One of the reasons I took-up the whistle was because I’ve always wanted to be that person who can make others happy with my music. That and I also felt that for a university campus, there was a serious lack of music for the sake of music being played at Weber State. Therefore, I’ve been trying to get better and to get rid of my stage fright so I can play openly on campus. Right now I just play around the pond on the west side of campus, because it’s the most deserted place I can find. I’m slowly moving myself towards more frequented areas, though. Hopfully come November 25th I’ll be brave enough to play where the people are, so I can play Christmas music (always an easy thing because those songs are pretty simple). Plus, if ever I was playng and a cute girl were to walk, sit down next to me, and listen to me play, I wouldn’t onbject.
Does anybody else enjoy (or try to enjoY) playing music for music sake for the peoples?
You might want to try playing where there are more people. Personally, I would be less nervous if I knew I was being listened to. I wouldn’t want to play nearly alone and then be surprised by the odd passerby.
In nice weather, I sometimes sit on the front steps of my podiatry office at lunch hour and play. Hearing live music always catches people by surprise and they seem to love it. Many of them have no idea what a whistle is, so I give them a bit of an education (and steer them to Chiff and Fipple, natch!).
Actually, me and my folk do it frequently at our school–I attend a private high school–and we hang out in the garden and play music. We have a mandolin, a guitar, a flutist, and a couple of whistles (I’m not yet skilled enough to join the fun). We get…mixed reactions. People either love us or hate us…unfortunately, most of the folk are entrenched in their pop music ways.
I have no idea if you are active in your church , but that’s an excellent place to break in your playing for a live audience. My first “public” appearance was playing for a prayer breakfast at a local church. It was such a warm and wonderful experience that I couldn’t wait to try it again. Not to mention that very few folks bring tomatoes or rotten eggs to church. That keeps the incidents of critical abuse to an acceptable level !!
So take it from there and re-arrange some Robbie Williams or Britney Spears songs (or whatever’s in, I’m not particularly aware of what is IN at any given time) that fit your instruments
