A Scientific Whistle Study

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:32 pm

Ok. Based on a comment in another thread, it got my scientific brain to thinking.

Just how many of us are Saxophone players turned Whistlers??

Please vote in the poll (will only go for 3 weeks)and stay tuned for the complete report!

Thanks!
~Isilwen Elanessë

tuaz · Post by **tuaz** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:48 pm

I voted "yes", but I'm not a former sax player because it's still my main instrument. So maybe the poll doesn't have enough options? From the poll, either you're an ex-sax player "converted" to whistles, or you're not.

Bretton · Post by **Bretton** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:51 pm

already mentioned this previously in another thread, but yes I played baritone sax for 7 years in school, then didn't play any instruments for a couple of years and finally "discovered" the whistle (and only later trad. Irish music).

The funny (or not so funny, really) thing is in 7 years of playing bari sax I don't ever remember running out of breath, and after 4 years of whistle playing I still don't have the breathing thing down to my satisfaction.

-brett

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 10:19 pm

erm... I only voted yes because I played Tenor Sax in the high school band and that was like... 20 years ago :roll: . I haven't thought of it in years. Band. I don't think it directly led me to the whistle, but now that I think about it, maybe my fingers got their first whistle training back then on the sax.

Rando7 · Post by **Rando7** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 10:32 pm

I too played baritone sax for a number of years. I always tell people they pick the sax player with the least talent to play bari.

spittin_in_the_wind · Sat Mar 15, 2003 10:59 pm

I still think we need to find out why....any suggestions for reasons? Sax is too loud and disturbs the neighbors? Jazz is less repetitious than Irish Trad, and I like repetition? Too many keys on the sax? My lower lip got a traumatic cyst from the constant biting? I'm allergic to bamboo (or whatever reeds are made of)? We gotta get this next poll right, and get some data!

Robin

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:03 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, Robin. I was intending this to be the first in a 'series' of 'questionnaires' for this Scientific study.

As to the subject heading of the poll, yes, people who still play sax in addition to whistle should vote yes. I still play my Alto on a regular basis, but I am pretty much 'converted' to whistle.

Is that clearer?

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:10 pm

:roll: Sometimes I hate technology!!! Now I just messed up my poll, and I need to delete two of the options... *sigh* Ok, how do you edit a poll??

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:33 pm

AAARGH!! How come it keeps adding options in when I DON'T WANT TO ADD OPTIONS IN!?!?! grrr!

Ok, people, just ignore the other Yes's and No's. Voting on the first one of each is fine.

*sigh* I really hate technology.

Jeferson · Post by **Jeferson** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 2:19 am

I'm a yes man here. Sax is really one of the easiest instruments to play, and the whistle is easier yet. Similar fingering concept (minus accidentals), easier mouth work, and the rest is history....very quick to pick up the whistle. Plus, with a whistle you've got things cheaper, smaller, and quieter.

Jef

PS I've still looking for the button I bought in high school that proclaimed "The Joy of Sax." My mom was thoroughly disgusted by it ... she claims she didn't throw it out, but I gotta wonder....

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 3:48 am

Well, I started on clarinet (clarionette to those in the know), which is ancestor of the Sax.

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 6:32 am

I played alto saxophone at one time. But, believe it or not, my first saxophone was an extremely crummy C-melody. Ane that reminds me. I have bought some early jazz recordings on a label called Dreyfus Jazz. If you like that sort of thing and can find this series of reissues, check them out. The one of which I was reminded was Bix Beiderbecke because C-melody saxophonist Frank Trambauer is on it.

Steve

chattiekathy · Post by **chattiekathy** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 7:37 am

Does it count if your Dad played sax? :roll:

rebl_rn · Post by **rebl_rn** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:03 am

I played sax in high school as well, tenor and bari (I agree with whoever says they pick the least talented to play bari). I still have my tenor sax, but haven't played in, oh, 15 years or so, since I don't have a mouthpiece (makes it a little difficult to play). I really liked playing the sax even though I wasn't very good at it.

Beth

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:22 am

As I mentioned before, I still own a beautiful Conn underslung Alto 'ladyface' dated 1935.I bought it from a woman who told me she used to play in an all-girl band(I remember that the original mouthpiece was 'gunged up' with lipstick!).I gradually taught myself a play.My original interest was jazz,from that I got more into blues for a while,though I'd always listened to a range of music. I guess that jazz is really a 'group art' and I sort of drifted away from the local scene(which at the time,mainly my 20's, was 'Trad./Dixieland anyway-Kind of strange but I did play in a Trad. 'practice band' for a while,though I was mainly listening to Monk,Mingus,Trane,'Free jazz',LOVE South African Jazz with it's Kwela influences!).Didn't play any music for a long,long time.Picked up whistle,mainly because of it's(deceptive) 'simplicity'-I wanted something 'straightforward',was sick of mucking about with reeds etc. etc. After two years, I now find myself ordering a set of Uilleann Pipes!

(maybe a return to sax would have been easier!

).

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