Just curious, who here plays their homemade whistle at a session or gig?
Nope.
I’ve made a few that played OK. I also have a couple of good whistles that have character, but are a bit more challenging. My session whistle has been an aluminum Burke, which is very easy-playing and carries well. It almost never gets played at home, but nails the session situation. I’m a proponent of having a quiver to choose from.
I do!
I built a pvc pennywhistle/native american flute hybrid that plays pretty well, but I’ve never played gigs.
Me!
I do Polyproylene whistles on the Gonzato method. Mostly I play at my local Folk Club, and practice at the park, but the Folk Club get asked to do events, and I’ve been hauled along too.
I do 
I do, as well.
Feadoggie
Hey Paul and Cary… I am not sure your whistles can be considered home made since you make them professionally… though I suppose you might actually make them at home… bloody nuisance this definition of home made 
.
And Feadoggie, I have seen some pictures of your whistles… they should also be considered professional whistles… at least by the looks of them .
–
Bill
Indeed. I was baiting the issue. You see it’s the music that comes out that matters, and if you made the whistle, you get extra session cred. I showed up at the local for the first time with my third or fourth attempt in my back pocket. I approached the circle which was on a small one-step-up stage in corner a restaurant. One of the players, in a joking way said “Ach! You can’t come up here unless you have an instrument.” So I whipped out the whistle and they were all laughing and waving me up. “The whistle is in the first tier of session instruments, and you’ve made it yourself. A thousand welcomes.” and off we went.
So, don’t be bashful. Make it, play it and share the tunes! (But understand the workings of a session and play nice with others.)
Carey
Liam, thanks for the kind words. I think you’ve made the point. Many of the whistles we could call “professional” are actually made at home by individual craftsman. If I showed you the first whistle I made we could have a good laugh over it. That may have been the case with many makers. Sometimes the only thing that differentiates the DIY whistle maker from the boutique whistle maker is that the boutique maker keeps making more whistles improving the design and honing their skills until they get to something that sounds quite good, plays well and is desirable to other players. I do believe anyone can make their own whistle if they have the motivation and a little bit of skill. And if you make 'em, you gotta play 'em.
The marvelous thing about making your own whistles and taking them out to play is that you get a lot of feedback from other players and from other makers. Irish music may not be unique in that regard but there is a tradition of helping each other along in Irish music circles. And so it goes with whistle making. It’s a little fraternity of sorts. Questions get asked and get answered. Ideas are freely exchanged. Good will abounds. Sometimes a Pat O’Riordan, Michael Copeland, John Sindt or Paul Busman emerge having gotten things right. Ain’t it great? So if you make a whistle, take it out and play it. You may be amused where it leads you.
Oops! Carey hit “send” first.
Feadoggie
By one measly minute! HA!
I have to admit that I was interested in those who dabble making whistles rather than the folks who have gone pro. Should have made that clearer. Not that there is anything wrong w/ selling your creations to support the whistle habit …
Hmmmmmm…
I guess to further explain, I have no skill when it comes to building things, yet the concept of these ‘simple’ whistle plans intrigue me. The phrase ‘measure twice, cut once’ doesn’t work for me. Even after measuring multiple times I still won’t get it right. So I would classify myself as a dabbler at best. Clarifying the inquiry, is there a dabbler out there who has been brave enough to build and use their homemade whistles in sessions or gigs?
Well, that’s my point. If a person dabbles at making a whistle and they take the results of said dabbling to a session, a workshop or a gig then someone is bound to ask them, “What’s that your playing?”. You offer them a go on your whistle. Right? The reaction to your whistle, once offered, can be good or bad but you will generally get an opinion. If you take those opinions home with you and keep on dabbling eventually your whistles should gain more favorable reviews than not. That’s how it goes. When the reaction gets to, “Can you make one of these for me?” then you are probably not dabbling anymore. But it’s still a homemade whistle. Well, that is unless you can get venture capital from a session mate and off-shore production to Whatshereistan or someplace. Dabbling can lead to harder stuff for some.
And, like Carey pointed out, its all about the music in the end. Whistles are made to be played and preferrebly with other players. Most whistle makers don’t get into things thinking about it as a business. Well, that’s my experience anyway. You make whistles because you love the music and the instrument and you like sharing with the others that like the music and the instrument. So make 'em and play’em and share 'em.
Feadoggie
Understood.
As Feadoggie was pointing out, we didn’t start out as professionals, we were hackers once too. I was on only my fourth whistle when I went to my first session. And I only knew one tune! Sorta. It was a pretty weak “Dawning Of The Day”. So looking back, yes, I took my very homemade/handmade whistle out and played it proudly. And “Hey, you made that? COOL!” was the feedback about the whistle.
It was being at sessions that put this music in me, (such as it is) and that is why I take every chance I see to encourage people to get out amongst 'em. It is natural to want to be “up to snuff” before venturing out in public and exposing your skill as a player or handy-person. But 99% of the people you will meet at a session will be helpful and supportive and you will make MUCH faster progress and sound a LOT more Irish if you learn from and with others who are farther along the path.
When you are experiencing the music live I think the it soaks in thru your pores or something. The closer you are to the instruments, the more it soaks in, so do try and sit in the circle, even if it’s an outer row. You’ll likely make some good friends too.
The first time I went I only had dinner while the session was going on, and when leaving I introduced myself so they would recognize me when I cam back the next time. I broke the social ice one week, and then the next I tackled the musical ice. It worked for me. If you are thinking about it, then do it, eh?
Yes, that’s how it’s done! I am sure a lot of us started out as dabblers. I sure did.
Have you made a whistle? Are you wondering if you should then take it to a session or gig? By all means, go for it!!! Let us know what happens.
Feadoggie
Both on the same minute that time!!
A little scarey, huh?
Feadoggie
I was looking at building one as an upcoming winter project. Not many of us whistle players in this corner of Montana, so most my information on things whistle related comes from this forum. A friend has a nice workshop, so I’ve shown him a couple of the plans found on the Internet by C&P forum members. He is sort of the opposite of me, claiming he has no musical talent. He is good at building things, so putting our two heads together may produce a whistle that squeaks in tune.
Closest session is 90 miles to the east, so it really isn’t an option considering the deer and other large critters (elk, moose) that roam the roads at night. One deer hit will destroy my little Geo. I thought it would be fun to read about the experiences of others. Can y’all tell I have no life?.