Since you asked...

Whistle
1

I see my son, lonewhistler, received quite a response to his question regarding how people first became interested in the tin whistle. I would like to say how happy I am that he gained a much better appreciation for Irish music during our recent trip to Ireland. One of my highlights of the trip was taking a lesson with him during the Flead Nua (sp?) music festival in Ennis from a real pro whistler who hailed from Doolin. Perhaps my dream of starting a Irish band with my sons may become a reality some day (my other son has borrowed my Irish guitar instructional video inspired by what he heard in Ireland). We’ve already decided on a name…“The Mad Monks of Skellig”. But I digress…

I’ve played the whistle off and on for many years. Can’t remember when I got my first one. I seem to lack the discipine to learn traditional songs and instead enjoy making up my own tunes. But since my son’s starting to get serious, I guess I will, too. Can’t have the kid showing me up, after all.

2

Dad & Son chiffsters? Is there a precedent for this?

3

My oldest son and I play together in Naomi’s Fancy (Naomi is his wife).

He is the guitar/mandolin/concertina/bodhran player of the band.

Amazingly, he can get good sounding tunes out of a 20 button $150 box (of course, he had to work on it quite a bit to get it going, leaky reed box, sticking buttons, etc). And, he has only had it 6 months. :boggle:

4

…good to see you’ve found us loonies :laughing: here at C&F! Welome! Here’s hoping that you’ll start taking the whistle a bit more seriously…

“Lonewhistler’s Dad”?? …I thought you’d be able to do a little better than that… :stuck_out_tongue: :laughing:

5

That’s OK…my husband posted for years at VegSource as “Erbie’sHubby” (my nickname at the time was “erbivrus”).

Redwolf

6

kinda nice to see father and son on the same board. :slight_smile:

7

Lonewhistler’sdad wrote: “I’ve played the whistle off and on for many years. Can’t remember when I got my first one. I seem to lack the discipine to learn traditional songs and instead enjoy making up my own tunes. But since my son’s starting to get serious, I guess I will, too. Can’t have the kid showing me up, after all.”

That’s right!! They may eventually surpass you, but that doesn’t mean one has to make it easy for their kids!!! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

8

I figured I’d get hassled from my son about the choice of my “handle”. And I accept his challenge about taking my whislte playing a bit more seriously. We’ll have to have a recital at our family reunion in July and we’ll see who to true “lonewhistler” is. The gauntlet has been thrown. How does “Lonewhister’s Son” sound to you, Matthew??? :lol:

9

We’ll have to have a recital at our family reunion in July and we’ll see who to true “lonewhistler” is. The gauntlet has been thrown.

…we shall see. I’ve got several songs under my belt thusfar, everything from airs to marchs to polkas. I’ll be sure to learn a couple of reels as well before I see you. Better get to practicing, you’ve got your work cut out for you!! :wink:

10

Do what I did, I started on guitar and my eldest kicked my a couple of weeks after I showed him a couple of chords.

He almost wore out my tape player learning “Dawg” music and playing all sorts of neat stuff, all on his own.

I got bagpipes and he can’t get anything but noise out of them.

Then he got a $150 20 button concertina and performed in public on it 3 weeks later and didn’t miss a note. :boggle:

Just admit it. Youth can get it quicker, but we have experiences they will never have.

I used to look at the south end of a northbound mule pulling a plow years ago. I bet he couldn’t plow a straight furrow like I could.

I hated the first plowing of newground because of all the roots. It was impossible to plow straight.

11

We’ll have to have a recital at our family reunion in July and we’ll see who to true “lonewhistler” is. The gauntlet has been thrown.

…well, my Dad (aka “Lonewhistler’s Dad”) conceded after I played him a few tunes. “Not enough time to practice” was his excuse. :stuck_out_tongue:
Perhaps next year, eh Father?? :smiley: