How long Have you been playing the Whistle?

Eric N · Post by **Eric N** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:59 pm

The first time I touched a Whistle was about four weeks ago. I have loved it since. Listening to the recordings of others play blows me away, and would be interested to see how long C&F members have been whistling.

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:03 pm

Thirty three years.
(I think I'm getting the hang of it now.)

Slan,
D.

JamesF · Post by **JamesF** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:17 pm

14 months

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:24 pm

You don't have my category: Still can't play it.

IDAwHOa · Post by **IDAwHOa** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:12 pm

blackhawk wrote:You don't have my category: Still can't play it.

Come on D, give yourself some credit. If YOU can't play, then I have not even learned how to blow through it yet!

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:34 pm

Since Christmas, 2003. First 3 weeks were difficult, for me and anyone in ear-shot. Since than I've bought better whistles, taken leassons, played with fellow learners and practiced a lot. I'm still not far enough along to play for others, but I hear improvements most days. Current problem is learning to breath all over again!!!!!!

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:18 pm

Since '95

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:29 pm

About 8 months--a few days less than I've been on C&F, as I placed my first order and signed on here on the same day.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:46 pm

Wow, I guess it's been over six years now.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:33 pm

It's been almost a year now for me....I found this site a few weeks before I ordered my very first whistle. As of yet, I can honestly admit that I have not fallen into the trap of WhOA. I wonder, though, if that's something I should be admiting to?

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:20 pm

About two years for me.

I bought my first whistle (a Clarke original model) a bit longer ago than that, but I didn't get really obsessive about it until a trip to Ireland a few months later.

I can't claim to be a top-notch player, but I've had a lot of fun and I am improving, however slowly.

fancypiper · Post by **fancypiper** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:41 pm

I think I got my first whistle in 1984 IIRC.

jkrazy52 · Post by **jkrazy52** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:29 am

I think I bought my 1st whistle (a tweaked Clarke) about 3 years ago, and let it sit in the box for 3 months before even trying to play. The next 6 months or so consisted of playing late at night in my workshop outside where there was no chance of being heard. Now everyone just has to suffer through my playing.... or is it playing at playing? Whatever, I'm not stopping any time soon, no matter how much they beg!

Blackhawk wrote:

You don't have my category: Still can't play it.

I was also looking for this category. Good thing the poll doesn't ask for level of proficiency -- but I'll wager you have me beat by a long shot, blackhawk!

~Judy

amar · Post by **amar** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:23 am

about 2.5years...i hope i'll get better..

sandman · Post by **sandman** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:20 am

I've played whistles since I was a wee boy on the isle of Mull in the 60s, made with a pocketknife out of the bark of rowan trees -- anyone remember the old northeast Scots poem that contains the lines:
"Ye cut a sappy sooker frae the muckle rodden tree,
Ye bend it and ye (something) it and ye whack it on yer knee..." etc etc.
Since then I moved on to "grown up" instruments and now play many (badly!). But I've had a Gen Bflat for as long as I can remember and about a year or five ago got a bunch more so's I could play with my trad friends as a break from jugband, R&B and jazz, seeing as how they're easier to carry than my zouks, mandos, etc.
Last week I got me first low D -- a Howard -- and discovered this board.
I have a whole new lease on life with the whistle, and even (I think) managed to turn on an unbeliever -- I played sax for singer Michelle Shocked a month or two ago and pulled out my Gen D on one of her songs. She dug it good!

Chiff and Fipple Forums