What People Say for Spring and Summer '09

This section of What People Say! will be available for additions. If you have non commercial information you would like to share with other whistlers just send me an email.

The following post comes from Beryl Branin, who is building a blog with news and music to download.

Hi Folks .

I'm still a'whistlin' and having a great time -- thank you. Just thought you might be interested in reading the March post I've put on my blog.

Gura mile maith, Beryl Branin

http://www.grammbo.typepad.com/grammbosramblings/ > grams blog banner

Dear Beryl,

My wife Nadiene and I are very impressed with your blog and the time you have taken to let us know you like your whistles. I will post your email on the WhistleSmith blog so others can read your note in "What people say"

Your email has certainly made our day while we have been cooped up with three days of very bad winter weather. Thanks again for your note, Rod Brewer, The WhistleSmith

Slide Flute finds New Friends and Places to Play!

Because the slide flute can be played very loudly, I am providing extra poly plugs to limit volume and allow a quieter more mellow sound if required. Inserting the poly plugs also cuts down on the amount of air required to play the flute.
An adjustable poly plug on the slide rod now allows adjustment to the tension of the slide. You can adjust the size of the plug with a common Phillips head screwdriver for best fit in the flute bore. Lubrication of the whistle remains a single drop of olive oil.
From information that I have recently received, I understand that the slide flute works best when the person learning to play starts out with making as many different sounds as possible. The sliding sounds are at first most popular. It is best if the person who is instructing tries to mimic the student's lead on the sounds being played.
After a session or two, the student generally begins to be confident enough to try blowing notes that are like the instructor. Making up tunes of their own is a large part of the fun and should be included in the daily routine. Loud and unexpected sounds are also very pleasing to the student and a part of relaxing and enjoying the music.
As sessions with the slide flute progress the student will become inventive and spend more time with the instrument. The instructor should encourage outdoor playing situations and search out some interesting settings where there are good acoustics. Echoes from the slide flute are especially nice sounds and the student will be encouraged by the improved music sounds they are getting from their slide flute.
Other ideas, like the student playing a rhythm line using a set single note and the instructor playing a tune that is familiar can produce wonderful results. Part of the fun is finding the perfect note for the student to play along with the instructor's tune. As time progresses, the student can reverse the role and play the tune and the instructor can play the drone and rhythm line.

Tips about Antique Reviews•Second Hand Instruments •Chat•RIP Archives

1. Don't buy second hand unless you can physically play the whistle and find out if it fits you and the type of music you are playing. Many whistles that are second hand have been modified by previous owners and may not be the same sounding instrument as it was when new. If the seller doesn't want the instrument and is trying to sell it, maybe you won't want it either. Would you buy a car without trying it out?...same deal with a whistle or anything else.

2. Do not put your faith in on line reviews that are out of date or based on second hand instruments that were once owned by the writer and are now traded off. Don't take anyone's word on how a particular brand plays or how wonderful it is. They are basing their opinion on one instrument out of perhaps hundreds of dozens made by the same whistle maker. Stradivarius when making violins surely didn't make every instrument with the same sound. Whistle makers usually have several models in the same key, so find the one that suits you best.

3. If you are a professional musician and are looking for an instrument that has a specific sound, go to the maker and play instruments until you find what you are looking for. The cost is minimal and whistlers should be as picky as a guitarist (play on words) or a violin player.

I get dozens of folks that drop by in the run of a year that are looking for a specific instrument. These folks are looking for their specific sound and they usually find an instrument that suits their needs. Often times they switch from a whistle to a flute or fife to get the sound they require. I sometimes regret I am off the path in Northern Maine as I'm sure many more folks would show up if the shop was farther south. But there again, I would miss all my Canadian friends that come by on their vacations and play a tune and purchase instruments.

4. Don't take chat room advise on buying whistles. It is entertaining to a degree to chat with others interested the same things you are interested in. However, many "chatters" will say they own or owned a particular whistle or flute and give it a thumbs up or down in favor of another brand. This is not always the truth and you have no way of verifying anything the "chatter" tells you.

5. No whistle maker wants to sell you an incorrectly made whistle or a whistle that does not fit your type of music. I see and handle dozens of instruments from other makers each year.The only thing that is consistanly wrong with these instruments is a problem anyone can fix. Without fail, the instrument has simply never been cleaned!

6. Check to see if the instrument you are going to purchase is still being made. Many online stores are selling old inventory,unpopular models or the maker is out of business or deceased and has been for some time. Warranties are no good to you if there is no one home anymore to make them valid.

7. Check the web site you are reading to see if the postings are current and really valid. If the web site is a cemetery of old information, Antique Reviews and long gone makers, let the writer know in a kindly manner to put those entries in an RIP (rest in peace) directory so everyone is reading valid, up to date information.

Blog Cleanup and Archived Files

If you have been searching the Internet for information, you have probably run into hundreds of dead ends on your search. After finding a web site with information on the item you are looking for, you find the information to be old, out of date and many times out of business.

I have been archiving many entries that no longer are valid into The Old Whistle Stuff Archive of this blog. Most entries have been edited out, but give you a redirect to the current instrument and how it is made. In this manner, you find only the new information and the updated features on that particular whistle, flute or fife.

This blog always opens on the "Main Page" which contains the most current entries made on the web site. Please use the directory to go to information that you are interested in.

I invite anyone to be an editor if you find a mistake or information that is out of date on the web site. I use all means possible to keep everything spelled and in proper context, but posting errors are often a problem when blogging. I appreciate your help on keeping things current.