I was poking around in a music store down on Mission today, during my break at the school. I like this particular store because it specializes in acoustic/folk instruments (and music for same)…the other music stores I’ve found in the area all seem to focus on rock or band instruments. I was taking a “test drive” on a Native American Flute (nice instrument, but I’m not sure I can use something that plays a minor pentatonic scale) and happened to mention that I play the whistle (unfortunately, aside from some recorders and the Native American flutes, the only fippled instruments they have are Generations and Clarke originals). He told me they’re going to start carrying Chiefton Low Ds sometime next month. I said I thought that was great, but I wished they had a better selection of soprano whistles…and he asked me what I’d recommend! I suggested he try carrying some Sweetones (shouldn’t be hard, since he has a Clarke supplier), as they’re impossible to find around here, and possibly some Oaks and/or Dixons. I also mentioned that he might look into carrying a few higher-end instruments, if he can hook up with a maker or supplier…he does carry some nice hand-made recorders, so the idea of stocking such things isn’t foreign to him. He then asked me what I might recommend in the way of more music for the whistle (he currently has only the Bill Ochs tutorial, which is a good start), and I suggested the “Ireland’s 110 Best” books (“Best Slow Airs” and “Best Tin Whistle Tunes”), Robin Williamson’s “The Pennywhistle Book” and the Mel Bay “Complete Tin Whistle” book.
I’m really encouraged by his interest. It’s hard to find whistles hereabouts, unless you want to drive up to San Francisco and visit Lark in the Morning (there may be some sources closer by, perhaps in San Jose, but if so, I’m not aware of them). It’s also nice to find a shop owner who treats whistlers as musicians (and thus potential customers) and not as anomalies…you’d be surprised the funny looks I get when I go into most local music stores and ask about tin whistle stuff!
Just thought I’d share that. It was a fun and productive way to kill an hour, and who knows…maybe something will come of it!
Redwolf