Hi all–I just started playing the whistle about two months ago and I already have four of them. Needless to say, I LOVE this instrument, and find I want to practice at all times, which means almost EVERYWHERE. A question of ettiquete though–is it bad form to play in public if you are not very good yet? Like, say, at bus stops or parks? I don’t want to feel like I am annoying passers-by. When I practice in public, I play songs (mostly medieval tunes), not scales or such. I’m just wondering if any of you can comment on whether, in general, the public tends to like this type of incidental music or if it bothers them. Any thoughts?
Good for you! I’m too gutless to play in public.
The tinwhistle isn’t very popular where I live but I did see a couple of young ladies playing in park last summer - they drew quite a crowd in only a few minutes (mostly moms and dads playing with their kids in the park). The young ladies (aged about 16 or 17) weren’t very good and the tunes they were playing were largely simple English and American tunes with no ornamentation at all. Yet, as far as I could see, the folks around them were quite thrilled 
Apparently, Deadwood SD is another story 
Perhaps it depends on where you live? In some places any music is considered to add to the culture whereas in others it is seen as an annoyance.
In any case, common courtesy goes along way. A simple, “Is my music bothering you?” whilst playing at a bus stop will probably get you a response. Best of luck
Welcome, Kar! I was about to say that you would probably be well treated by anyone when you play in public, with the exception of Deadwood, but Gary beat me to THAT punchline. If you would like to attempt to get arrested and make a stand for your civil liberties, see the link off the main website for the NWA tee shirts, and join the whistlers who may take a little road trip to the Badlands to support Anna Martinez, and her rights!
I spend a lot of time sitting outside one or the other of our two Safeways stores, waiting for the “Dial-A-Ride” van that passes for our local bus service, and their drivers apparently can’t read clocks. The last time I was sitting outside the store, a policeman went in and, remembering Deadwood, I asked him if there was an ordinance in Globe about playing in the street. He said “Nope, no ordinance.” So I asked the store manager if he would mind if I played while I was waiting, and he said, “ok, so long as there are no complaints.” So I had my trusty little whistle in my backback, played it for a bit, and there were no complaints. People in this town are going to learn what a whistle looks like, at least, and I get a couple hours’ extra practice time.
So, I say: Go For IT!!!
P.S. You’ve been playing for two months and you only have FOUR whistles?!? I’ve been playing almost three months and already have 9! I think we beginners have the worst cases of WhOA.
[Edited by Kendra to add the PS]
But
I’m just a beginner, so what do I
know…
[ This Message was edited by: Kendra on 2002-05-15 23:31 ]
Hi Kar:
As I see you live nearby I will relate my story. When I first was starting to play whistle from tunebooks, I took the whistle to Muir Beach (the CLOTHED part) on a summer day. When my boys were younger and I worked less, I spent most of the few hot days we have in the summer over there without other adult company so I was always looking for something to do and sun, sand and water are bad for guitar, which is my first instrument.
Anyway, on that day I was super self-conscious and tried to sort of keep good distance from others.
I pulled out the tunebook and started in on Haste to the Wedding and Lord Inchiquin and so forth. A man came up after a while and said, “You really made my day. It’s beautiful to hear that instrument on a nice day at the beach. What is it, anyway?” I just had to include that part for all of you. A lot of people simply do not know what a tinwhistle is, proving the work that we must yet do in C&F land.
Now I am STILL really shy about pulling out the thing but that one time I did play not onstage (for my folk group), this was the reaction. It’s really good for you to do uncomfortable things like this and wonderful things may result. It’s easy for me to say but still hard to live it…
So just do it. You’re learning and screw em if they can’t appreciate a live human expressing themself instead of canned music out of a box.
To me, a musical downside of being part of the productive and victorious American culture is that we inherited the English inclination to not go down the street singing when we feel like it, unlike the Celto-Iberians, who whistle, sing and dance at just about any chance they can (before you turn on the flamejets at this prosaic characterization consider the sheer number of tunes an Irish or Spanish person “just knows” compared to many Americans). We’re too macho or something.
Best wishes and see you at the beach,
Weekenders
[ This Message was edited by: The Weekenders on 2002-05-16 01:13 ]
Kar,
although 2 months of whistling will have you in better shape than say,2 months of fiddling I feel it is best for everyone and yourself to be patient and hold off until you are certain you are ready for this.Any musical instrument can take years to get to a performance level and going public too soon is tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot. peace, Mike
Hello from a new UK member! I just think it’s such a shame that cars, shops, pubs etc. can blast loud music out into the street and that everywhere seems to have annoying muzac playing, and yet people somehow have a problem with someone playing, for free, relatively quietly in public.
I’ve observed what might be a 20% rule as applied to musicianship generally.
As a beginner I’m maybe 20% better than someone with no music at all. To get to the 100% standard of a professional player takes years, but I can get to 20%, 30%, even 50% quite quickly with sufficient frequent practise.
But to someone with no music in them at all (i.e. they have not attempted to play any instrument) 20% from their viewpoint is actually 100% better than they are!
I think if you’re happy playing in public, the public are generally happy to hear you. I’ve heard a few buskers in London I could run rings round, and they still get coin.
You need to listen to good playing, and practise to emulate it, so play anywhere and everywhere, it can only improve your ability.
Remember also: Practise makes Permanent. If you’re learning tunes wrong, they’ll get hardwired wrong. Whatever kind of tunes you’re playing, better to play them slow and right than fast and wrong. Speed will come with time.
Definitely GO for it!! I play in parks, etc frequently, and the reaction from passersby is terrific. It’s a wonderful surprise to come upon LIVE music, however humble it may be, rather than the usual blaring boom boxes. Many people have never heard a whistle, and want to know more about our simple flute. Spread the word!
When I first started whistling (and to this day) I’d carry a whistle with me everywhere and just play wherever I happened to be. If my wife wanted to go to the bookstore, I’d wait outside for her practicing my whistle. Just wherever I am at the moment.
Occasionally, someone would pass by doing that ‘look straight ahead, and don’t make eye contact’ thing. Maybe they thought I was busking and going to ask for money..or maybe I just stank! But generally, folks would smile, or nod, or stop for a listen. Though I wasn’t ever busking, I did learn that if someone tries to give you money, they’ll get really offended if you don’t take it. I once got a big compliment at a gas station..a young woman came around from filling her car and listned to me play Arran Boat a bit, watching my hands…after a while, she said “you know, if you weren’t married, you’d have a new girlfriend right now!”, blushed and hurried off (true story!). You never know what kind of reaction you’ll get.
On the other hand, I probably wouldn’t play my whistle if I were alone in a bad neighborhood…might attract the wrong sort of crowd.
Greg
Wow, now I might give the public playing thing a try! And yes, y’all are right about the live music thing. I know I love hearing a simple guitar, whistle, or whatever instrument, and a voice, even if not perfect or technically advanced.
Fortunately, it seems that most places are not like the Twilight Zone of Deadwood, SD.
Go for it! If you have the confidence to play an instrument in public, you should do so. You can tell if someone is bothered by it and being a whistler, you know how to be polite.
I read somewhere the following:
If you can make noise, you’re a musician.
If you make noise and you enjoy it, you’re a good musician.
If you make noise and someone else enjoys it, you’re a GREAT musician.
I’ve only been playing whistle for 3 weeks (I have 4 now) but have 12 tunes under my belt. I play guitar, professionally, for large audiences. But the whistle is easy to pack to the park, play at freeway offramps, bus stops, etc. When I retire, I’m gonna dress up in my hole-y (holy?) clothes, pack a whistle, and earn a REAL living on street corners! LOL! I know pro sax players who make ~$500 a day doing this!
Good whistling wishes to you,
Gary
Too add to the chorus, I’ve been playing in public since my whistling stopped being painful to listen to (i.e., I got rid of the worst squeaks and squawks… ), though at first my selection to regale the public with was The Wild Rover and The Black Velvet Band, both of which I -still- rather like despite the opinion of many a better musician. (They’re pub songs, fer crying out loud… the old fashioned kind of pop music… of -course- they have simple melodies…).
While practicing at a train station a woman came around the corner to watch me for a bit, and with the way her eyes looked about, I’m sure she was trying to find the collection can, but she had to settle for thanking me for playing some music, which was more than enough for me.
Playing the black velvet band while walking along downtown, a passing gaggle of girls burst out into the lyrics!
And most recently, on the way to a session (where I listen… I’m not ready for sessions, and especially not -that- session!), I was tweetling off a foxhunter’s jig when a pretty young flautist stopped and asked after what the whistle was, and so on, and Paul, who -is- good enough to play in -that- session ended up showing her his wooden flute with a bit of explanation of the difference between ‘simple flute’ and ‘boehm system flute’, etc., so basically we lured a new member into trad music, yay!
You too can have life experiences if you only play in public. (I don’t promise they’ll be -good- life experiences, but mine have been.)
–Chris
I play in public purely for the money and the fame.
On 2002-05-16 14:29, Whistleworks wrote:
I play in public purely for the money and the fame.
Gee, Bob, I just play for the chicks.
Mmmm … chicks …
I figure if the kids can drive around with their car stereos so loud that you can feel the bass in the pit of your stomach even when their windows are closed, live music on the sidewalk or in the parks is perfectly acceptable.
Whether or not you’re good enough is not for anyone to decide. You’re working at getting better, as all of us are, and you’re exercising your right to practice outdoors. I see people playing basketball in the park who can’t dribble - should they practice in their basement until they’re ready for the NBA?
I started off playing at bus stops (while waiting for the bus), but I never play on the bus. I have played many times on the Staten Island Ferry. Now I play at a big outlet mall upstate. There are lots of Japanese tourists, who seem fascinated by it.
I decided to throw a can down after the first couple of times someone tried to drop a coin directly into one of my pockets. Busking with a fife on or around national holidays, playing a few patriotic tunes, can pay off well. Knee pants, a ruffled shirt and a tricorn hat are embarassing, but will increase the take by at least 50%. Showtimes by request.
where can people find out about busking laws in their areas?
Well, I just got my whistle about a week and a half ago, (my second…I didn’t know my first one was a whistle!) I guess I am an absolute newbie! I practiced in my driveway for the first time while watching my kids play yesterday. My neighbor, who was enjoying the cool evening with her house windows open, stepped out onto her front porch and applauded! Just made my day.
Kim
I have been playing outdoors practically since day one. Actually, now that I think about, Since day one.
I have never had a bad experience. In fact, I have met countless nice people, all of whom seem to love hearing the music (remember, Im a two-month newbie). I’ve alrady accompanied a wedding rehearsal, I’ve met other musicians, aspiring musicians, and just nice people.
Of course, Im also now on a first name basis with all of the homeless people who live in the park. As a courtesy I ask them if they mind the music, and they all have unanimously said they love it…then they want to know if I know any Led Zepplin or Def Leppard, and I say Im working on it.
My point is this…no matter how bad you think you are, chances are if you play slowly and carefully (if you are a beginner) your outdoor playing is going to truly make someone’s day. I’ve had couples come up to me at the beach after having whistled down another beautiful fiery Florida sunset to say that hearing “that wonderful flute music” while they watched the sun go down made their entire vacation.
Now, Im not a very good whistler. Not yet. And yet playing outdoors is fun for me and seems to make others really really happy.
By the way, Anna, thanks for the great idea. Im gonna order about 10 or 20 Megs and start handing them out for free to kids who seem really interested in the whistling.