Objectives and Format
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This manual consists of a series of topics designed so that you may proceed at your own pace. Two tunes, a jig and a reel, are presented as series of topics each, starting with the basic, unornamented tune and then adding progressively more ornamentation so that you may see how to ornament other tunes yourself. Each topic may also be reviewed on its own, and contains exercises which should help build technique or understanding of that topic. If using this text as a course, you should do these exercises until you feel you have mastered them. When practicing specific techniques, there are a several things you can keep in mind which will increase your skill much more quickly:
First, GO SLOWLY. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. You should practice slowly enough that you are making mistakes less than ten or fifteen percent of the time. If you are finding it hard to play a certain figure right, then slow down until you can play it correctly. Speed will come later.
Second, RELAX. Keeping your upper body, especially your stomach and hands, relaxed will help you play faster, cleaner, and more accurately. It will also help you avoid running out of breath, and will enable you to hold your concentration better. Relaxation is most important for speed - you simply will be unable to play well quickly if your fingers are not relaxed.
Third, don't be afraid to EXPERIMENT. You'll find your own style that way.
I have also included topics on various other subjects which may be of interest to you, such as session etiquette, care and maintenance of whistles, etc. These are things about which people often ask me when learning.
When you have completed this manual, you should have a basic understanding of how to play an Irish tune. You should understand the standard ornamentation used in Irish-style playing, including where, how, and why it can be applied, and you should be able to incorporate some variations in your playing. In addition, you should be able to learn a tune without written music, and recognize a style of playing or ornamentation when you hear it. In short, you should be fully equipped to go out and start learning and playing tunes on your own.