Popular Airs & Waltzes for the Tin Whistle

Ireland is famous the world over for its rich mystical heritage. The lore, the music and the legends; the stone circles, dolmens and tombs; all evoke in us a deep sense of the beyond, the otherworldly. More than any other instrument, wind instruments such as the flute and whistle, seem to innately have the capacity to translate that ethereal mystical nature into haunting notes which, when executed masterfully, offer a glimpse beyond the ordinary.

It is with great excitement that we present this intriguing course, straying from our normal, up-beat lively dance tunes, as we ramble down an even more alluring, possibly even contemplative, path. It is taught by flautist and whistler Kirsten Allstaff, steeped as she is in the Celtic tradition all her life.

So we invite you to tarry a while in her expert company as she invites you into the world of waltzes and slow airs, to learn first to play them, and then perhaps moving into the even more intriguing delight of letting this instrument play you as you explore embellishments and articulations that really bring the tunes to life!

By the end of the course you will have dipped your toes into some tunes that are centuries old, with a couple of exceptions. With 13 lessons in all, each lesson is broken down into 3 to 4 tutorials, taking you slowly and methodically through the skills and techniques. Although the course is aimed at those who already play, it is a basic course, accessible to all, and recommended to basic and accomplished player alike.

(This course is also taught on the flute here.)