![big grin :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin_144.gif)
I know I probably sound stupid because it's right after St. Patty's day and you all must be thinking, "Well give it a week or two, his enthusiasm will die down." But I assure you this is something I've wanted to do for a long time. So what is essentially a long and complicated story ends with me buying a pennywhistle and beginner's book from my local music store.
For only three days now I've practiced more or less 5 hours total each day. I've practiced everything in the book and more. I've started to do research onine about whistles and all that stuff and really feel like I am going at lightning speed through the beginner's to new-intermediate levels. I'm not exactly new to music however this IS my first wind instrument.
One of my questions then is; could someone please point me in the direction of some good material for intermediates? Or perhaps just sites with general lessons?
A few things though. I feel like I have not gotten a few of the fundamentals down. A big problem for me is how I hold the whistle. I find it hard to maintain a steady grip without the whistle slipping, resulting in me fingering wrong. I usually remedy this problem by gripping a little harder but after so many hours of playing each day it leaves my right thumb very tender. Is this normal or should I just keep experimenting with how I am holding it?
Another thing nagging me about whistle terminology is the word, "breathy". I've seen it a hundred times on many sites today but still have not found a good explanation for what it actually is. I think it might have something to do with how easy or hard a whistle is to play. And I assume that it has something to do with how easy it is to sustain a note through breathing. Can someone please give me an example of "breathy"?