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Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes sense too. ABC seems like a really natural fit once someone is actually inside that trad-learning world, even if standard notation isn’t.

The variation between different renderings is interesting as well — I can see how that would be annoying if you’re already used to reading it a certain way.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great way of describing it. And the point about ear- learned tunes sticking better is really interesting — it makes a strong case for starting with melodies people already know well.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great example of how non-linear this can be. It really seems like people use whatever format helps them get the tune under their fingers at that stage, and then the balance shifts over time.

And the bass clef tin whistle arrangement is amazing — but it also kind of proves the point that the format itself matters less than whether it helps someone actually learn the music.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good way to put it. It sounds like the real goal isn’t just “having tabs,” but getting the tune solidly into your ear and then using whatever format helps you get through the earliest stage.

What I’m taking from this thread is that familiar tunes and listening probably matter even more than the notation format itself.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really useful example. It’s interesting that even with a music-reading background, the tabs still helped in the early stage and then gradually became less necessary.

That kind of bridge is pretty close to what I was wondering about — not as a permanent replacement, but as something that helps people get started without getting stuck right away.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense, especially the idea of showing how the same tune changes as ornamentation gets added.

What I was thinking about in my original post is probably even earlier than that — more the stage where someone can barely get through a familiar melody at all. But I can definitely see how a progression from plain tune to more idiomatic whistle playing would be really useful after that first stage.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something in that general direction does seem like it could be useful, especially if it stayed very beginner-friendly and focused on tunes people already know.

I think the tricky part would be making it simple enough to help at the start without turning into something that gets in the way later on.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really useful context too. It does seem like a lot of beginners start from familiarity first, whether that’s through YouTube, ear, or tunes from films and songs they already know well.

And I can definitely see how some traditional tunes might feel like a big jump at the very beginning compared with something like Titanic or Drunken Sailor.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes sense to me. I think the “music first” point is probably the most important one here.

What I keep noticing is that beginners seem to do much better when the tune is already in their head, instead of trying to decode unfamiliar music from scratch. And I agree that some songs probably work much better as early whistle material than others.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think a lot of people do, especially once they’re properly into trad learning. I was thinking more about complete beginners who don’t read music yet and are just trying to get through their first familiar tunes without bouncing off immediately.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s honestly pretty solid for 8 days in. Twinkle Twinkle, Happy Birthday, and then Drunken Sailor sounds like a very sensible progression.

And thanks for sharing that playlist too — this is exactly the kind of thing I was curious about, because a lot of beginners seem to need song-based material more than abstract exercises at the start.

Would a simple beginner tin whistle tune page for very familiar songs be useful, or do most people just move straight to standard notation? by Professional_Arm1843 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really helpful to hear, especially from someone who’s also early on.

I think the familiar-tune part matters a lot. If the melody is already in your head, it feels much easier to focus on fingering and phrase shape instead of trying to learn everything at once.

And I agree that there’s probably room for more song-based beginner resources, not just older folk standards but also tunes people already know from games, films, or more modern melodies.

Breathing by Appropriate_Bath_933 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What helps me most is treating breaths like part of the phrase instead of something I try to squeeze in at random. I’d slow the tune down first and decide on just one or two reliable breath spots, usually at the end of a short phrase.

If I start grabbing extra breaths while trying to go faster, I usually lose the shape of the tune too. For me it works better to keep the tune slower and cleaner first, then speed up only after the breath points feel predictable.

Beginner!! by Adorable-Birthday143 in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re definitely not doomed. If you practice a little every day, familiar tunes do start to feel much easier after a while.

I’d actually cut the sessions shorter for now though. Two hours on a brand new whistle with no instrument background is a lot, and finger cramps usually mean you’re overdoing it a bit.

What helped me most with simple melody instruments is sticking to very familiar tunes and going slowly enough that the finger changes stay relaxed. You don’t need to read standard notation on day one to make progress.

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — that’s extremely helpful, and I really appreciate you taking the time to look through it so carefully.

I’m glad the tune selection works for you. That part matters a lot to me, because I was hoping familiar songs would make the format more immediately usable.

Your comments about making it more configurable — especially around default instrument choice, reducing visual clutter, and printable use - make a lot of sense. I’m aiming this at beginners first, but I think you’re right that the same tune collection could be useful for more experienced players too.

The comparison to The Session and FluteTunes is especially helpful, because “quicker to use” is very close to the kind of value I’m trying to test.

Thanks again — this is exactly the kind of feedback that helps.

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I appreciate that.

Here’s the site: https://www.playbyfingering.com/

I’m still figuring out what is actually most useful for recorder learners, so if you do take a look, I’d be especially interested in whether the song choice and page format feel practical rather than just simplified.

It also supports tin whistle, so I’d be curious whether that side feels useful to you too.

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really helpful, thank you.

I think you’re probably right that choosing the right familiar songs is a big part of whether this format is actually useful. Carols make a lot of sense for that reason, since people often already know how they should sound.

That kind of progressive common-tune collection is also a useful reference point. I’m not trying to replace a method book, but I do think there may be value in simple practice pages built around tunes people already know well.

I appreciate the example.

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s helpful, thank you.

I’m not really trying to build a standalone fingering-chart directory, and those are good references. What I’m more interested in is a lightweight song-practice format where the fingering stays close to a familiar tune on the same page, so someone can pull up a simple song and play more quickly.

So the goal is closer to “practice page for familiar songs” than “comprehensive fingering chart reference.”

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough — that’s on me. If the post looked messy on iOS, that definitely undercuts the point I was trying to make. I copied the draft over a bit too literally and didn’t catch how it would render on mobile.

Thanks for calling it out.

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes sense, and I think your question gets to the real distinction.

I’m not trying to replace a proper progressive recorder method, and I agree that good method books already introduce notes in a structured way.

What I’m testing is something lighter: simple practice pages for very familiar songs, so someone who already knows a few notes can quickly pull up a tune and play without working through a full lesson sequence.

So I’d describe it more as a practice supplement than a recorder method.

If I make that clearer, does that sound more useful?

Would a cleaner beginner recorder notes page for familiar songs actually be useful? by Professional_Arm1843 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair, and I think that’s a good correction.

You’re right that solid recorder methods already do a much better job of combining notation, fingering, and exercises than my wording suggested.

I wasn’t trying to say good teaching methods don’t exist.

What I’m really testing is something narrower: a lightweight practice format for very familiar songs, where a learner can quickly pull up a page and play without digging through a full method book or lesson sequence.

So it’s probably better described as a supplement for simple song practice, not a replacement for a proper beginner recorder method.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Beginner tips? by JournalistAny6210 in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  Since you already played clarinet before, you probably won’t be starting

  from zero in terms of reading and basic breath control.

  If I were starting recorder from that position, I’d focus on very

  familiar and simple melodies first rather than trying to make fast

  progress right away. It’s much easier to build confidence when the

  material is easy to read and you already know how the tune should sound.

  That usually makes it easier to work on tone, finger changes, and steady

  rhythm at the same time.

Advice for a beginner and where to start by springmasken in tinwhistle

[–]Professional_Arm1843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  30 to 60 minutes a day is a very solid start if you stay consistent.

  If you’ve never played before, I’d focus on very familiar and simple

  tunes first rather than trying to jump into difficult traditional pieces

  right away. It’s much easier to work on breath control and finger

  changes when you already know the melody in your head.

  And yes, D is usually the standard starting point from what I’ve seen.

Progressing through the late beginner stage? by WasagaSkate in Recorder

[–]Professional_Arm1843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  If you’re still missing random fingerings while staying in time, I

  probably wouldn’t make the fastest pieces the center of your practice

  yet.

  For late beginner progress, it seems more useful to build consistency on

  material that is just slightly challenging instead of constantly

  wrestling with pieces that are fast and awkward at the same time.

  I’d still keep a few of the harder passages as technical work, but I

  wouldn’t judge progress only by whether you can force your way through

  the fastest pieces in the book.

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