Yesterday, I was playing my whistles at my company picnic–I never miss a chance to play outdoors and I positioned myself far enough away so as to not annoy others.
Well, as I should have guessed, I attracted children, including one who really wanted to “try” my whistles. I only had my newish Dixon (I’m weirdly personal with new instruments) and my Clarke, which has a non-sanitary un-wipeable-off wooden fipple. Now, I’m no prude, but a slobbering unknown kid is not going to get to try my nice/non-washable whistles. I felt really bad saying no. I want encourage people, right?
My lesson? Carry a Meg with you if you think you will attract people. I could have given it this kid, and with no qualms whatsoever watched him blow on it, bang it on the ground, and even run off never to be seen again.
I just ordered my first C and D Megs! Just a little while ago from elderly.com! They cost me $2.80 each for a grand total of $10.55! I could have bought more for the same shipping price.
I bought a Feadóg from Mags Murray on Ebay for $6.99 including shipping a few days ago. I’m going to give it to my neighbor. She comments that she wants one every time I play mine.
I won’t let anyone but my immediate family play my whistles. I’m an RN and just can’t stand the thought of it. If I could run them through the dishwasher, maybe.
That hasn’t happened yet…I’ve only been playing since May and I don’t know if I’ll ever be session-ready. Mostly likely I’ll just play for the delight and enjoyment of my 7 and 3 year olds (who wander around the house blowing any whistle I leave within their grasp!)
I might consider buying a used Susato or something with a plastic mouthpiece that I could seriously sanitize!
I was in Saied’s in Tulsa a couple of days ago with my Mom, who was buying music books to take with her to the Philippines. I’d have like to have gotten some Megs. I needed a C whistle. They had the major Clarke models, original painted, original unpainted, and Sweetones in C and D, but not the Meg. I had to settle for a blue Sweetone (they didn’t have black or silver in stock).
On 2002-08-19 18:54, avanutria wrote:
So what happens when you go to a session and someone there has a whistle you’ve been dying to try?
Pharmacies (at least around here) sell boxes of individually-wrapped alcohol swabs. I think they’re intended primarily for diabetics to use before sticking themselves for test droplets of blood or injecting insulin , but they work nicely as little sterilizing pads for whistle mouthpieces too.
I keep a few in my fanny pack to use when other people want to try my whistles or to clean theirs after trying them myself. They’re also useful as hand-wipes (although pretty small) and unlike most (or all?) of the products intended for the purpose they don’t leave any residual perfume odor.
On 2002-08-19 23:01, JMcCYoung wrote:
Pharmacies (at least around here) sell boxes of individually-wrapped alcohol swabs.
I’m thinking more along the lines of a soak in clorox solution! Maybe soak in it a minute or two, then rinse well? I imagine you wouldn’t want to do this with one that has a wooden fipple or metal mouthpiece though.
Too much of a hassle. I’ll just avoid the whole thing. I’ll try to keep extra Megs around for folks who want to try a whistle and if I see a whistle I want to try, I’ll just buy one! I would never try someone’s expensive whistle anyway…I’d just about break it or drop it! I’m a bit of a klutz.
Kim
PS: I routinely slosh my Feadóg mouthpiece in 50/50 Listerine and water. I hope it’s ok!
