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Lesson 7: Slow Airs and Tin Whistle Slides
Slow airs played on the tin whistle are amongst the most beautiful music in the world. Airs are very free with rhythm which simple means the sheet music below is mostly a guide to how the one should be played. These beautiful tunes typically contain what are called 'slides' and sometimes called 'slurs' The diagram to the right shows how they are written on paper, but in most sheet music it will not be written in you will have to decide where you think it sounds best. Basically, they make notes rise or fall very slowly. When you perform a slide you are gradually, and sometimes only partially covering or uncovering a hole in such a way that the pitch of the note smoothly rises or falls. You kind of push or swoop your finger up and away from your wrist, don't swoop towards your wrist. If you need to slide up more than 1 note you let the highest moving finger guide the rest. By concentrating on that finger the rest will just naturally do what they are suppose to.
Dawn of the Day
This is a great traditional tune sometimes played as a march but today we will be playing it as a slow air. It's also a great tune to practice slides. Slow Airs are the only tunes I don't use a metronome on because its more important to feel the tune then to play in time.
Great Job! You can now play an actual "Irish" tune the way a "Tin Whistle" player would actually play it. Go play it for your mother, brother, daughter, cousin and friends so they can see your actually serious about playing the tin whistle.
If your doing it right they should be impressed.
If your doing it right they should be impressed.