Do You Play Everyday/Which Whistles/Same?
- lyrick
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:44 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: The U S and A
I play every day for 15 minutes to an hour, sometimes more on weekends. The whistles I play regularly are Humphrey narrow-bore D (pre-Stealth), Sindt D, Sindt C, O'Briain Improved Eb, Burke NB D, Oak D, and Sindt Bb, roughly in that order as far as time spent on them.
Most of my time is spent on the first three listed (Humphrey D, and Sindt D & C). It depends which one I pick up first, though, I'll sometimes pick up the Oak first and be quite happy with just playing that one. I'll probably get into the Bb more as time goes on, but for now I'm still enjoying the higher keys a lot.
I also have a Feadog that's very playable, and some Generations I don't care for much. Absolutely no desire for more whistles. I'm having lots of fun playing, the enjoyment just goes up as I slowly get better. Only play ITM.
Most of my time is spent on the first three listed (Humphrey D, and Sindt D & C). It depends which one I pick up first, though, I'll sometimes pick up the Oak first and be quite happy with just playing that one. I'll probably get into the Bb more as time goes on, but for now I'm still enjoying the higher keys a lot.
I also have a Feadog that's very playable, and some Generations I don't care for much. Absolutely no desire for more whistles. I'm having lots of fun playing, the enjoyment just goes up as I slowly get better. Only play ITM.
Love...Serve...Remember
- MacNeil
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:12 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Maple Valley, Washington
- Contact:
Since taking up the whistle again (after an hiatus of a couple of decades ), I try to get in some playing every day. Right now, I find I am using a Sweetone D for most of my playing. I have a Freeman-tweaked Generation D that is really my all-time favorite, but is about to be sent back to the shop for service, so I'm getting used to the Sweetone. I also have an untweaked nickel GenD (nice, but a bit flaky in the Generation style, and no match for the "Jerry-ration" in any event) and a Susato low D on which I might, eventually, manage to get through a whole tune without squwaks, unintentional octave changes, or vanishing notes.
-
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:30 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Coasta Maine
Daily play
Hi PhilO, Great meeting you at The NEWG in July !
I often play about an hour a day spread out over a few periods sometimes. I often skip a day because I don't have the time.
A recent favourite is my Burke E nat brass Black Tip. Delightful to play.
Then, I got a D sop White Cap on an Oak, which I played a lot.
The new WW D sop I got from Tyghress at the NEWG then took over a prominent role.
Now I've been devoting major play time on my new Humphrey Stealth narrow bore E flat sop, so as to get used to it.
The most recently acquired instrument seems to be the one that gets the most play time for me, as of late.l I've yet to use the new Humphrey narrow bore D and E nat tubes very much at all.
I'm probably at the point where I've got enough whistles.
Nah !
RamblDoc
I often play about an hour a day spread out over a few periods sometimes. I often skip a day because I don't have the time.
A recent favourite is my Burke E nat brass Black Tip. Delightful to play.
Then, I got a D sop White Cap on an Oak, which I played a lot.
The new WW D sop I got from Tyghress at the NEWG then took over a prominent role.
Now I've been devoting major play time on my new Humphrey Stealth narrow bore E flat sop, so as to get used to it.
The most recently acquired instrument seems to be the one that gets the most play time for me, as of late.l I've yet to use the new Humphrey narrow bore D and E nat tubes very much at all.
I'm probably at the point where I've got enough whistles.
Nah !
RamblDoc
- Tom Dowling
- Posts: 511
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: Well, I've been a contributor and visitor to this site since 2001. At one time or another, one of my photographs was the opening page photograph. My teacher was Bill Ochs. I play the Penny Whistle. Not a lot else to say.
- Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
I strive for an hour a day of practice, find that I hit that goal less often that I would like, variable with the demands of my 'day job' , family and the world in general. I am fickle--sort of a serial monogamist--in what I pick up, but in a given week will most certainly lay hands on 'D' whistles made by (in purely alphabetical order) Michael Burke, Tony Dixon, Colin Goldie, Mack Hoover and John Sindt. When in the mood for the sound of an E-flat, I resort to a favorite Mack Hoover whitecap or a fine John Sindt.
Special occasions call for a little Fred Rose or Ralph Sweet. I can't bring myself to take them down to the garage on the irrational basis that I will drop them on the concrete--something I have managed not to do yet with any whistle, wood, plastic, composite, metal or otherwise. In any event, the wooden guys get played when I've got carpet under my feet.
Tom D.
Special occasions call for a little Fred Rose or Ralph Sweet. I can't bring myself to take them down to the garage on the irrational basis that I will drop them on the concrete--something I have managed not to do yet with any whistle, wood, plastic, composite, metal or otherwise. In any event, the wooden guys get played when I've got carpet under my feet.
Tom D.
- Caru
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
I suppose I play most days, but not for a regular time or anything. Sometimes it'll be an hour and a half all at once, other times only a tune here and there. I've got most of my whistles in the kitchen, so I'll often play a little while waiting for water to boil or whatever.
I usually play my Silkstone alloy D+, especially if I'm running straight through a new music book to see which tunes I might like to work on. It feels the most natural and reliable -- I can concentrate on the music, not on making the whistle do what I want it to. I often play the plastic low A or G if someone else is in the room. They're mellower and rarely sound piercing. Lately I've found myself picking up my new Reyburn low D whenever I've got a few spare minutes.
Maybe about half the time I'll use a different whistle part of the time. I try to cycle in my newer aquisitions so I can start to get to know them better. Lately this has been a series of high Ds (Reyburn, Bleazey, Hoover, Overton) and an Overton F and a Water Weasel A. I like a lot of my whistles, but I keep going back to the Silkstone. Everything else sounds just a little muddy or feathery next to it. Going back to it feels like coming home.
I usually play my Silkstone alloy D+, especially if I'm running straight through a new music book to see which tunes I might like to work on. It feels the most natural and reliable -- I can concentrate on the music, not on making the whistle do what I want it to. I often play the plastic low A or G if someone else is in the room. They're mellower and rarely sound piercing. Lately I've found myself picking up my new Reyburn low D whenever I've got a few spare minutes.
Maybe about half the time I'll use a different whistle part of the time. I try to cycle in my newer aquisitions so I can start to get to know them better. Lately this has been a series of high Ds (Reyburn, Bleazey, Hoover, Overton) and an Overton F and a Water Weasel A. I like a lot of my whistles, but I keep going back to the Silkstone. Everything else sounds just a little muddy or feathery next to it. Going back to it feels like coming home.
- Katta
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:34 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Germany
- Contact:
Well, I only began playing the whistle about two and a half weeks ago, but so far I have practised daily (average about half an hour, sometimes more, sometimes a little less) except for one day when I was feeling rather sick. (And probably won't have time for it tomorrow since I probably won't be home before eight p.m. and it wouldn't be too nice towards my neighbours to practise then, the whistle is rather shrill in the second octave... :roll: )
As you can probably guess, my choice of whistles is rather limited, so far I own a Generation nickle D - but I am thinking about getting a "better" one, maybe a Burke, that hopefully isn't as shrill in the second octave (since I already have tinnitus... :roll: ).
Anyway, I hope to keep my practice hours up that way so I can progress quickly (at my stage progress is happening pretty quickly anyway that's what keeps up the motivation ).
As you can probably guess, my choice of whistles is rather limited, so far I own a Generation nickle D - but I am thinking about getting a "better" one, maybe a Burke, that hopefully isn't as shrill in the second octave (since I already have tinnitus... :roll: ).
Anyway, I hope to keep my practice hours up that way so I can progress quickly (at my stage progress is happening pretty quickly anyway that's what keeps up the motivation ).
- Theo
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:24 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Enschede, the Netherlands
- Contact:
Katta: A Burke would be a good choice for a non-shrill whistle, but if you want to stay cheap, get a Sweetone or a Meg. Although (to stay with the subject) these are my least played whistles, they don't sound shrill. Not even a high B.
I only own cheap whistles so far, and my Feadog D gets the most play time, almost half an hour per day. I just like the sound of it.
I only own cheap whistles so far, and my Feadog D gets the most play time, almost half an hour per day. I just like the sound of it.
- Wanderer
- Posts: 4461
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:49 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I've like been here forever ;)
But I guess you gotta filter out the spambots.
100 characters? Geeze. - Location: Tyler, TX
- Contact:
a Laughing Whistle is pretty good for non-shrill...cheaper than a Burke, and has a neat telescoping property, but has the trade off of uncertain wait times and evidently sometimes there's difficulty in getting ahold of the maker.Theo wrote:Katta: A Burke would be a good choice for a non-shrill whistle, but if you want to stay cheap, get a Sweetone or a Meg. Although (to stay with the subject) these are my least played whistles, they don't sound shrill. Not even a high B.
I only own cheap whistles so far, and my Feadog D gets the most play time, almost half an hour per day. I just like the sound of it.
- buddhu
- Posts: 4092
- Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:14 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: In a ditch, just down the road from the pub
- Contact:
I play most days for 10 or 15 minutes. I used to play for about 30 mins each lunchtime, but at the moment that time is allocated for exercise... My whistle practice time has also been dented by the fact that I'm also practicing tenor banjo, mandolin and sometimes guitar. Not enough hours in a day...
Usually playing my Dixon ABS/aluminium D and C whistles or blu tac tweaked nickel Feadog D and C. If I'm out and about it'll be the Doolin 2-piece D tube with tweaked black Feadog head.
Usually playing my Dixon ABS/aluminium D and C whistles or blu tac tweaked nickel Feadog D and C. If I'm out and about it'll be the Doolin 2-piece D tube with tweaked black Feadog head.
And whether the blood be highland, lowland or no.
And whether the skin be black or white as the snow.
Of kith and of kin we are one, be it right, be it wrong.
As long as our hearts beat true to the lilt of a song.
And whether the skin be black or white as the snow.
Of kith and of kin we are one, be it right, be it wrong.
As long as our hearts beat true to the lilt of a song.
- Wormdiet
- Posts: 2575
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:17 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: GreenSliabhs
I play for several hours a day, usually. But, just about all of that is on flute. I'll use my whistles in the following circumstances:
1) Gen Bb for *playing* tunes in the car
2) New-style Oak or Meg D for *learning* tunes in the car
3) Either of the above get taken to sessions as loaners. I'll also pull out one of them for Harvest Home or similar.
4) When my lips are too freaking tired to play flute, a whistle will come out.
5) I have a Meg C with lousy intonaion, but it's handy for learning tunes from albums in weird keys.
1) Gen Bb for *playing* tunes in the car
2) New-style Oak or Meg D for *learning* tunes in the car
3) Either of the above get taken to sessions as loaners. I'll also pull out one of them for Harvest Home or similar.
4) When my lips are too freaking tired to play flute, a whistle will come out.
5) I have a Meg C with lousy intonaion, but it's handy for learning tunes from albums in weird keys.
OOOXXO
Doing it backwards since 2005.
Doing it backwards since 2005.
Everyday, for at least an hour total, sometimes much more than that. Given my weird work lack-of-schedule, I try to fit in some playing whenever I have a few free moments.
Mostly the same handful of whistles - Syn D & C, Serpent Sweet Polly D, Humphrey D & C, Chieftain A, Howard Low D.
When I have more time at home, I break out my Serpent F - it takes a while to warm up, but once it's well-warmed-up I hate to put it down.
The main problem of an erratic scedule is that it's harder to work on new tunes (for me, anyway), so I'm mostly polishing pieces I know already. I like to have an undisturbed hour or two when I'm learning a new piece, preferably somewhere that I can play without the repetition and mistakes drivng other people to homicidal madness.
Mostly the same handful of whistles - Syn D & C, Serpent Sweet Polly D, Humphrey D & C, Chieftain A, Howard Low D.
When I have more time at home, I break out my Serpent F - it takes a while to warm up, but once it's well-warmed-up I hate to put it down.
The main problem of an erratic scedule is that it's harder to work on new tunes (for me, anyway), so I'm mostly polishing pieces I know already. I like to have an undisturbed hour or two when I'm learning a new piece, preferably somewhere that I can play without the repetition and mistakes drivng other people to homicidal madness.
- PhilO
- Posts: 2931
- Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: New York
If only 30 minutes or an hour of exercise is allotted daily, is that in the yard, as in you're in solitary in a facility?buddhu wrote:I play most days for 10 or 15 minutes. I used to play for about 30 mins each lunchtime, but at the moment that time is allocated for exercise...
Philo
"This is this; this ain't something else. This is this." - Robert DeNiro, "The Deer Hunter," 1978.
- Unseen122
- Posts: 3542
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2004 7:21 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: Of course I'm not a bot; I've been here for years... Apparently that isn't enough to pass muster though!
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
I usually do the same thing and esspeccially recently as I have had to play a Brass instrument a lot my lips aqre usually pretty tired.Wormdiet wrote:I play for several hours a day, usually. But, just about all of that is on flute. I'll use my whistles in the following circumstances:
4) When my lips are too freaking tired to play flute, a whistle will come out.
- littlejohngael
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I've been with Chiff and Fipple since shortly after I bought my first low D. I've learned loads from this community, and I intend to continue to learn and contribute. Many thanks to Dale and everyone who makes this site happen.
- Location: In the middle of a poetic moment ...