Introduction to the Feadóg On-line program

The Feadóg - or Irish Tin whistle - produce magical music from a minute source.

Whatever your take on Irish music it has to be acknowledged that the tin whistle is one of the most prolific instruments used in traditional Irish music for many generations.

Consider the simplicity of the instrument - a tin pipe with a plastic mouthpiece. Simple, inexpensive, lightweight, portable, cheap, reliable and will still work during a power-cut. There are not many musical instruments that fit this specification.

Our aim is to give students an opportunity to learn how to play this wonderful instrument. It is certainly not difficult, and our hope is that by the end of this course students will have gained the rudiments sufficiently well to allow them progress at their own pace.

The courses are designed to mimic a live class situation and feature informal video clips of the tutor playing each tune with piano accompaniment.

About the Course Designer & Tutor - James Donohoe TTCT ALCM.

James Donohoe is an established musician and music teacher from Mount Temple, Co Westmeath. He works mainly with primary school children, producing school concerts and working with school bands etc. Many of his students have performed on television and radio and several have gained all-Ireland titles. James has toured with music groups worldwide and is currently co-director of the “Sionainn” traditional arts theatre group, supported by Roscommon traditional arts forum.

James has worked on the development of the feadóg on-line teaching system with a view to making practical music classes available to all interested students, regardless of location. The feadóg on-line system has been highly acclaimed and has succeeded in winning the e–learning category in the Digital Media Awards 2005.

The teaching methods are designed to suit students of all abilities. The benefits of thirteen years teaching experience are combined to make feadóg on-line an enjoyable multimedia learning experience.