviewing Ryan Duns pt 3/3

Here goes the third and last part of the interview, It was a pleasure to have the oportunity to do it!

Whistler Bard: What gave you the idea/inspiration to start posting whistle lessons on youtube?

Ryan Duns: I was teaching a course at Fordham University and needed a way to help my students. YouTube was free.

WB: How did you get the sound you have on your videos (software,settings, delay etc.) ?

RD: I use an iMac computer so I run things through iMovie. The effects are used, usually, in order to block out the sounds of New York traffic and construction.

WB: Have you seen these other online sites, and what do you think of them? ( http://www.whistletutor.com/ and http://tradlessons.com/ )

RD: I think they are doing a good job. I'm glad there's such an interest in teaching the whistle.

And then some "quickies" to finish the interview:

WB: Best Whistle you played:

RD: Mine!

WB: Best comment you got after playing:

RD: Brilliant

WB: Worst comment you got after playing:

RD: Cliche

WB: Longest period of time without playing:

RD: 30 days - when I made the Spiritual Exercises in 2005

WB: Favourite musician:

RD: Joanie Madden

WB: Favourite tune:

RD: Martin Wynne's #3

And this was it! Once again I want to thank Ryan for his availability and kindness, as well as all the Chiff & Fippler's that help me out with this!

Cheers and have fun in life!

Interviewing Ryan Duns pt 2/3

No big intro here, as simple as it is, the second part of the interview with Ryan Duns:

Whistler Bard: Which other instruments do you play? And how frequently, compared to the Whistle?

Ryan Duns: I play the piano accordion. I probably play the whistle more, because it takes less effort to pick it up!

WB: What's your opinion on the use of high end whistles? There are two schools that I've heard of: the ones who think it's better to stick with the more traditional ones like Feadógs and Clarkes, while others go for high end whistles, claiming that makes them want to practise more.

RD: I think that the whistle is like the wands in the "Harry Potter" books: each whistler has a whistle made for her or for him. Some people sound great on any whistle, others really need the expensive ones to sound their best. I reckon it doesn't matter: if the music is in your heart, it will come out of the instrument.

WB: Abstracting from the previous awnser, What kinds and brands of whistles do you favor for yourself, and why?

RD: I don't have favorites. As a seminarian, I have a vow of poverty so I can't acquire new whistles very easily. I like my Generation D body with an O'Riordan top. I also like to play the black O'Riordan whistles.

WB: What do you suggest when aspiring players reach the inevitable plateau or "dead spot" in their development?

RD: Keep playing! Even when we're not making big strides, or it feels like we've leveled off, you must trust that your patient practice is having an effect. Deep in your soul, the practice is slowly carving out new areas of your heart to explore through music. In time, you will discover these caverns and your music will take on even more meaning and beauty.

WB: Do you like to play music other than Celtic on the whistle at all?

RD: Not really: I stick to traditional Irish.

WB: You use a lot of tonguing to great effect. Was this taught, was it consciously done, or did it just develop on its own?

RD: It developed on its own over time.

WB: Is there a particular tutorial method book that you like and recommend?

RD: Learn both to play by ear and to read music.

WB: Why do bad tunes happen to good whistles?

RD: Great question. Sin.

So in this part of the interview we got to know some opinions about music from Ryan, who once again replied with a natural simpathy. I personally love the last answer of this part :P

Thank you all for reading, and hope I can keep you interest in the blog even after the interview.

Cheers to you all, and don't forget: tomorow is the 3rd and last part of the interview!

Interviewing Ryan Duns pt 1/3

Hello everyone! Today is an exciting day, since I'm posting the interview I made to Ryan Duns over the internet.

First of all I want to thank everyone on the Chiff & Fipple Forums for the support and questions, this is for you.

I'll post the interview divided in 3, for 3 days in a row.

So here it goes, part 1 out of 3:

Whistler Bard: At what age did you begin to play the whistle? Can you remember the exact moment?

Ryan Duns: I was a fat kid, so my mom would not let me take Irish dancing lessons. She thought that it would be better if I played an instrument, so she signed me up for lessons with Tom Hastings, a teacher in Cleveland. I remember leaving my first lesson as an 8-year old boy, knowing that I would love Irish music.

WB: Why and when did you decide to play Irish music? Is it a tradition in your family?

RD: My great-grandfathers were both musicians: one played the piano, the other played the fiddle. My great-great-aunt was a button-box player and a nun - an Ursuline sister.

WB: About your influences, tell me about the city or town you grew up in, your teachers and how did that influence your music?

RD: We had great local music: Tom Byrne and Tom McCaffery, Tom Hasting, and Al O'Leary were all active musicians. They were so warm to us kids and really welcomed us into the sessions. They taught us not only a great deal of tunes, but they taught us how to be good Irish musicians who welcomed other musicians, regardless of ability.

WB: How did you acquire your tune repertoire - sessions, mentors,books, recordings?

RD: A mix of all of them! We had an active Comhaltas branch in Cleveland during the 1990's, so we had a lot of opportunities to play with others. I also loved to listen to Irish music, so I developed my ear and picked tunes up that way.

WB: Did playing for hours and hours for Step Dancers strengthened your faith?

RD: Totally! It gets repetitive, so I pray when I play. I pray for the kids, usually, and for the various people I come across.

WB: Will you ever go back to playing for Feisanna?

RD: Yes - I'm playing one in just a few weeks! I still play about 20 each year - not as many as I'd like (I love Irish dancing) but with my busy schedule, it's the best I can do.

WB: Do you play at sessions, or only for private or personal enjoyment?

RD: I play in sessions every now and again. I play more frequently for personal pleasure but, when I have the chance, I do love to go to sessions.

Ok, this was it! At least the first part of it. I separated the questions in logical groups, in this one we can find out about Ryan's roots on the whistle.

Hope you enjoyed it, as for me, I'm really proud of myself for doing it, as well as thankfull to Ryan and all the fellow whistlers that contributed with the questions.

Cheers, and don't miss the second part tomorow!