Wow…close but not quite. I think they’re both closely related with 9-holes + 1 (for the thumb octave change). Here’s a pic of the instrument that started it all for me and without it I wouldn’t even be attempting to play my whistle today.
EDIT - ummmm, seems my math isn’t what it used to be… what I meant to say was, 7 holes + 1 for the octave. sheeesh
Would rather go whistling where there is no path…and leave a trail.
[ This Message was edited by: 2nd Wind on 2003-02-13 15:26 ]
I come from a very musical family. My dad plays the washboard and my mom plays the autoharp, so it was only natural I learn to play music as well. Naturally, my first instruments were washboard and autoharp as well, since the were already in the house and my parents played them well. I really took to the washboard and became quite proficient at it, but I disliked the autoharp because it was too confusing to figure out what notes were what.
When I was ten my parents told me that it was time for me to choose my own instrument, so they took me to the local music store and let me try out all sorts of instruments. The one that really struck my fancy was the theremin, which the were more than happy to buy me. From that point on I practiced the theramin every day and became very skilled on it. I was quite fortunate to have the opportunity to join a local theramin band at my junior high and was often featured as a soloist.
When I entered high school my interest in classical music waned while my interest in tuvan throat singing blossomed. Much to my parent’s dismay I gave up the theramin alltogether and focused my energy on the singing. Once they figured out that I was really serious about the throat singing they decided to surprise me with a 3 week trip to Tuva to study with the great master singer Chandanmaa Torten-ool. The trip was such a success that I returned to study with him every summer afterwards. Sadly, Master Torten-ool died in a freak shaving accident the summer before I went into college. My grief was so overwhelming that I could not sing any longer. After several months of no music, I was given a penny-whistle as a gift and found that it was the ideal instrument with which to express my grief and pain at having lost Master Torten-ool. The rest is history.
Best,
Chris
I play tuba. I don’t read treble clef so don’t use sheet music on Pennywhistle.
I have played many different instruments. I started on the clarinet in fifth grade, it didn’t last long only a year. Then I played piano for two years, honestly I found it boring. I quit piano for the piccolo, which I still play. I found that you pretty much had to play flute in order to play piccolo so I started flute. I recently took up the irish flute and whistle, and am really having a good time playing them.
On 2002-12-03 14:46, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
[snip] The one that really struck my fancy was the theremin, which the were more than happy to buy me. [snip]
Best,
Chris
Terrific! What an education this board is–I had never before encountered “theremin.” I went off to Google for enlightenment. Thanks!
M
Terrific! What an education this board is–I had never before encountered “theremin.” I went off to Google for enlightenment. Thanks!
M
Yes! The theramin is a marvelous instrument! I’m glad I could introduce you to it.
Best,
Chris
On 2002-12-03 16:49, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
Yes! The theramin is a marvelous instrument! I’m glad I could introduce you to it.
Best,
Chris
The Theramin was used in an early 1950s science fiction movie called The Day the Earth Stood Still. Was that you playing, Chris?
Steve
Started “trying” to learn to play clarinet in 4th grade, kept at it thru 7th, took up saxophone & “tried” to play it through 10th grade. Never could learn to count properly.
Sang in adult choir for about 7-8 years. Always tried to sit next to Bill Magee, because he could count and could look at a note and sing it.
Currently take whistle lessons about once every 2 weeks. Still can’t count worth a toot. Have to use a metronome in figuring out a new tune.
I guess it would be easier if I had some talent.
I started out playing recorder in grade school and while I took to it pretty quickly didn’t pursue it after grade school.
In middle and high school I played sax…first alto and later baritone in concert, marching, and finally jazz (my favorite for sax) band.
I had a long break (6 years or so) where I wasn’t really playing any instruments and then I discovered the whistle and trad. Irish music.
I still don’t understand why they don’t use whistle as a first instrument for teaching children in grade school.
I was recently a “Community Visitor” at my daughter’s 1st/2nd grade class. I told them about whistles, played a few tunes, and donated 4 whistle (2 Sweetones, 2 Generations) to her class for kids to check-out and take home. I also let them borrow one of my Mary Bergin CD’s which my daughter says gets daily play in her class.
-brett
I was a child prodigy. I was playing the uilleann pipes with the Berlin Symphony at 3 years of age. I played Bodhran with the Stones on their 82 world tour. That’s the Flintstones BTW, not the other “Stones”. I could go on and on…
I started classical flute when I was 9- learned in school and did the band thing- started taking private lessons when I was 11. In high school I competed in the solo and duet divisions and with the flute choir.
when I was about 14 I took up saxophone and when my jaw was broken I learned xylophone to keep myself busy. Some drummers took pity on me and taught me how to play it. Have played classical flute ever since but have ceased competing-took lessons until I was 18. I now have played for various church groups and musical events while at the Divinity school. So I read music pretty well and took a few classes when I was in college.
I started the tin whistle this year (been taking lessons) and hope to learn Irish flute. I wanted something that was fun and social and different. My music keeps me sane. I have cheapo whistles lying around my room and I play them whenever I feel like I cannot take the papers anymore…
-Angela
On 2002-12-03 16:31, mvhplank wrote:
Terrific! What an education this board is–I had never before encountered “theremin.” I went off to Google for enlightenment. Thanks!M
And to think, I decided not to talk about my childhood exposure to Benjamin Franklin’s invention, the Glass Armonica. 
The weird and wonderful thing about this whistle board is not that theremins are mentioned in this thread, but that they have actually come up for discussion on quite a few occasions before this.
I think that is one of the coolest things about Irish Trad… that people can come from such a variety of musical backgrounds and enjoy this music.
Well, music is basically what I do all the time, just about every second of the day, and that’s the way it’s been for a long time… I started piano in first grade and got REALLY hooked on it in about 7th grade. Decided to get serious and really started practicing, performing, etc. I also learned some flute during that time. Then, I don’t know what happened… I went to a Michael Card “Starkindler” Concert and thought the instruments were cool… I had always wanted to play bagpipes, too… so Mom thought the cheapest (and maybe safest) option would be to buy a penny whistle to fool around with. I was immediately hooked!! And then Dad and I, for some strange reason, decided to build a mountain dulcimer for shop class one year (I was homeschooled). And I seriously don’t know what happened, it just snowballed from there… more whistles, and bagpipes, and an accordian, concertina, bodhran, mandolin, more whistles, hammered dulcimer, more whistles… etc, etc! We started going to Celtic festivals and the more I learned and saw, the more I loved it!! Then I graduated from high school and decided to go for a degree in music. =) So currecntly I am facing finals and juries, as a result (why am I doing this again??). I am majoring in piano, and my goal is to someday teach elementary general music… I hope to use my wacky instruments in my teaching, cuz little kids are fascinated with them! Anyways, I love classical music and Irish trad both… I find a different kind of fulfillment in each of them, and it’s cool to see how ideas from one genre can be brought into another…
On 2002-12-03 18:55, E = Fb wrote:
I was a child prodigy. I was playing the uilleann pipes with the Berlin Symphony at 3 years of age. I played Bodhran with the Stones on their 82 world tour. That’s the Flintstones BTW, not the other “Stones”. I could go on and on…
Yeah right! Do you really expect us to believe this? I bet you made this whole thing up.
Chris
I just never
imagined that the theremin had so much success you could buy them in real stores, or play them in Theremin bands 
er, therminal bands ?
BTW, Chris, with EL34’s (the real Russian tubes!) do you get a
tenorsky or baryshnitone theremin ?
[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-12-04 13:05 ]
On 2002-12-04 12:40, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
On 2002-12-03 18:55, E = Fb wrote:
I was a child prodigy. I was playing the uilleann pipes with the Berlin Symphony at 3 years of age. I played Bodhran with the Stones on their 82 world tour. That’s the Flintstones BTW, not the other “Stones”. I could go on and on…Yeah right! Do you really expect us to believe this? I bet you made this whole thing up.
Chris
Well, hold on a minute–I don’t care so much whether his story is true, so long as it’s interesting.
M
My dad played the whistle (long since fallen by the wayside for the concertina) so he started me off aged 5. Started classical violin aged 6 (really keen, as my sister had been playing a couple of years). Started classical flute lessons aged 11, but decided the approach wasn’t for me and so have taught myself since then. Started viola aged 12, which I now play in various orchestras. All along kept up the whistle and trad side. I’m now studing for Alevel music amongst others, and next year I’m going to uni to do either music & maths, just music or folk& traditional music, I haven’t decided yet. So I suppose I’m classically trained in a way, but I did start with the whistle.
Jo
I had “formal” piano lessons for eight years (8 untill 16) from a teacher who ignored teaching classical piano, insisting I choose songs I wanted to learn and, after he’d write down the basic melody, it was up to me to work out the arrangements.
Played “combo” organ ( a Farfisa mini-combo organ) in Garage" bands (actually we practiced in group members parents’ living rooms) from 16 to 20.
The first guitar player I played with taught me some basic guitar and I still play guitar on occasion.
And then about 4 years ago I stumbled upon C&F, and life for me has never been the same!!! 
~Larry
On 2002-12-06 05:55, madguy wrote:
[snip] Played “combo” organ ( a Farfisa mini-combo organ) in Garage" bands (actually we practiced in group members parents’ living rooms) from 16 to 20. [snip]~Larry
Farfisa?! A year or two ago I bought a Farfisa “Fast 4” plus a HUGE Peevy amp from my local “used goods” dealer, in spite of the fact that I’ve never been a keyboard player. It was the amp I was lusting after, and it was a package deal.
It was allegedly played in Baltimore bars and has a cigarette burn on the treble end that just adds character–the thing still works.
Anytime a keyboard player comes over, I hook the thing up to hear what they can do on it. It may yet inspire me to learn a little technique myself.
M