The children have come back from the Feis, and have had a great time. Little sleep, lots of chat and lots of music, and my daughter feeling deprived as she was the only one without a mobile phone( she says!)
She has played the whistle for the first time and has taken to this,she wonders if she can find a whistle to play low tunes on, and I should love some advice Thanks
If you want something closer to you (noticing that you live in Scotland) this link http://www.merlin-music.com will be useful I know form personal experience that these are great whistles I would rate them close to Dixons and if you have read some of my other posts you know I like Dixons they have a rather Flute like tone it is about the same price as a Burke but you would probably save on shipping.
A low whistle seems to me like it would be a bit of a stretch for smaller hands. (I have fairly long fingers and think that Dirk and Pete's low whistles are a helluva strain.) How old is your daughter?
Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I have long fingers too which are great for an Irish blackwood flute. But even my big hands aren't comfortable holding a low whistle so I don't play one mainly for that reason. I've seen smaller student-like wooden flutes played by younger girls in Ireland (ages 10-12ish). Unfortunately I don't know who made these 2 piece flutes.....anyone know about those flutes?
Well, I don't know nothing about flutes, Miss Joyce, but Dave Migoya did hand Emily a couple of F flutes (I think they were F) that were teensy with only one key, both of them cooing over how cute they are. (Actually, the mind boggles at the thought of David Migoya being "cute", or at least the kind of cute that coos, but you know what I mean.) I remember Dave saying how much fun and how easy they are to play, sort of like toys. I can't remember who he said makes them. (By then, I was fuzzing out from all the fluter talk.)
Have you thought about maybe getting her a large bore C whistle? I just gave one to Will for Christmas (yeah, yeah, I know) from Mack Hoover, and he says he quite likes it.
Most of the above I go along with. There's some stretch on the low D whistle, and personally, I prefer the sound of the flute over the whistle. Would you be able to convince the wee lassie to try a simple system flute? If you're worried about the pennies, there are some attractively-priced plastic flutes around (or Polymer, as the makers prefer to call them) Tony Dixon being just one make.
It must be something to do with the angle you hold the low whistle at compared to the flute, because the hole spacing I presume is identical, but the low whistle always seems to require more stretch. If she's worried about getting the embouchure, tell her not to be - it doesn't take long to get some sort of working embouchure - and remember, you can control embouchure, whereas you can't control the fipple, very much anyway.
Also, if you don't mind me putting in an opinion, the flute, even a simple polymer job, has more gravitas, street cred, real session respect, than a low whistle....IMHO, you understand. Hope this all helps.
And - Oh Yeah - I've got a wee F flute - a pumped up fife thing, which when oiled and cleaned etc., does sound very sweet and you can do all the rolls and so on only the likes of Mick Mulvey can do on an adult-sized (Whoops! nearly said man-sized {joke}!) flute.
I bought my first ever (low D) whistle from Tony Dixon only recently.
The stretch is not as big as some I've held.
I am now considering a flute from him -- the hand angle seems to make for easier fingering.
I wish I'd started this 40 years ago.
Best toy I've had in years.
Call Tony - he is great to deal with and ready with lots of practical advice.
Good luck.
Good thread Brendan, but I suggest everything has its place. Even Boehm flutes and D/G Boxes.
I guess Low Whistles also, but I, me personally, Yo, Je, Ich, m
My new Dixon low D arrived stateside one week to the day after I received the confirmation email! And I absolutely love it....it's my first low D, but I had very little problem adjusting to it with small fingers. Really, for the price, you can't go wrong, and Tony is lovely to deal with.
Now, I'm thinking, why not a flute? I've played the standard concert flute, but even when I got the embouchere right, it always seemed to take a LOT more air. Was that just me, the embouchere, or the instrument?
lol, fatwah. but i more or less agree with you. the perverbial money is in the wooden irish flute. has more bark, depth, and playability than the low d (and the metal boehm flute, although i'm sure stones would be cast for that statement!). however, i think there is a legitimate (albeit small) place for low d in irish trad. i don't like the new-age low d stuff, but a low d can often really do unique justice to traditional slow airs. i think the low g whistle, although not session friendly, really does a a lovely job with jigs and reels.
thanks very much everyone, our daughter is 11 , very tall and has large hands, like her father. She plays a full size cello, we'll explore all these suggestions when we come home. I may get to visit some music shops in south west England next week, otherwise, from us, it's all mail order. take care , thanks again, Rebecca
Tony Dixon IS based in the West Country somewhere - Devon, I think.
Brendan - you're right - the posh word for bark and depth is Dynamics. Davey Spillane's low whistling is lovely - but can sound a bit new agey - depends what yer after.
BTW, I've been playing a wooden Boehm recently, after playing metal Boehm and wooden simple system for long enough. I think this time I've got it right for me. And that's got to be what it's all about ultimately, eh?
looking for a low whistle.
looking for a low whistle.
The children have come back from the Feis, and have had a great time. Little sleep, lots of chat and lots of music, and my daughter feeling deprived as she was the only one without a mobile phone( she says!)
She has played the whistle for the first time and has taken to this,she wonders if she can find a whistle to play low tunes on, and I should love some advice Thanks
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by gummidge
Re: looking for a low whistle.
http://www.burkewhistles.com/
All the low whistle options you could want.
--Dave
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Dave Weinstein
Re: looking for a low whistle.
If you want something closer to you (noticing that you live in Scotland) this link http://www.merlin-music.com will be useful I know form personal experience that these are great whistles I would rate them close to Dixons and if you have read some of my other posts you know I like Dixons they have a rather Flute like tone it is about the same price as a Burke but you would probably save on shipping.
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Why Bother?
Re: looking for a low whistle.
A low whistle seems to me like it would be a bit of a stretch for smaller hands. (I have fairly long fingers and think that Dirk and Pete's low whistles are a helluva strain.) How old is your daughter?
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I have long fingers too which are great for an Irish blackwood flute. But even my big hands aren't comfortable holding a low whistle so I don't play one mainly for that reason. I've seen smaller student-like wooden flutes played by younger girls in Ireland (ages 10-12ish). Unfortunately I don't know who made these 2 piece flutes.....anyone know about those flutes?
Joyce
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by JMH
Re: looking for a low whistle.
I recommend the Susato Whistles!
http://www.susato.com
Brian
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by AlFonso
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Well, I don't know nothing about flutes, Miss Joyce, but Dave Migoya did hand Emily a couple of F flutes (I think they were F) that were teensy with only one key, both of them cooing over how cute they are. (Actually, the mind boggles at the thought of David Migoya being "cute", or at least the kind of cute that coos, but you know what I mean.) I remember Dave saying how much fun and how easy they are to play, sort of like toys. I can't remember who he said makes them. (By then, I was fuzzing out from all the fluter talk.)
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Zina Lee
P.S.
Oh yeah, David said something like, "they're like playing fifes without the attitude."
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Have you thought about maybe getting her a large bore C whistle? I just gave one to Will for Christmas (yeah, yeah, I know) from Mack Hoover, and he says he quite likes it.
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Most of the above I go along with. There's some stretch on the low D whistle, and personally, I prefer the sound of the flute over the whistle. Would you be able to convince the wee lassie to try a simple system flute? If you're worried about the pennies, there are some attractively-priced plastic flutes around (or Polymer, as the makers prefer to call them) Tony Dixon being just one make.
It must be something to do with the angle you hold the low whistle at compared to the flute, because the hole spacing I presume is identical, but the low whistle always seems to require more stretch. If she's worried about getting the embouchure, tell her not to be - it doesn't take long to get some sort of working embouchure - and remember, you can control embouchure, whereas you can't control the fipple, very much anyway.
Also, if you don't mind me putting in an opinion, the flute, even a simple polymer job, has more gravitas, street cred, real session respect, than a low whistle....IMHO, you understand. Hope this all helps.
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: looking for a low whistle.
And - Oh Yeah - I've got a wee F flute - a pumped up fife thing, which when oiled and cleaned etc., does sound very sweet and you can do all the rolls and so on only the likes of Mick Mulvey can do on an adult-sized (Whoops! nearly said man-sized {joke}!) flute.
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: looking for a low whistle.
I bought my first ever (low D) whistle from Tony Dixon only recently.
The stretch is not as big as some I've held.
I am now considering a flute from him -- the hand angle seems to make for easier fingering.
I wish I'd started this 40 years ago.
Best toy I've had in years.
Call Tony - he is great to deal with and ready with lots of practical advice.
Good luck.
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by BillinUK
Re: looking for a low whistle.
here is a recent thread on similar topic:
http://thesession.org/discussions/display.php/3229
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Brendan
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Good thread Brendan, but I suggest everything has its place. Even Boehm flutes and D/G Boxes.
I guess Low Whistles also, but I, me personally, Yo, Je, Ich, m
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: looking for a low whistle.
My new Dixon low D arrived stateside one week to the day after I received the confirmation email! And I absolutely love it....it's my first low D, but I had very little problem adjusting to it with small fingers. Really, for the price, you can't go wrong, and Tony is lovely to deal with.
Now, I'm thinking, why not a flute? I've played the standard concert flute, but even when I got the embouchere right, it always seemed to take a LOT more air. Was that just me, the embouchere, or the instrument?
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by ketida
Re: looking for a low whistle.
lol, fatwah. but i more or less agree with you. the perverbial money is in the wooden irish flute. has more bark, depth, and playability than the low d (and the metal boehm flute, although i'm sure stones would be cast for that statement!). however, i think there is a legitimate (albeit small) place for low d in irish trad. i don't like the new-age low d stuff, but a low d can often really do unique justice to traditional slow airs. i think the low g whistle, although not session friendly, really does a a lovely job with jigs and reels.
i've never heard spillane's stuff....
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Brendan
Re: looking for a low whistle.
thanks very much everyone, our daughter is 11 , very tall and has large hands, like her father. She plays a full size cello, we'll explore all these suggestions when we come home. I may get to visit some music shops in south west England next week, otherwise, from us, it's all mail order. take care , thanks again, Rebecca
# Posted on April 21st 2004 by gummidge
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Tony Dixon IS based in the West Country somewhere - Devon, I think.
Brendan - you're right - the posh word for bark and depth is Dynamics. Davey Spillane's low whistling is lovely - but can sound a bit new agey - depends what yer after.
BTW, I've been playing a wooden Boehm recently, after playing metal Boehm and wooden simple system for long enough. I think this time I've got it right for me. And that's got to be what it's all about ultimately, eh?
# Posted on April 22nd 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: looking for a low whistle.
Danny, I'm really looking forward to seeing and hearing your new flute. I'm sure it sounds gorgeous!
Joyce
# Posted on April 22nd 2004 by JMH