I agree with you wholeheartedly - went through years of whistle playing trying to convince myself I didn’t need to plunk down several hundred dollars for a flute - but in the end I’ve only been truly happy playing the flute.
I have nightmares about some unknown injury that forces me to play some other instrument…
Eric
Well, I said that sometimes I like the sound of the flute, and sometimes it doesn’t do much for me. I guess it’s about the skill of the player and the quality of the flute - not to get too far off of the subject. So, when I like it, I really like it quite a bit. For example, when I hear Matt Molloy play The Maids of Mitchelstown, I think: I MUST get a flute! Granted, that’s Matt Molloy and all…
If I’m being honest, what I really like are the uilleann pipes. However, given the expense and difficulty of playing them, not to mention the likelihood of my wife cutting off my fingers, getting a set of pipes is, well… a pipe dream, as it were.
So, I play the whistle. I like the whistle. But often, I’d like something lower, and with a mellower, reedy sound - ergo, my interest in the flute.
Does that help explain where I’m coming from?
Thanks,
Jason
I started whistle wanting to graduate to U-pipes. Then I got my wife a flute and started playing that. It’s put a spell on me, and I can’t imagine ever taking up the pipes. The flute just has depths that it will take me half a lifetime to plumb. I’d say a lifetime, but mine’s half over.
Yeah, the Bothy’s version of Maids of Mitchellstown is to die for. You’ll either have to get a C flute or take it up a step to play along with the flute part on a keyless.
See if there is a Lúnasa concert near you and take the wife. Between Kevin’s flute playing and hilarious stage banter or Cillian’s piping and stoic stage presence she’ll be won over.
From where do folks in the UK buy this CD ??
Boyd
By international order from http://www.worldtrad.org/
Personnaly, I think that every instrument, whistle as flute, for example, is hard. All of them request hard work to perform well.
I start by cheap and horrible whistle, then switch on low D whistle, and after 8 month on low flute. I’m not a genius, not at all, but the first time I received my flute, i was able to blow it. Now I work it since 1 year and I don’t regret it.
OF COURSE it’s not wonderfull, but the love of the sound is the best way to discover this instrument. Don’t think “it will be too hard”, and so on … just keep at mind “I loooove it, and want to sound like this”, and then you will work, and will be happy to work !
Hi. I’m new here.
I’d strongly recommend a Hammy practice flute over the Tipple. I’ve been messing with Doug’s flutes since they were covered with wood grained contact paper, and they’re not very easy for beginners to play because the embrochure chimney is shallow. Doug developed the lip plate for his flutes to address the problem, and it helps some. If you do get a Tipple, be sure you pay extra for the lip plate model.
The Hammy practice flute has a delrin head made to match a typical wooden flute embrochure. It’s surprisingly easy to blow and you’ll find it much less frustrating than just about any other inexpensive flute out there. It has an awesome hard D, and the only downside is that it is not tunable. I’m pretty sure Doc carries 'em, or you can order direct from Hammy.
Yes, there is something to it. Flutes are delightfully responsive instruments. A flute allows a player to truly play the wind, nothing else like it.
The price, however, involves a steep learning curve, and a lot of work.
I wouldn’t say that is the only downside to the Hammy practice flute, but it relates to it not being tunable (which really is a BIG disadvantage to start with)-you also can’t adjust the embouchure position because the headjoint doesn’t move. Besides those two, you also can’t adjust your hand positions either to make it better fit you, if you find it more comfortable. Many don’t find that necessary, but how do you know unless you can try it and see?
Besides that, the Hammy is probably very nice. But, I think Doug’s flutes definitely have the advantage-and I don’t think they are hard to play even with his non-lip plate flute, from a beginners standpoint-I started on one too. I’d get the lip plate, just for the sound though.