My daughter wants to learn to play the whistle. She is an excellent piano player and singer, so has a very good handle on reading music and can carry a tune. (Thankfully she does not take after me. LOL)
She wants to add an instrument and the penny whistle satisfies her two absolute requirements - portable and not an instrument anyone she knows plays. In addition she loves Celtic music, so this seems to be a good fit. She is 11.
So what would you suggest as a first whistle? Any online vendors you would recommend, or recommend we stay away from?
Any named vendor/manufacturer will be fine. Avoid all-metal tubular whistles that look somewhat roughhewn, particularly if they’re very cheap. These tend to have been made in asia, typically Pakistan, and while there are some rare good ones tend to have dodgy workmanship, approximate tuning, and perhaps lead or cadmium based solder.
The cheaper manufactured whistles like Generation and Feadog can be wonderful but occassionally suffer a bit from fit-and-finish issues which mean that not every one in a batch will sound good right out of the package and very few will sound great. The issues can usually be resolved with the appropriate know-how, so these days several folks buy, ‘tweak’, and resell these in guarranteed-to-work shape. This adds only a few bucks to an already cheap price, so I recommend this option. Jerry Freeman is a chiffboard member who does this. I have no connection with him and truthfully have never seen his work, but enough people have expressed satisfaction here that I think it’s safe to recommend this option.
I’ll 3’rd that with Jerry’s whistles. Can’t go wrong there.
The Mellow Dog is legendary - mellow as the name suggests .. the Blackbird is newer and more “trad” sounding.
Great to see the Celtic alure reaching new players!
(Edited to say - check out http://www.thesession.org for Celtic tunes notation in public domain .. and it can’t hurt to visit the tune recordings link from this site)
I’ll be the fourth to recommend a Jerry Freeman tweaked whistle, in that the selection of a quality, playable whistle is already made for you, so your daughter is least likely to become frustrated with a retail dud. They’re a very good value for a reasonable entry price. I have a Blackbird in D, and one in Eb. Somehow, though, many of us still end up with some other high-end whistle for $200 more.
I’ve heard only good things about Jerry’s whistles, but if you can’t lay your hands on one easily, the Susanto line is quite reliable (though somewhat loud for a new whistler). The latter may be a drawback for your household, though not for your daughter. Other decent choices would be a Parks Everywhistle, Clark Sweettone, or even an indestructible Oak (though you will get differing opinions on the latter two, I think that they are typically more than adequate for a beginner). You will want to ensure you get a whistle in the key of D, and might want to consider getting a beginners manual as well (a quick search on this board will give you a list of recommendations there. See this thread for starters: https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/suggestions-for-beginners-books/70139/1 I believe I would get the Bill Ochs book for an 11 year old).
One thing to consider is the size of her hands. I think my daughter is just now able to comfortably reach all of the holes on her Sweetone. So, a regular whistle might be a slight stretch for her. Again, your daughter may have larger hands.
However, one option to consider is Jerry’s tweaked Sweetone. Because it’s a conical (rather than cylindrical) whistle, the holes are slightly closer together and smaller. Plus, I think it’s Jerry’s least expensive whistle (not that any of them are really expensive anyway).
I agree though. Overall, getting one of Jerry’s tweaked whistles is a great start. They’ll play better than a stock cheap whistle, and you know that if she has any problems playing, the problem probably isn’t the whistle itself.
Thanks so much for the great advice!
We will definitely get a tweaked whistle - there are enough variables to sort through when beginning an instrument without worrying if the whistle has an issue. I really like the looks of the Bill Ochs book as well. I’ve bookmarked the youtube videos(from the other thread) and The Session site as well. She should have a great start with this.
She does have smallish hands - although she reaches an octave easily on the piano. I guess where there is a will there’s a way. I think we’ll go for the tweaked Sweetone though to help minimize any reach issues. I have no doubt she will be buying herself a selection of whistles as time goes by. She’s always loved to experiment and play with her music.
With any instrument there will be physical adaptions to be made.
Thankfully, the high-D whistle demands the least of hands with little or no pain along the way - PLUS a truly logical navigation through 2 octaves. For myself, the navigation of the recorder was a trial in my school years - they are nice, but not for the Justice-orientation of the young mind.
The demand of a whistle is in the breath - for a young person, the inflection of voice is a primary task - the whistle co-incides with the social communication task and is nature for them.
She will be coming to grips with the hideous qwertyuiop keyboard and the back-destroying mouse - whistles are far kinder. Within their gentle nature is power also.
This may help ya… Jerry Freeman Pennywhistles
P.O. Box 191
Coventry, CT 06238
Telephone: (860)498-0014
E-mail: jerry@tcenet.net PS: You can buy direct with a check if you like just email or call him…He is a very nice guy to deal with.
Well dd got her ‘tweaked’ Clark Sweetone from Jerry Freeman yesterday. Tip no 1 to parents of new whistle players - Do not bring the whistle in the car when you pick them up from school. Beginning whistling in the small confines of a compact car can be painful! LOL
She did manage reasonable renditions of Frere Jacque, Mary had a Little Lamb, London Bridge, etc. by the time we got home though. She is now working through the Bill Ochs book. She is often, but not yet consistently, getting very good tone.
She naturally wanted to put her right hand on the top holes rather than the left. The book indicates the left should work the top holes. Does it matter?
Thanks again for the tips - she is thrilled with her whistle.
Depends which way up she’s playing. If she’s adopting the “Australian position” then right hand on the top holes is perfectly normal. I wouldn’t try it in a car though, even one of those American sized ones.
