The whistles are taking over the bus!

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:29 pm

One of my friends to whom I had sent whistles in Iraq (made from parts leftover from making tweaked Mellow Dogs), and who happens to be local, came home from duty a few weeks ago.

Shortly thereafter, Irina (eighth grade) told me that her friend on the bus (the returning soldier's daughter) had one of my C whistles and it was like, awesome cool and could she like, have one?

Then the next day, she told me three more of her friends on the bus wanted them, and I gave them to her.

And today, maybe two weeks later, she came back for three more.

They're teaching each other tunes. It's completely spontaneous among the children with no adult organization whatever, and it's about as cool as anything I've encountered.

I received a pre-plastic Generation Eb whistle recently. I got home with it, sat down at my desk and started playing Amazing Grace, which isn't one of the tunes I usually play. After a short time, Irina arrived at my side, almost with a thud, as though propelled by a bungee cord, with an expression of intense interest.

"What?" I asked.

"WHAT'S THAT SONG?!?!?" She demanded.

"It's Amazing Grace."

"I want to learn it!"

So we spent the next hour or so getting the sheet music, words and story for Amazing Grace, and she learned to play it.

Now I keep hearing Amazing Grace coming from other parts of the house, and I must say, it gives me a thrill every time. I've always been deeply affected by that song, and all the more so when it's being played spontaneously by a child.

Magic.

Best wishes,
Jerry

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:40 pm

Jerry Freeman wrote:They're teaching each other tunes. It's completely spontaneous among the children...

That is absolutely terrific! Best thing I've heard all day. Maybe today's youth isn't all lost.

Jerry Freeman wrote:I received a pre-plastic Generation Eb whistle recently.

I was not aware of any pre-plastic Generations. What does it look like?
Is it one-piece metal, like a Clarke original, but cylindrical?

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:46 pm

Poured lead fipple plug, like the old "In Tune" Barnett Samuel, et al. whistles, and like the old, extinct Hohner whistles, except the Hohner whistles had a different, harder metal for the fipple plug.

The plastic mouthpieces were introduced in the late forties or early fifties, shortly after injection molded plastic began to be widely used.

Best wishes,
Jerry

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:51 pm

Wow, nifty! Thanks for the info.
It's interesting that plastic fipples have been around so long.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:51 pm

Jerry Freeman wrote: "I want to learn it!"

So we spent the next hour or so getting the sheet music, words and story for Amazing Grace, and she learned to play it.

It doesn't get any better than that!

Congrats,
Denny

amar · Post by **amar** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:01 pm

Jerry Freeman wrote:One of my friends to whom I had sent whistles in Iraq (made from parts leftover from making tweaked Mellow Dogs), and who happens to be local, came home from duty a few weeks ago.

Shortly thereafter, Irina (eighth grade) told me that her friend on the bus (the returning soldier's daughter) had one of my C whistles and it was like, awesome cool and could she like, have one?

Then the next day, she told me three more of her friends on the bus wanted them, and I gave them to her.

And today, maybe two weeks later, she came back for three more.

They're teaching each other tunes. It's completely spontaneous among the children with no adult organization whatever, and it's about as cool as anything I've encountered.

I received a pre-plastic Generation Eb whistle recently. I got home with it, sat down at my desk and started playing Amazing Grace, which isn't one of the tunes I usually play. After a few minutes, Irina arrived at my side, almost with a thud, as though propelled by a bungee cord, with an expression of intense interest.

"What?" I asked.

"WHAT'S THAT SONG?!?!?" She demanded.

"It's Amazing Grace."

"I want to learn it!"

So we spent the next hour or so getting the sheet music, words and story for Amazing Grace, and she learned to play it.

Now I keep hearing Amazing Grace coming from other parts of the house, and I must say, it gives me a thrill every time. I've always been deeply affected by that song, and all the more so when it's being played spontaneously by a child.

Magic.

Best wishes,
Jerry

beautiful.
thanks.

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:03 pm

Quote of the day:

I was just now showing Irina this thread. As she was reading it, I trimmed my fingernails with a pair of scissors. As I trimmed the nails of my right hand she asked, "Are you left handed?"

Best wishes,
Jerry

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:08 pm

fearfaoin wrote:Wow, nifty! Thanks for the info.
It's interesting that plastic fipples have been around so long.

I may be guessing late forties or early fifties; I think I got that date range from some logical source, but I can't remember, so it's possible they're later than that. Can anyone help pin that down better?

Best wishes,
Jerry

talimirr743 · Post by **talimirr743** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:31 pm

Thats really awsome! Now maybe some kids might learn something about their own rich heritage!

chattiekathy · Post by **chattiekathy** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:49 pm

How Awesome is that?!!! Thanks for sharing this nice experience with us Jerry. I wonder what the bus driver is thinking?

Cheers,
Kathy

Craig Stuntz · Post by **Craig Stuntz** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:12 pm

The other day I put on an Altan CD (Local Ground) while I was cooking in the kitchen. My three year-old daughter started lilting along with the Irish (language) words of track one, then dancing to track two (Tommy Peoples et. al.). She was really getting into the CD, so I asked her, "Which band do you like more, Altan or the Tannahill weavers?"

She eventually answered the Tannahill Weavers, but she had to think about it for a while. I was just glad that she had such good taste in music that she could consider the matter carefully.

Kingfisher · Post by **Kingfisher** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:16 pm

Great story , Jerry ! Thanks for sharing it with us. I've got to give Irina credit for good taste. Amazing Grace has always been my favorite too !

Have a Great Day and Fun Whistling !!

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:11 pm

That is pretty cool.

jkrazy52 · Post by **jkrazy52** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:58 pm

Jerry Freeman wrote:So we spent the next hour or so getting the sheet music, words and story for Amazing Grace, and she learned to play it.

Now I keep hearing Amazing Grace coming from other parts of the house, and I must say, it gives me a thrill every time. I've always been deeply affected by that song, and all the more so when it's being played spontaneously by a child.

Magic.

Pure magic!

Thanks for the story, Jerry! It's wonderful.

Judy

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The whistles are taking over the bus!

The whistles are taking over the bus!

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