Hey, has anyone got a compliment they were not sure about. Well last week I was approached after our church service by a visiting fellow and his wife. I was asked what instrument I played - was it a piccolo? When I informed him that it was a penny whistle, he said what a lovely contrast it was (I puffed up a little) to have such a big guy playing such a small instrument (I quickly puffed down a little). He was not refering to my height as I am rather short. I chuckled and said that I have a more appropriate whistle for my size stashed away, and would try and use it more frequently. 
The thing is that I really like my clark original. Perhaps I can house it inside my low D when I play it.
Does size really matter?
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Fill His house with gladness.”
Under different circumstances, you might have told him, "My instrument may be small, but it’s always stiff, and I know how to use it. 
"
Is whistle envy a sin? 
Funniest thing I’ve heard all day!!!
Well, I guess if this fellow is visiting he will not be around for long. I think his remark is quite rude myself. You are never to make personal comments of that sort, it just isn’t done. He needs to see Miss Manners. I think he thought he was being very clever or something. I like what notus said and if the guy says something again, I would definitely have that line ready. Even if it is outside church—I’m sure the Lord would understand.
You could get a Delrin Flute and if he comments on size again you could club him with it. 
No need for getting upset - I did’nt. He was not the smallest of people himself and he did compliment me on my playing after his initial observation. I just thought it was really funny and was not offended - I guess you had to be there Cynth. He actually did have a point, maybe not the most diplomatic but then as Ninjaaron intimated in another post - he was American (this is a joke!)
Well, okay, if you weren’t offended then I won’t be offended on your behalf I guess . I still don’t see that he was making any dang point that needed to be made, but if he is on the bigger side too then at least he is one of us, so to speak. 
There are some pepole that think they should banter before a compliment. They can be ignored.
I can actually relate to the size contrast you mention earlier. I have large mirrors in my music room and sometimes when I am playing whistle, it strikes me as very peculiar looking that such a big guy is playing such a tiny instrument. My principal is trombone so I am used to an instrument that is over a foot across at its widest and stands belly high when it is resting on the floor. Sometimes it just makes me say about my whistle, whoa… its so little.
In an equally funny contrast, in high school we had an overabundance of clarinet players in the marching band and the typically light low brass section. A girl named Jenny, barely 5’ and maybe 90 lbs said she’d like to try to help by taking up sousaphone. She buried the band! What a sound she put out! Truly striking. She liked it so much that she dropped the clarinet and played concert tuba for the regular season. It was here that striking went to funny. Being so slight (and short) her feet didn’t really touch the ground unless she sat on the edge of a chair, but because she was playing tuba, she didn’t really have that option. She would have to rest the tuba on the chair between her knees. So picture if you will a full sized tuba with two willowy arms only halfway wrapped around it, a pair of dangling legs hung over the sides of a char, and a shock of blond hair and a pair of eyes peeking out from around the side in an effort to watch the conductor. The bell was at least 15-18 above her head. Really cute… really funny.
That does sound really sweet!
I just got one of these compiments and it reminded me of this thread here is the story:
So I am eating dinner at a restuarant and an elderly man walks up to me and coments on my hair by saying I have nice wavy hair but then I get some body to cut it all off (I have a mohawk for all that do not know) it immediatly reminded me of this thread.
On the matter of Tubas, I once reshaped a tuba mouthpiece so the eeny-weeny player could breathe. That Dennis Wyck mouthpiece could not be used by her without completely sealing her nose.
Ha ha I have received this exact same comment several times after concerts and church services. No one ever means any harm by it and I suppose it does look pretty silly to see a man with above average height and width playing such a small instrument.