Well I was definitely being TIC, Big Mick, if that's not an unreasonable posture. And yes,I'm on for the jar, if you give me enough notice to book passage from Holyhead.

But having re-worked my way right through Geraldine's estimable tutor in the last few days, thanks to you Catters, I do have one serious quibble. The book is definitely light on tongueing, which is a major factor in whistleplaying. Some say you should play whistles in pipering style (you don't get to use your tongue at all on pipes, unless you're some kind of deviant). But I don't see why a new-fangled invention like the pipes should influence technique on longer established instruments.

Geraldine is certainly thorough, and very clear to follow, on some other whistle specifics like ornamentation, and she strikes a good balance in accommodating those new to music theory and notation. But tongueing is also crucial, and you can get sound guidance on this by following up links at the Pennywhistle Workshop (I put the blue clicky in an earlier post.)

Now a private aside for Noreen, if no-one minds. I quote from page 30 of the said, esteemed, tutor: "This is a single reel, unlike the jig which was double. Each part is played once." Ok, she's got a lousy posture *BG*, and there was the matter of that tiny mistake, but you've got to agree, Noreen, Geraldine's spot on this time! And for good measure on p13, under "Examples of Time Signatures" I see this: "6/8 - found in Jigs and Set Tunes... 12/8 - found in slides and Single Jigs."

If anyone wants to know what this is about, go to