I am looking into buying a long whistle for my mother in law who is keen to learn an instrument to fill her time as she is going blind. She used to play scottish reels on a piano accordion and can play a recorder, and is confident she can play by ear. However, I know nothing, nada, nitch about long whistles, so can anyone make a recommendation of makes or vendors? I don't think it needs to be anything totally amazing, just something she can get to grips with and enjoy.
spreading the fingers to cover the holes on a low whistle in D might be difficult if she has any aging difficulties with arthritis etc. Might be better to start on a 'tin whistle' or one of the low whistles in other keys which are shorter.
Chiefton low whistes are like the Overton but redesigned to have a smaller finger spread. They have my vote.
But even though low whistles have a lovely sound and get all the street cred, I remain obstinately a recorder player. Why learn new fingering? What's wrong with a Zamir maple tenor recorder? The soft sound astonishes people, they cost about the same as a good low D whistle - and I'm prepared to argue till the cows come home that a low whistle is just as untraditional as a tenor recorder.
I'm with Gallopede. If the lady is already familiar with a recorder then yes, get a tenor recorder.
My personal preference is for the whistle, and I *did* learn recorder at school, but I've unlearned it since then. I've heard tenor recorders at close quarters, and yes, they are fine instruments.
The low whistle is the hardest instrument I've ever tried to play, and as a middle school band director, I've played them all. It's the "piper's grip" that makes it a challenge; i.e, you cover the first and second hole on each hand with the inside joint of the finger, not the tip.
It's frustrating, but I keep coming back to my low D. It has a wonderful sound and I want to master it. Frankly, I get tired of all the high D whistles shrieking around me; the flutes, boxes, and low whistles add a great sound to our sessions.
That said, your mother-in-law will have a much easier time with a tenor recorder than wth a low whistle, IMHO.
If she is going to play solo hen the Chieftain low F has a delicious tone.
If it's for playing in a session then it will have to be the low D but as mentioned above it can be wild tricky to get the finger spread - my wee hands are just too small to handle them.
Thanks for all the advice, It seems as though the tenor recorder has the vote for the time being, if she sticks with it then maybe a low D would be an option in due course.
Long whistle advice
Long whistle advice
I am looking into buying a long whistle for my mother in law who is keen to learn an instrument to fill her time as she is going blind. She used to play scottish reels on a piano accordion and can play a recorder, and is confident she can play by ear. However, I know nothing, nada, nitch about long whistles, so can anyone make a recommendation of makes or vendors? I don't think it needs to be anything totally amazing, just something she can get to grips with and enjoy.
Any help appreciated.
Nick
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by nick b
Re: Long whistle advice
I think you might mean "low" whistle -- although low whistles are in fact long.
Overtons are nice.
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by justwhistle
Re: Long whistle advice
spreading the fingers to cover the holes on a low whistle in D might be difficult if she has any aging difficulties with arthritis etc. Might be better to start on a 'tin whistle' or one of the low whistles in other keys which are shorter.
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by the wounded hussar
Re: Long whistle advice
Chiefton low whistes are like the Overton but redesigned to have a smaller finger spread. They have my vote.
But even though low whistles have a lovely sound and get all the street cred, I remain obstinately a recorder player. Why learn new fingering? What's wrong with a Zamir maple tenor recorder? The soft sound astonishes people, they cost about the same as a good low D whistle - and I'm prepared to argue till the cows come home that a low whistle is just as untraditional as a tenor recorder.
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by LowProfile
Re: Long whistle advice
I'm with Gallopede. If the lady is already familiar with a recorder then yes, get a tenor recorder.
My personal preference is for the whistle, and I *did* learn recorder at school, but I've unlearned it since then. I've heard tenor recorders at close quarters, and yes, they are fine instruments.
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Long whistle advice
How much do you want to spend? There is a very wide price range of Whistles. Also you can email me as i have some Whistles I am trying to sell.
# Posted on September 15th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: Long whistle advice
The low whistle is the hardest instrument I've ever tried to play, and as a middle school band director, I've played them all. It's the "piper's grip" that makes it a challenge; i.e, you cover the first and second hole on each hand with the inside joint of the finger, not the tip.
It's frustrating, but I keep coming back to my low D. It has a wonderful sound and I want to master it. Frankly, I get tired of all the high D whistles shrieking around me; the flutes, boxes, and low whistles add a great sound to our sessions.
That said, your mother-in-law will have a much easier time with a tenor recorder than wth a low whistle, IMHO.
# Posted on September 16th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Long whistle advice
If she is going to play solo hen the Chieftain low F has a delicious tone.
If it's for playing in a session then it will have to be the low D but as mentioned above it can be wild tricky to get the finger spread - my wee hands are just too small to handle them.
# Posted on September 16th 2005 by breandan
Re: Long whistle advice
Thanks for all the advice, It seems as though the tenor recorder has the vote for the time being, if she sticks with it then maybe a low D would be an option in due course.
Thanks for your input
Nick
# Posted on September 16th 2005 by nick b