Kate Dunlay bemoaned: > I've been attempting to learn to play the whistle lately (can old > dogs learn new tricks?). I'm wondering about the ornamentation.
In my opinion, ornamentation is overrated, especially amongst learners. Many fledgeling whistlers are eager to emulate the aural pyrotechnics of the experienced players they hear on CD or in a session. To satisfy that demand I talk about decoration, and introduce it slowly into the odd tune, but I make a strong case for playing tunes straight. It is much better - I tell them - to hear a tune played simply and well than obscured with ornamentation executed badly. Decoration comes with experience, when you've reached a stage that you can play tunes well and with ease. > ...I'll never be a piper in this life, so do I need to try to do it > their way or can I just do it my own way? Is there an advantage to > doing it their way? For instance, I am assuming that the suggestions > for ornamentation on Nigel Gatherer's helpful site are pipe oriented. > But since whistles don't have drones, there isn't anything magic > about an A note anymore, is there? So I don't have to do cuts from an > A note, maybe? No, you don't have to. I have it that way so that those learner whistlers who want to add decoration have a system which is easily understood, in this case always cutting from the A. Do it your way, by all means - is that not what people have been doing for centuries? All the above is my opinion - I'm looking forward to hearing from someone with a different opinion. -- Nigel Gatherer, Crieff, Scotland Friday-Monday: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tuesday-Thursday: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
