After a few weeks of forced lurking, (I couldn’t find the welcome email at first… thanks again for your help Ben!) I thought it was time to say hello and make an introduction.
I’ve long been collecting wind instruments. When I was little I got one of those red and white Flutaphones at school and I would spend hours chirping along with the birdies on the swingset. I added some tinwhistles, native flutes, a Hall crystal, and some others from around the world (I have something from Turkey, not sure what that one is actually) over the years, and took up a Boehm flute in my teens (never with lessons though).
Somewhere recently I stumbled on some Irish Flute recordings online and now I just HAVE to have myself an Irish flute This has led me down the rabbits hole into the world of ITM. Can’t get enough! The husband says that I need to save my pennies since I have already made some other large purchases in the guitar category this year, so I am spending my time with my good old Clark whistle in C, learning some tunes via the Blaine Chastain free intro lessons. I hope to buy a Shannon from Walt Sweet soon, but I’m adding a Low D whistle, and a Freeman Blackbird to my wishlist as well.
Absolutely loving having some ITM playing around the house. The kids and I break out in dance throughout the day… and ITM is my new drug of choice when I am doing household chores, because how can you be anything but happy when listening to Irish dance tunes??? I put my husband on notice, and told him he needs to behave, or I will run away with Michael McGoldrick
Anyway, I have really been enjoying the forum… and thought I ought to post something and make my presence official.
I think a lot of folks hereabouts have had flutophones or tonettes somewhere in their musical background. I certainly had both, but neither through school.
Well, now that you’re all official and everything, I guess it’s safe to say Welcome!
That I haven’t decided yet. I was looking at Walt’s ONYX (with kids around, tough materials are a plus).
I’d like something sweet sounding, not overly breathy… not wood at this time because of durability, so either aluminum or delrin or some such. I also don’t have the smallest hands in the world, but I’ll probably have to take finger stretch into consideration. I’d be fine with pipers grip I’m sure though.
If you have suggestions, I’d be glad to entertain them!
I’ve been watching the used flutes come and go, but it will take me a few months to get the money together. Unless I can do some serious sweet talking of the husband Don’t think I’m not trying! (Not that he’s an Ebenezer… I just happen to be good at finding reasons to spend money, and we are working on our spending habits)
For now, my wish list still resides firmly in wish territory.
Welcome to the looney bin
I guess you’re in th US? In that case, flute-wise, i’d recommend a Rob Forbes or Copley Delrin. Actually my first choice would be, and indeed is a Francois Baubet (http://www.francoisbaubet.com )
Cheers!
Welcome to the forum. I second the Dixon tapered bore Low D as a great first buy. Easy to play, nice tone and it won’t break the bank. I still use mine for transcribing tunes at my desk or if I’m too tired to pick up my main Low Ds.
I’m a long-time whistle player, play mostly box now, but dabble on the flute, and get great satisfaction out of it. Recently I was offered one of these “practice flutes” for a song.
It’s great. I am amazed at the serious tone you can get out of the thing. I leave it lying around the house and most of the time don’t bother to get out and assemble the wooden flute. Plus it doesn’t need wiping. Forget the low D whistle and get stuck into learning flute with something like this.
Although it probably won’t cost enough to satisfy your spending urges.
This has led me down the rabbits hole into the world of ITM. Can’t get enough! The husband says that I need to save my pennies since I have already made some other large purchases in the guitar category this year, so I am spending my time with my good old Clark whistle in C, learning some tunes via the Blaine Chastain free intro lessons. I hope to buy a Shannon from Walt Sweet soon, but I’m adding a Low D whistle, and a Freeman Blackbird to my wishlist as well.
