Hello all! This is my first post to the Chiff & Fipple. It just amazes me that no matter what my interests are, I can always find a forum that encourages my lack of self control and obsessive behavior.
With the passing of St. Patty’s Day and my quest for the ultimate Irish Drinking Song Playlist on my iPod. I thought I would like to learn to play the Irish Whistle, it is my nature to do an intensive investigation into everything that interest me. Naturally, I went online to do my research. I found several whistles in the $10-$30 dollar range and thought to myself, “How good can these be? They must be toys!” “I need a real instrument to learn how to play.” I decided on a Burke DBSBT- D Brass Session Whistle. The reasons for this decision were, quality, ease of play and they were advertised as “quiet”. (I don’t want to bother my wife and kids with my bad playing)
I have received my whistle and am amazed at how little breath it takes to make a sound. I’m very impressed with its quality and workmanship.
Now for my “problem”. I have an obsessive personality, once I have something in my head; no-one can shake it out. I have had the same experiences with (Guitars, Banjos, Japanese Bamboo Flutes, Radio Control Helicopters, Long Range Precession Rifles, Vintage Hi Fidelity Stereo Components, FJ Cruisers, Large Scale Trains, Telescopes and more!) This is a huge problem, once I decide which item I have to have I will scrimp and save until I get it. Once I do get the item I will play with it until the magic wears off and then I put it away then occasionally I will take it out and tinker with it.
Does anyone else have this problem or am I alone here. Should I seek professional help? Can anyone recommend a good book on how to play the Penny Whistle?
If any of those $10 - $30 whistles were Clarkes, Generations, or Feadogs, they most certainly weren’t toys. They might need a little tweaking, but they can be damn fine instruments.
By choosing the pennywhistle, I think you’re cured. It will demand far less of your wallet and the magic never wears off.
To cement the treatment - get into ITM (Irish Trad Music) as quickly as possible. This will ensure a lifetime of continuous improvement and engagement. Go for the comprehensive books such as Geraldine Cotter, Grey Larsen. Mad for Trad etc.
Well it could be a problem always bouncing from one activity to the next all the time. If you keep doing that then you’ll never be really great at one thing you’ll just have mediocre knowledge or skill about 1,000 things. Which I guess isn’t a bad thing but it’s definately hard to concentrate on one thing if you got 50 others to keep you busy too.
Search around the web for some good sites about beginner lessons. And although I hear Burke’s are excellent for beginners, that doesn’t mean the 10$ whistles are crap. Besides why would a beginner want to shell out over 100 dollars on something that they might not stick with? Especially when you know you’ve got a history of hobby ADD.
emmm… I believe that whistles of 10 and 30 dollars is but that good, they are not toys, in fact the majority has of that type of whistles, depends on the player.
In addition I suppose that you have WhoA, the majority has it this way, greetings!
I’m expecting the only reason Mr Laban hasn’t replied to this post is that he’s attempting to drive nails into his head to relieve the pain. So, to help him out…
Never think of the 10-30 dollar whistles as toys. The masters used them, we all own a few and most of us can make them play swimmingly. Some of us never use anything but (I admit to dabbling into all sorts of whistles myself, but my 8 dollar at the time Oak brand whistle is still among the best sounding ones I own)
That said, welcome to the gang. Don’t think for a minute you will be able to resist the temptations of playing your whistle. They are just too addictive. Just wait until you discover LOW WHISTLES…MUHAHAHAHAHA
Thanks for all of your replies this is a great site! The comment about the $10-$30 whistles was simply an example to illustrate my “sickness”. I just bought a Clarke yesterday!
Thanks again, I’m looking forward to many more post!
I’ve only been playing now for two weeks, but I can second Bill Ochs. I bought the Clarke Tin Whistle Guide, and it seems to work pretty well for me. It comes with a CD as well which helps a lot with learning how the song should actually sound.
I have a Clarke whistle as well, I would like to buy something nicer in the future, but the cool thing with these is it’s easy for me to keep one in my car so if I get the urge to play anywhere I’ve almost always got it with me. Not to mention if it gets lost, stolen, or broken, I’m only out $10.
Gary, so let me ask you a question. Would you enjoy eating meat loaf and mashed potatoes at every dinner for the rest of your life?
We’re all different. Some of us have lifelong interests. Some of us are always trying something new. You and I fall into the third camp, one or a few intense interests for an intermediate period of time. Mine were accordion (parentally inflicted), auto mechanics, audio equipment, guitar, competitive tennis, marathoning, golf, shortwave listening, amateur radio, 10-meter air pistol, now ITM and whistle. When it gets to the point you’re neglecting your family or job, then it’s time to worry. Until then, just have fun, whether it be for a few weeks or many years. And when it’s time to move on, move on with pleasant memories.
Collecting whistles is easy, collecting tunes on the other hand…
They take up little room, heck sometime you are dusting out the old attic in your head and find a tune you didn’t know you had. The first ones seem so expensive in time, practice, and whatever else, but the others become less and less expensive to the point that they are almost free…
Except for that one tune, that one beautiful tune that you never seem to do justice. The one that never gets easier but harder as your skills improve and you expect more of yourself trying to do it right.
