Hello all! My name is Sarah. Byll (on the board) is my dear old dad and we are very much alike. I am finally old enough to join this site, so I’m very excited. I got my start with whistles when I was 6 or 7, and have played sporadically every since. My first real whistle was a prototype whitecap from Mr. Hoover (which I still play today). It has an X on the mouthpiece instead of a serial number. After that, I acquired PVC versions of a Hoover D and C and an experimental thin-walled redwood D with a black mouthpiece. I am planning to start playing low whistles on a Hoover apple wood low G.
Over the years, I started cello, piano, and voice lessons. I also continued with my dancing, which I love. I inherited the musical gene from my father, and the dance gene from my mother, so everything music is a big part of my life. I am incredible busy, trying to juggle dancing, music, and school. It’s hard, but life is good. Dad says that it keeps me off the streets. I am hoping that I can get good advice and ideas on this board, so I’m very excited to join it. I hope you will accept me as one of your own as time goes on. Thanks to everyone!
Welcome Sarah! You’ll find a wealth of information here, and lots of friendly folks.
Incidentally, last year I bought a mahogany low G from Mack Hoover, and I love it. The low G (bell note) is not very strong, and it takes some breath control, but it has become a favorite. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yours. I also have a whitecap D and PVC nontunable high D from Mack. He does great work!
Welcome to the neighborhood, Tweety. Good to see you here. I’d warn you about things like whistle acquistition disorder and such but I am sure Byll has given you the low down on this place. I’ve had the pleasure to meet Byll some time ago at a performance in the area. Nice man. I enjoyed our convertations on whistles and really enjoyed the music. I believe I also bougt at least one Burke whistle from him as well. There’s not much advice that you can get here that Byll hasn’t already provided. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Thanks to everyone for the welcome! After I read this, I had whistle acquisition disorder explained to me by Dad… I have a feeling I’ll get that someday…
crookedtune- The comment that you made about the quiet bottom of the Hoover G is exactly the same thing Dad said about it. The upper register is gorgeous, though, and I really love the whistle.
The music gene, eh? I do wonder about that sometimes, whether it’s the genetics or the environment… If it’s genetics then my son is really slacking off in the music dep’t!
The music gene i don’t have, i just have sheer stubborness to work through it, hehehe. Woodwinds are the only ones that seem to give me a chance. i tried playing percussion in high school and i am such a melodic player at heart that I tried to follow what i heard…as a freaking percussionist! I don’t have to tell you, it didn’t work out…
As a percussionist I hope you did not mean that the rhythm section is not following the tune… Properly done percussion adds a wonderful lift and accent to the tune that help both follow and accentuates the melody changes and propells the tune along. Remember that without rhythm there ain’t no music… ; ) Ok I’m down off my soapbox - just have noticed some folks don’t seem to understand / appreciate the rhythm section as they should sometimes.
Welcome to C&F Tweetie - I’m glad your Dad & Mom support your artistic endeavors. Keep slugging away at it - it’s a gift you can enjoy all your life. I have tried to keep my kids in music with middle & high school orchestra and band, but only one is still at it, but at least they all got a taste of it.
lol, Deisman, no I mean i do appreciate rythm and know you can’t have music without it and I was skreweing that up, hahaha. basically if everyone else started to speed up, so would I, where i was always taught percussion guide the rythm and temp… I was following and not leading, haha
I am finally old enough to join this site, so I’m very excited. I got my start with whistles when I was 6 or 7, and have played sporadically every since. My first real whistle was a prototype whitecap from Mr. Hoover (which I still play today). It has an X on the mouthpiece instead of a serial number. After that, I acquired PVC versions of a Hoover D and C and an experimental thin-walled redwood D with a black mouthpiece. I am planning to start playing low whistles on a Hoover apple wood low G.
You’ll find a wealth of information here, and lots of friendly folks.
I don’t have to tell you, it didn’t work out…