So I ran into my old tin whistle teacher tonight at a Bagpipes and Bonfire get together at the local nature center. It was wonderful to hear him playing the old whistle (and accordian, and harp - the man is amazing) and he had some very kind things to say about my feeble beginner playing from a year ago (I’ve improved since then, thankfully).
Anyway, I come home and break out the Walton D and begin playing, thinking about the old class, revisiting a couple of early songs, etc. I take a long careful look at my instrument (it’s the only whistle I own thus far, though that will be changing this Christmas) with warm thoughts about the wear on it . . . but then I think to myself: “self, those aren’t warm wear spots in the metal - there’s some kind of plastic crap that you’ve been wearing through from playing this thing.”
So my question - does the plastic coating on the Waltons serve any purpose? Is it going to hurt the whistle any if I just take the stuff off entirely (it’s worn well away from where my thumbs rest and from around the fingerholes)? Is the whistle going to appreciably more slippery if I take all of it off (I can remove it with my fingernails quite easily)?
I must say that I was shocked when I read the first part of your posting. I though maybe there was a new religion where they through bagpipes into the fire. They would be a horrifying and an expensive experience.
It’s recommended that you don’t carry on this tradition near too many subdivisions as the neighbors be inclined to throw the bagpipes and whistles into the fire if you play too late.
…most of you would be shocked to stop over and look at my kindling pile…we had a fire the other night making hot dogs and s’mores, I must have burnt up 6 or 7 chanters and 5 ot 6 whistles, not to mention the odd set of bellows..
those are my “shop seconds”..one minor hiccup on the lathe, and it’s off to the BONFIRE…
I made a few bagwhistles back in the early spring for a few people.
They take an awful lot of air - blue emoticon to indicate facial appearance after playing for awhile.
Hah! Thanks everyone, I thought that nasty goo might have to go!
And the Bagpipes and Bonfires deal was a fundraiser for the local nature center - a dozen pipers, the green man, and a massive bonfire lit during the harvest fest to invite the sun down one last time. It was a wonderfully pagan celebration of autumn and I loved every minute of it - even the bagpipes.
No bagpipers (nor bagpipes) were harmed in the filming of this movie.
They would be a horrifying and an expensive experience.
- blue emoticon to indicate facial appearance after playing for awhile.