First I wanted to get "The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox" - but then I saw that the price on Amazon is almost the same as for "The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle" of which it seems to be mainly an abridged version (and who knows, one day I might be interested in trying the flute...) - so I think there is no reason to get the shorter book, or is there? (I've seen that there's a chapter on fingering for the beginner in the Toolbox that's not in the Guide - but I think I should know most of what's in there - I got a bit impatient reading the excerpt.)

Then, while I was researching the differences between those two books on Larsen's web site, I discovered the 150 Gems of Irish Music for Tin Whistle, and saw that it wasn't only a tune book, but contained reasonably big chapters on ornamentation and breathing and phrasing. So now I wonder - as practice is much more important than reading right now for me - might the 150 Gems be the best option? I love Larsen showing how he changes a tune to deal with out-of-range notes... (it's a frequent problem on the recorder as well...)

Or I suppose the best thing would be a double-pack of the "Guide" and the "150 Gems" - except such a bundle does not seem to exist (Grey, if you read this, would you consider it? Wouldn't it make more sense than buying the Tin Whistle and Flute Gems together? And I don't quite understand bundling the "Toolbox" and the "Guide" either...) Does any forum member in Europe want to get rid of one of the above books, by any chance?

You might get some worthwhile insight by contacting Grey directly. The contact page of his web site is https://greylarsen.com/contact/ .

Best wishes.

Steve

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"[Some flutists] place the flute between the upper lip and the nose, blowing the instrument from below. This position does not prevent good playing, but it does not look graceful."
~ Antoine Mahaut, 1759 in a tutor for playing the transverse flute ~