The 30-day tin whistle challenge
One short email a day, from your first three notes to a full Irish dance tune with cuts, taps and a first roll. Ten to fifteen minutes of playing, and Play Mode to tell you how it went.
- A lesson you can read in three minutes
- A tune or exercise on the site, with Play Mode to score you
- One small task for today, so you know when you're done
How it works
- 01
Sign up and confirm
One click in the confirm email books your place. No account needed.
- 02
One email a day
A short lesson, one tune or exercise on the site, and a task for today. About ten minutes of playing.
- 03
Play it in Play Mode
Your whistle is the controller: Play Mode listens through your microphone and scores every note, at any tempo.
The 30 days
Each week builds on the one before. By day 17 you play a whole Irish dance tune, and by day 26 your first roll.
First notes
- 01Three notes and a tuneHot Cross Buns
- 02The bottom hand and low D
- 03The whole scale
- 04How to read the tabsJingle Bells
- 05Tonguing
- 06A steadier sound
- 07Week one, played throughJingle Bells
The high notes
- 08High DBeidh Aonach Amárach
- 09Jumping octaves cleanly
- 10Where to breatheThe Rose of Aranmore
- 11Keeping timeThe Rose of Aranmore
- 12Higher stillRed Is the Rose
- 13Playing a songRed Is the Rose
- 14Hear yourselfRed Is the Rose
Your first full tune
- 15How dance tunes are builtEgan's Polka
- 16The polka bounceEgan's Polka
- 17Your first full tuneEgan's Polka
- 18Play it from memoryEgan's Polka
- 19C naturalLord of the Dance
- 20JigsGarryowen
- 21Your first setGarryowen
Simple ornaments
- 22Cuts
- 23Cuts in a tuneJingle Bells
- 24Taps
- 25SlidesRed Is the Rose
- 26Your first rollHappy Birthday
- 27Learn a tune on your ownAn Dreoilín (The Wren Song)
- 28Playing with othersEgan's Polka
Questions
What do I need?
A D whistle. It's the most common key, and nearly every beginner whistle is one. A cheap one is fine. Headphones help with Play Mode, but you don't need them.
I've never played an instrument. Is this for me?
Yes. Day 1 starts with how to hold the whistle. You don't need to read music: the tabs show which holes to cover.
What if I miss a day?
Nothing breaks. The lessons keep coming one a day, so catch up at your own pace. Or stop the challenge with one click and start again from Day 1 whenever you like.
Is it really free?
Yes. You also join the weekly Tin Whistle Tab email: a new tab and a practice tip, about once a week. Unsubscribe from any email with one click.
When do the emails arrive?
Once a day, early afternoon in Europe and morning in the Americas. Day 1 comes the day after you confirm, or on January 1 if you start with the New Year group.