I’m relatively new to the wonderful world of the whistle. I’d say I was still at a beginner level - I can get a tune out of my whistles (you can never have just one, can you?) and you can recognise it, but I’m still getting to grips with ornamentation. I also play the fiddle, at about the same level.
I’m hoping to have the opportunity to play with some other musicians soon (although maybe not; I think they’re all better than me) and am both nervous and excited by the idea. I think playing with others would probably help me improve, but wondered how difficult it might be to find other likeminded groups or individuals.
So, to that end - where do you all come from? I’m in Hampshire, UK.
If you’re looking for people to play with the best thing (IMHO) is to find your local pub sessions. If you can’t find anything in any local music guides or listings try getting in touch with your local morris sides. They usually know where the best sessions are. Try Basingclog or maybe Kennet Morris although they’re based in Reading.
Nervous and excited is good. I’ve been playing in sessions for just over two years and I still get really nervous at times, especially when I start and lead a tune or two.
I’m just up the road from you in Oxfordshire - Wantage to be precise. I have in-laws who live in Sherfield-On-Loddon too.
I live in Alton, only a few miles down the road. I would be glad to get together to play tunes. Also we have just started a monthly tune session at The Pheasant, at Farringdon, near Alton. Next one is Wed 21st March at 2000hrs. Come along, it’s great fun, friendly, and most importantly, not intimidating. Feel free to make contact by private e-mail,
Wow, pleased and surprised by the quick - and reasonably local - responses!
Clive - thanks for the invite! I can’t make this month’s (I have a five week writing course on at the mo) but that’ll be finished by next month. I may try to get over there to listen to next month’s session I’ll probably e-mail you over the weekend to arrange some sort of meeting to play tunes - would love to play with more experienced musicians, or at least listen to them play.
Hotblack, thank you for the links - I’ll check those out over the weekend.
I’m going to a fiddle workshop next weekend in Southampton, with a friend from school who I haven’t seen for years. This will be my first attempt at playing in public since school. In addition to that, said friend has invited me to an open mic folk night at a pub in Winchester, although I almost certainly won’t be playing there. She’s roped her brother and boyfriend in and will have a fiddle, guitar and tamborine, so she was quite interested to hear I’m learning the whistle! I would love to be part of a band, but have neither the confidence or experience yet to join one.
Still, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and learning two instruments at the same time is just the same. Practice, practice, practice
Hi Helen - just keep telling everyone you meet that you want to play with others, go to music workshops etc and you’ll probably find just what you need. I’m in Reigate, Surrey, so not much use to you directly.
I decided 18 months ago that I really needed to make music (accordion & whistle) with other people, signed up for a few workshops, and talked to everyone I met. I found that most sessions aren’t my kind of thing, but am now a member of an accordion orchestra, an old English ensemble, a Morris side and a ceilidh band. Just from wanting it, and following up every opportunity!
I’m glad that you’re in a place with some many folks and so much resources nearby.
I’ve only ever heard two whislte players in person. My friends and family consider me the best whistler they know. I could be famous if they could just remember what that flutey thing is that I play.
There is a session (or possibly two) in Bletchingdon but SWMBO has just thrown my listings magazine out (Shire Folk) so I can’t confirm that. I’m not too sure about Oxford either although there are several including a French/Breton one. Again I can’t give details.
I live in Wantage where we have sessions in The Shoulder of Mutton and The Abingdon Arms. There are sessions in some of the local villages and towns - Faringdon, Steventon, East Hagbourne, Abingdon, Long Wittenham, Wallingford. You could go out virtually any night of the week to a different session around here.
All these sessions are generally mixed in nature, with English, American, Celtic and all sorts in the mix. I believe there’s an Irish session in Oxford.
Hooked up with an old friend from school today, and was persuaded to go to a fiddle workshop in Southampton - they run on the third Saturday of the month. It’s run by a woman named Kath (can’t remember her full name, sorry) and aimed at beginners.
It was a lovely small venue, and there were only seven people in the group. Kath taught us to play Shepherd’s Hey by ear (something I need to develop) but then actually gave us the sheet music afterwards.
Anyway, I whipped out my trusty little Meg during the break, and ended up playing Sheherd’s Hey to the sheet music, just out of curiousity. Much to my delight, the elderly gent next to me picked up his fiddle and started playing along with me! It was fab! As a beginner, playing with another person - another person playing a different instrument - was a huge amount of fun, especially as I didn’t fluff up the notes.
I definitely enjoyed myself, and while I didn’t take much away technically from the fiddle session, the opportunity to play both whistle and fiddle with other people was priceless!
Shepherd’s Hey was the first tune I learned on the Tabor Pipe. It’s almost magical when you get somebody spontaneously joining you! (It’s also magical, but in a different way, when some idiot who doesn’t know the tune starts noodling while you’re playing. )
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