I’m realy new to this whole whistle thing. Any words of wisdom?
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have fun with it. There’s no greater joy than to just play your heart out.
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Practice, practice, practice (see above…)
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
- Helen Keller
How was that?
Susan
Listen to a lot of good music a lot. Try to imitate it, but slowly. Focus on rhythm, not fancy stuff.
Enjoy
Tony
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
Listening is just as important as practicing…
Music is eternity, so keep it melodic. - Dominick Bianco
When you make music you are acting as a philosopher. You can either do that consciously or you can do it unconsciously, but you’re doing it.
- John Cage
time is the musicians’ canvas - cruzbeatz
Music is the language that can only be heard when you get your own thoughts out of the way. - Danielle Egnew
Silence is very imporant. The silence between the notes are as important as the notes themselves. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
It’s, “What are you saying with your instrument? What is being communicated in this song?” - The Edge, U2
There’s nothing worse than a brilliant beginning. - Pablo Picasso
Give thanks to God, however you understand Him, for your music successes. After all, it’s his language you’re cashing in on. - Danielle Egnew
Wow, Gary, we should have asked you a long time ago!
“It’s either me or that wallpaper: One of us has got to go.” — Oscar Wilde, on his deathbed.
More deep wisdom for new whistlers:
“When you get to the end of all the light you know and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you
will be taught how to fly.”
~ Edward Teller
Don’t anthropomorphize musical instruments. They don’t like it.
S.
Arlington, Va.
Keep dry and out of the way of children.
(no, wait, that’s matches … or is it?)
Ignore us (kidding, well sort of). Get a cd of old-timers from Ireland and get the feel.
Check out Dazed in LA’s Annex or Matrix or whatever he calls in and read read read. Many questions will be answered.
But Brother Steve is how you will learn the peculiar techniques of Irish whistlin.. Way better than books. He is a great teacher who has poured a lot of love and effort into RELATING to the person who takes up the whistle and finding things that work.
Dablabla. Not just a novelty song, but a learning technique.
It is impossible to play by ear. You can’t cover more than 3 holes at a time and the mouthpiece can’t reach your lips. 
Okay, my real advice is, don’t drool too much, and have fun.
Don’t run with scissors.
Get a whistle or recorder teacher to teach you the basics of breath control and fingering techniques - it’ll pay many dividends later on.
And have fun!
recorder! gasp 
Echo, above all have fun with it…and expect a few squeeks!
I agree with all that has been said in this thread. Now for a question of my own. What is the best way to learn? Here on the website of find a teacher?
Welcome to the wonderful world of whistles, ColoIceClmbr!
Wow! That gives a new meaning to WWW. I wonder if the crystal people planned that? But, I digress…
The Whistle shop has a nice online whistle tutorial at http://www.thewhistleshop.com/beginners/tutor/tutor.htm
I learned to play from a book and CD that came with with my first Feadog whistle. (The world’s finest economical whistle.) There are also many new whistler links on the Whistle Annex http://www.geocities.com/whistleannex/index.html
Good luck & happy tootin!
Gary - really a guitar playing whistler wannabe
This thing is such an overwhelming addiction. I marvel at what good thing I must have done to earn me the privilege of stumbling into this place!
Thank you Gary, for that great first set of comments.
This wins the award for the best introductory thread!
Welcome to all you new whistlers.
edit: Oh yeah, I forgot my words of wisdom. Play nice and have fun.
[ This Message was edited by: Blackbird on 2002-07-17 17:41 ]