A musician who plays with the longest-running Celtic band in Vancouver will lead a workshop next week on the penny whistle.
Michelle Carlisle of Blackthorn will teach the instrument - in one hour - on Sunday at Coquitlam's Place des Arts to two sets of groups: youth (aged eight to 15) and participants over 16.
Students will learn fingerings, Irish melodies as well as advanced techniques such as ornamentation.
Basic musical training is recommended.
Carlisle said she taught the penny whistle to a group in White Rock in March to coincide with St. Patrick's Day celebrations and the classes were a hit.
Fellow Triskelion musicians Rosie Carver and Rebecca Blair, both of whom are on the Place des Arts' faculty, recommended Carlisle continue her series in Coquitlam.
"A lot of people have an interest in Celtic music," said Carlisle, a North Delta resident. "They may have an eastern Canadian or British background or just a real love for Celtic music that has been made popular in Canada by the Rankin family, Loreena McKennitt and Ashley MacIsaac."
The penny whistle is a good woodwind instrument to learn as it's relatively easy to play and is affordable, she said.
Still, Carlisle stressed the penny whistle is different from the recorder: the latter has eight holes, two of which are double, and you can get chromatic notes versus the penny whistle, which has six holes. The cost for the Oct. 6 workshop is $33.75.
To sign up, call Place des Arts at 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca. Meanwhile, Blackthorn will perform at the Maillardville facility on Jan. 18, 2014, for the annual Robbie Burns dinner and concert.
