Today was the beginning of the Johnny Appleseed festival here in Fort Wayne, IN. Every year I walk past Pat O’Riordan’s stand and sigh. This year my husband stopped and told me to look around. Pat was there and said unfortunately he had very little left-he had sold almost everyting two hours earlier. There on the table was a low G whistle. My husband looked at the price tag and said “Merry Christmas!” I have small hands with short fingers which makes playing a low whistle a little more challenging so Pat showed me the pipers grip and told me if I needed more help to give him a call and stop by for a lesson! I’m still in shock!
Congratulations!! Enjoy!
Jessie
Enjoy! You have a great whistle from a really nice man. I got my concert set C/D at the Johnny Appleseed festival, six years ago.Three of us left Detroit at four in the morning so we could stand in line at the gate the run like heck to Pat’s stand. We all the got the whistles we wanted. And I have played them every day since. That is why his table was empty.
So next year if you don’t order from Pat, put your sneakers on and camp overnight.
Mark
Brenda, that rules! I wish someone would buy me a whistle of that magnitude. Heck I wish someone would buy me a Clarke for that matter:) Keep working on the piper grip, and when you go back to play your D after a week or two…it’s amazing how nimble the fingers become. I have even been using the piper grip on my high D, “like tapping your fingers on the table”, as a great whistle maker put it to me. Enjoy.
I don’t use piper fingering for anything, including Low D or lower. I use the pads of my fingers. Your fingers will stretch if you let them, and (I think) you’ll get a better seal on the holes and a more pure tone.
Jessie
Brenda, how nice for you! I’m glad!