Has anyone ever done this?

Wandering_Whistler · Post by **Wandering_Whistler** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 6:32 pm

Speaking of playing in public, I was practicing Cliffs of Moher on the way home from work today. At the red light near my house, a 20-something guy says all polite like: "Excuse me sir..(I turn to look)..that is absolutely amazing! What is that called?"

So, I gave him all the info I could give him for 30 seconds at a redlight. Maybe he'll even buy one from the Whistle Shop, as I suggested.

Greg

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 9:09 pm

My parents' new dog reacts to my playing by jumping in my lap and hitting the whistle with her nose. Not sure if she's trying to stop my playing or join in the fun.

<IMG SRC="http://www.harmonyware.com/pictures/sol1_small.jpg>

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 9:12 pm

Hmmm... tried to include a picture there, and only seem to have upset the BBoard software here. Sigh. Anyway, the picture's URL is http://www.harmonyware.com/pictures/sol1_small.jpg

gemm84 · Post by **gemm84** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 9:16 pm

I used to play the whistle during band when the teacher was working with the saxophones or trombones or whatnot. Everyone would ask me what the hell I was doing with a recorder. Mostly they liked it though. Then people started asking me to bring them whistles...

brianormond · Post by **brianormond** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 11:53 pm

-Reaction from a hitherto unknown hound in this pet-limited apartment building
has been varied.
The pooch keeps silent for "Planxty Fanny Power", but howls against "Si Beag Si Mor" and "The Sally
Gardens" . I like dogs, covert or not, and won't rat on it, but hope to make sense of its taste in whistle music. Maybe a low whistle or something other than airs and pieces employing long notes at dog-disturbing pitch.

-As for playing in public, at bus stops, etc.,
sensitivity to listeners/situations is a good idea. Some situations do not reward a person drawing attention to one's self, and it could backfire. On the other hand, folks stuck in a long wait
and bored might welcome it.
A piece played well/not too intrusively
might be OK, especially if kids are around. I drive a Seattle bus, and ask people not to play instruments onboard as it distracts me and because not everyone on board will like it. - I once asked a good alto sax player to quiet even though his music had unanimous rider approval:- It was so sweet it was putting me to sleep!

Peace

[ This Message was edited by: brianormond on 2002-06-18 02:04 ]

douga · Post by **douga** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 9:15 am

On 2002-06-17 23:12, colomon wrote:
Hmmm... tried to include a picture there, and only seem to have upset the BBoard software here. Sigh. Anyway, the picture's URL is http://www.harmonyware.com/pictures/sol1_small.jpg

My dog reacts to my playing of any "non-plunky" instrument (whistle, fiddle, etc.) by howling. I used to think it was a comment on my playing, but I think it's just a pack (as in dog pack) reaction. Of course, maybe she perceives my playing as howling.

LeeMarsh · Post by **LeeMarsh** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 11:30 am

I enjoy slipping in a little practice play when I'm waiting for a train, or waiting for my wife to pick me up from the station. My feeling about any playing in public is that it's great and well recieved as long as your respect the rights of others.
I try to moderate my right to self-expression with the public's right to not to have to listen. Accordingly, unless invited, I don't play in circumstances where there is a captive audience.

I don't play in line to get my train ticket. However, when they announce that the train is going to be 30 minutes late I'll wander down to the end of the platform and play whistle or flute to pass the time. People who don't like what I'm playing, can easily stay out of ear range. Suprisingly, to me, instead of repelling folks, it seems to attract some of them down to listen. I guess any distraction to escape from the tedium of waiting is better than just standing and complaining.

Part of my feeling about this has grown out of my experiences with teenagers, boom-boxes, and car stereos. I want them to enjoy their music, but not at the expense of my ears.

So as long as we show these little curtesies, I think we all should be free to ...

_________________

Enjoy Your Music, Lee Marsh 

[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-06-19 13:31 ]

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 1:47 pm

My cat is interesting... she has definite musical tastes. She is pretty much neutral towards the low whistles, although at first she would come and see what the noise was, now she just looks and then ignores. She doesn't like the high whistles too much, usually she will leave the room. Amazingly, (and appropriately, since it is the best instrument!) she always seems to come and find me when I am practising my french horn, and when I play (a record) Mozart's Horn Concertos, she comes to the stereo system to hear better.

Nico

thurlowe · Post by **thurlowe** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 7:41 am

Wonderful article on subway musicians in today's NY Times (hope this works):

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/20/arts/ ... sheadlines

If that doesn't work, it's a headline in the arts section of today's nytimes.com.

jinje · Post by **jinje** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 7:59 am

sitting in the car park waiting for my wife to return from shopping, I've almost lost my embarassment at the strange looks I keep getting. I'ts becoming quite good fun

Blackbird · Post by **Blackbird** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 11:15 am

When my kids were a bit younger and needed supervision at the park, I used to bring a whistle sometimes and tentatively practice off to the side. I always received some smiles and polite comments from kids and parents, even when I was a raw beginner.
I've also played in the car while waiting for my kids to come out of school. But I would be nervous of playing in a lineup where people couldn't get away if they didn't like it. The whistle's sound isn't really for everyone.

ErikT · Post by **ErikT** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 11:36 pm

I love playing in public, but I haven't played in a line... I do what Lee does and try to play in public where they can escape or at least get far enough away - like train platforms.

I've played in a lot of castles and ruins and an old Roman ampitheater. They make for great acoustics.

This past weekend we were at a park (a very strange park - a mixture between Pike Place Market and Balboa Park) and there was a sunken ampitheater. I couldn't resist taking the stage. It was fun to watch people come to peer over the edge to see what was happening. Then I went to play in the playground while my child did her best to damage herself. It is always fun to watch children react to whistles.

Erik