Cathal McConnell: Cathal Mcconnell Teaches Pennywhistle: Tin Whistle

The Pennywhistle is a lovely traditional instrument the whole family can enjoy. Also known as the Irish Tin whistle, it can be used to play haunting slow airs or the most complex up-tempo jigs, reels, hornpipes and other dance times. While it can be simple enough for a child to play, it’s also worthy of a lifetime of musical study.

Cathal McConnell, known world-wide for his work with the popular Celtic band Boys of the Lough, has long been considered one of the world’s virtuoso Irish whistle players. He is also a kind and patient teacher, and he makes learning easy as he brings the beauty of the Irish repertoire to you in this unique play-along CDcourse.

You’ll learn the basic scales and the proper way to hold and blow the whistle to get you off to the right start. Cathal shows you how to play in a variety of keys (D, G, E and A major; E, A and B minor), adding important techniques such as slurring, trills and rolls to give your playing a truly traditional ‘feel’.

By the time you finish working through this interactive lesson you’ll have a dozen top Irish session pieces under your belt, plus all the tools necessary to build a more advanced repertoire of tunes and techniques.