About a year ago I suddenly realised that if I was going to play an instrument the tin-whistle was probably a great choice. I loved the sound, it's a simple instrument, cheap and portable.

Well, about a year and five whistles later I'm glad I decided to enter the world of the tube with six holes.

So far I'm pretty much entirely self-taught by ear. I'm a singer and I find the two carry across into one another, so that has helped. I seem to be doing quite well - but I'm reaching the point where I'm finding my repertoire is limited and my progress is slowing. I find that airs and slower pieces come more naturally to me, and jigs and reels less so. Although that could be because I know more slower songs, hymns and the like, than faster songs - of a celtic nature that is.

I figure what I need to do now is start listening to more and more celtic music, and so that's a goal, but I was wondering if there are any other whistlers out there who might be able to pass on a few hints to a beginner who's loving it and can't wait to get better reproduce some of those wonderfully haunting and also foot-tap inducing tunes.