What have your experiences been with trying to explain your WhOA to your family, friends and loved ones?
My story: My WhOA is very minor (so far), but I just received my Jerry-tweaked Sweetone in the mail today (thanks Jerry!!)ā¦my third whistle. Ever since, Iāve been trying to explain to my parents the reason for having three different whistles (which, by the way, look nearly identical)ā¦but so far they just look at me as if Iāve lost my marbles (that is to say, assuming I have any left to loseā¦). Anyone else had this problem?
Most of the people I know either donāt care or are similarly afflicted, so itās really not been an issue yet. I sent my brother some clips last year but as far as I know heās never listened!
Each whistle has itās own personality. Itās like dating. Which kind will I go out with tonight? The quiet sensitive kind, the loud brash kind, the practical and functional kind, the expensive eye candy that makes you look good, and so on and so on. Also, Iām always looking for the āHoly Grailā But seriously folks, the whistle community is one that I have grown very attached too and if buying a new āsmithsā whistle or a new design from an experienced āsmithā can afford that person the opportunity to continue making whistles, then thatās the way I can give something back. Besides, that whistlesmith might just make the āHoly Grailā whistle for someone, maybe even you! Let them jeerā¦they understand nothing!!!
ā¦my girlfriend always makes some kind of snide remark or rolls her eyes whenever she sees me pick up the whistle. Such encouragmentā¦
My Dad, however, is an avid lover of ITM and the tin whistle (seeing as how he plays it, too), so heās very supportive. But, he lives in Pennsylvania and Iām in Arizona. Looks like Iām stuck with my un-appreciative girlfriendā¦ :roll:
Ahhhh, my husband looks at me like Iām loony and says, āyou didnāt put it on the charge card did you?!ā As long as I answer no I am in the clear!
I just tell him I am still looking for the PERFECT whistle for every whistle need. He still looks at me like Iām loony, but come to think of it heās been looking at me like that for years!
I just blame it on my OCD. Half my family has it so they are all nuts and so they all understand!
Whoaā¦how do you explain. I have been playing for a while now and have built up the confidence to form an Irish bar band and play in publicā¦My family thinks I have blown a swithā¦Maybe they are rightā¦but I am going to go with it until there isnāt anymore sparkā¦
Everyone has their quirks. I buy instruments I donāt have the time to play and my mom buys pre-viewed videos from Blockbuster. She wonders why I want another whistle and I wonder why I canāt get her to switch to DVDās.
It does get a little difficult trying to explain the subtle differences in a whistle when they all look the same. To the untrained eye. My last whistle was a Jerry Freeman . . . I think I got the āanother whistle?ā responce. Itās OK, I deserve it. Maybe we should all wear T-Shirts with that phrase printed on the back, kinda like the āGot Milk?ā slogan.
But it could be worse. I could have a bad case of GAS.
The more whistles you have, the more fun you have.
I had a practice habit when I started a few months ago, that helped me to practice more. I would play the pieces I knew over and over, but switch whistles constantly. I got used to adapting to different breathing, and it kept me from getting worn out on the same tunes.
I think I remember a post a while back about tinwhistles and nice places to keep them.
Put one or several in several locations (commercials are great times for learning TV if you watch that stuff nowadays) traffic stops, meet a strange whistler (arenāt we all?).
Just no knee driving please..
PS, I live alone in an apartment complex, but I never have had a neighbor complain, even when I practice my pipes.
Robyn,
Explain that its a lot less expensive than one of thier hobbies or collections. For example, a lot of dads tend to buy tools, lots of tools, most of which they seldom if ever use. Another common family collection is Cook books. āWhy buy another cook book when you havenāt even tried all the recipeās of the books you have?ā.
For parents with a sense of humor, you could point out that you are being kind to them. You are not collecting whiskey bottles.
The best explanation, is to take the time to enjoy playing, and let them see the joy you find there.
Robyn, at 3 whistles, you are just getting started. I just glanced at my desk - 6 whistles are in my āpen holderā, a flute and a fife are on the desktop (current projects), my favorite whistles (12 or so) are in cases close by, and one in the mail. AND I have WhOA lite, by C&F standards. Enjoy the obsession!
~Judy
Hmmmm - I donāt have a Jerry-tweaked whistle ā¦ yet ā¦ must ā¦ not ā¦ must ā¦ :roll:
My dear old Aunt Concepta was fond of saying that a bad craftsman blames his tools,
so i suppose this oft heard remark as influenced my belief that there is no such thing as a perfect whistle only the ability to play a tune perfectly on any whistle.
I pray that this posting will not be considered Blasphemous my those amongst us who do suffer from WhOA.
My wife was incredulous about my small collection of cheap whistles until I showed her the pic of Jesseās instrument collection. Now she doesnāt even blink when I announce my intention to buy another. Besides, she figures that playing whistle keeps me from sulking around the house because I canāt play guitar anymore. However, I think she wishes I wouldnāt play while we are watching Law and Order on TV.
Mike
Jessie had done many of us a great service by collecting so many instrumentsā¦showing my wife the picture of Jesseās collection certainly put my few instruments into perspective!
Thanks Jessie!
BTW - I am not criticizing your collection Jessie - it has many fine instruments Iād dearly love to have myself. Feel free at ANY time to send me that Delrin Olwell if you get bored with itā¦
Buying whistles to play music on is NOT a problem as long as you are not spending the rent money to do it. I am sure it is obvious, but there are dozens of other things one can do with their time of money that would be much less desirable:
Alcohol
Drugs
Prostitutes
Pornography
Gambling
These are just a couple I could come up with on the spur, but I think you get my drift.
But seriously folks, the whistle community is one that I have grown very attached too and if buying a new āsmithsā whistle or a new design from an experienced āsmithā can afford that person the opportunity to continue making whistles, then thatās the way I can give something back. Besides, that whistlesmith might just make the āHoly Grailā whistle for someone, maybe even you! 
Let them jeerā¦they understand nothing!!! 
Such encouragmentā¦
But itās still amusing to try to explain the concept to themā¦
