Here in the US it is pretty much taboo to try whistles in music shops. There are places that let you, but they’re probably running against popular germ management beliefs. Michael Burke does allow it and supplies little alcohol swabs for people to use. But in general, if you walk into a music store and ask to try whistles, they look at you like you’ve just asked to French kiss the staff.
So, in Ireland (and other fine places that allow playing) what do the stores do in between whistle usages? Do they do any disinfecting? Is the responsibility for hygiene up to the customers?
You try your whistle and put it back where it came from. No bother, neither shop nor customer worry about it.
Some shops with lots of tourists coming in have a sign up saying it is not allowed try the whistles (Powells in Galway for example) but when you ask with a view of buying one they’ll say ‘sure, work away’.
Every UK shop that I wanted to try out a whistle, recorder or flute in have always let me play freely. I have never known any shop to clean or sterilise an instrument afterwards. It has already been noted that Europeans are generally a lot less bothered about bugs and germs etc.
BUT here in Greece music shops do not care that you want to buy and normally won’t let you play a whistle until you have paid for it even if you come bearing alcoholics swabs - because of hygiene, they say! Hygiene, in Greece?! Naturally I don’t buy wind instruments here. This is the only country I have encountered this attitude in.
Powells in Galway have their expensive whistles locked away in a case on the other side of the shop from the cheapies, which do indeed have the sign that you mention.
In that case there is a small, open, box of alcohol wipes. I haven’t, yet, asked to try anything from it, but am assuming that when I do, the wipes will be put into service. No - I’m not assuming it, I know they will, because I’ll want to wipe anything before it goes into my mouth!
I haven’t looked hard enough into any other shops to know if this is common practise or not.
The last time I was in Powell’s, they indeed opened the display case for me and let me try whatever I fancied. I came away with a nice Ian Lambe low D. And a bad case of the flu a few days later!
When I worked in a major music store in New York, we kept disinfectant. A viscous liquid in a jar sold to the music industry for stores, repair shops, school music directors, etc. For soaking mouthpieces, whistles, recorders and the like. We were, um, less than rigorous in its use. We also had the infamous Hohner harmonica pump.
Nowadays I carry alcohol wipes whenever I play out in public. Ever since I ended up sick in bed for 6 weeks after trading whistles with a fellow sessioner. When I start wiping down, people here seem appreciative and see it as a thoughful courtesy, not germophobic obsession. I also suspect that producing the wipes in a shop with a “don’t try” policy might help me convince them to relax their restrictions.
Until the day they start hosing it down with industrial disinfectant, I think the Blarney stone is ample proof that oral transmission is not yet a public health issue in Ireland.
I work in medical laboratories and truly think that you stand a far better chance of contracting MRSA from a public bathroom than you do in getting anything serious from trying whistles. If you pick one up and it drips drool when you up-end it, don’t play it…well… I think you get my drift. You can catch the flu, strep, rsv or TB just from talking face - to - face with the shop keeper so in that stance I’ll keep trying them out before I buy whenever possible. I’d rather chance getting a cold than ending up with a whistle I don’t like the sound of.
MTGuru…last time I was in Ireland, they had a guy at the top of the Castle spraying the Blarney Stone with disinfectant between smoochers…I swear…no kidding. What a shame. Those narrow stairs up and down were a lot of fun, though…especially after all the pints I had consumed prior to my arrival! Todd
When I was in Ireland two summers ago, Custy’s in Ennis and other shops in Kenmare and Dingle let me play away (and in Dingle joined in). A shop in Connemara (can’t remember where but it was in a small town by the water with an arts center) that was more of a bodhran making place as I recall, had signs all over the place about not trying the whistles. The prices were so out of whack, I didn’t bother to ask.
There is a shop in NYC that lets me play whatever I want and even gives me whistles to try out in the basement (probably don’t want me driving customers away) - Rod Baltimore, street level shop on 48th street.
Waltons will let you try anything - just ask for whistles in the key you’re looking for and they’ll pile a load of Generations on the counter and walk away so that you can make your choice in peace. They’re similarly laid back about you trying all their other instruments.
McCullough Piggot don’t allow you to try the Generations, but I suspect that they’ll let you try any of the more expensive whistles in the display case if you’re serious about buying.
There’s a little music shop on a side street just up from Waltons on George’s Street where the owner will let you try any instrument you like.
From the above, you can see why it’s not a bad idea to clean newly acquired instruments. I now soak them in a sterilising solution (Milton) that is used to clean baby bottles. I learned from experience, having got strep throat the day after buying a flute in Waltons.
The Celtic Shop here in the Netherlands has a booth at some fairs here and they let you play the cheaper whistles without any problem. When they see you’re a good player he gives you some more expensive whistles to play. That’s where I played a Harper engraved high D he received just a few days before. It really helps to decide which whistle you want to buy. I ordered my first low whistle online at their shop, but after playing several ones at a Scottish Festival and I still love it very much.
Naturally I don’t buy wind instruments here. This is the only country I have encountered this attitude in.
