I could never figure out why people used those things – but the Water Weasel I bought from someone on the list arrived today. I love the sound of the whistle. I’ve played it and played it and played it, not wanting to put it down.
I’ve never had a problem playing C#s on my brass whistles, or on the Dixon. But the WW slides out of my hands. I noticed I started playing it with my pinkie down and I don’t want to get into that habit. So I want to get one of those thumbrest thingies. The Whistle Shop doesn’t list them. Does anyone know where I can get such a thing?
Thanks,
Tery
[ This Message was edited by: tkelly on 2002-08-26 21:18 ]
playing with the pinky down is a good habit I wish I could get. I have enven gone to the extreem to tape my pinky to the whistle. It hasn’t panned out and my pinky still flys all over the place.
Having the flying pinky looks expressive, in the long run for me, it impairs my playing ability. Whistle stability can never be over rated.
MJ
I wanted to add, economy of motion is something I have seen in most virtuoso players. James Kelly sometimes plays with his eyes closed and he looks as if he might fall asleep during a performance. It is only when you count the beat against the clock and find out that he isn’t playing at 85 beats per minute like his relaxed style deceives you to believe, but more than 160 bpm. I also got to sit second row (less than 17 feet away) for a Paddy Keenan concert in Philly. I could hardly see his fingers move off the holes on the chanter because of his economy of motion. Truely brillian playing. Seamus Egan is an anomalie with his flying finger style (anybody with All-Ireland on four different instruments in an anomalie). Where his style improves his play, it would impair (and does impair) the playing of sub mortals such as myself.
My advice is to change your paradigm to think that your bad habbit is actually a good habit, which it actually is. FWIW.
[ This Message was edited by: Mark_J on 2002-08-26 23:32 ]
If you plan on picking up the keyless wooden flute at any point Tery, you might as well save yourself some frustration and get used to the “Pinky Down” think now, you’re going to need it with the Woodie.