Category Archives: Flute & Whistle

Published by: | On 18/09/2018

Posted In Banjo, Flute & Whistle, General News, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Squeezebox, Ukulele, Violin |

Gift Vouchers from Eagle Music

Start shopping nice and early for Christmas 2018 folks!

Take the strain out of choosing a gift for your friends and loved ones and give an ‘Eagle Music Gift Voucher’ …Buy the value that you want at the time of your order.
• From £10.00
The Eagle Music Shop gift voucher is a brilliant gift to give to your musical friends and loved ones for Christmas, Birthday or that special occasion. The gift voucher can be used at any time at Eagle Music in the shop, by post or over the telephone. This gift idea takes out the problem of buying the ‘wrong’ musical gift! The value can be added to by the user at the time of ‘spending’ the voucher. Please use the drop-down options to buy your gift voucher. We write in the value and sign your gift voucher before sending it to you by FIRST CLASS UK FREE POST

https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/novelty-music-gift-ideas/gift-voucher.htm

 

Published by: | On 08/01/2013

Posted In Flute & Whistle |

Whistle Care & Maintenance – Looking after your whistle, a guide by Eagle Music

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We are often asked how do I look after my Whistle, and how do I clean it? Here Eagle Music answers in simple terms the important do’s and don’ts regarding general care of your whistle, storing, cleaning and transporting your whistle safely.

Eagle Music Shop has a fully equipped on-site workshop facility and offers a full set-up and repair service for all instruments.

It is important to treat your whistle with the utmost care as dents and damages can make play out of tune or even be impossible to play at all.

Take care with the mouthpiece (fipple) and always ensure it is clean and free from dirt. If your whistle is tunable from time to time apply a small amount of joint grease onto the joints to ease sliding it to tune it.

After each use, clean out the bore of your whistle and remove any moisture or dirt that has settled there. This can be done with what is called a flute/whistle  mop which is made from lint free wadding held in position by thin wire that is wrapped around it and also forms a shaft and handle.

You can also clean and disinfect your whistles by swishing them around in a tub of water that has a small amount of disinfectant mixed in with it. Dry the whistle with a clean lint free cloth.

Always put your whistle back in its case when not in use. Eagle have dedicated Extreme Protection cases for flutes and whistles.

Published by: | On 08/01/2013

Posted In Flute & Whistle |

Flute Care & Maintenance – Looking after your Flute, a guide by Eagle Music

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We are often asked how do I look after my Flute?  and how do I clean it? Here eagle Music answers in simple terms the important do’s and don’ts regarding general care of your flute, storing, cleaning and transporting your flute safely.

Eagle Music Shop has a fully equipped on-site workshop facility and offers a full set-up and repair service for all instruments.

Cleaning and Maintenance

It is important to treat your flute with the utmost care as minor damages can make the instrument leak air, play out of tune or even be impossible to play at all, especially in the case of flutes that have keys!

Take care when assembling your flute and alway rotate in in the same direction as you assemble each section and align the holes for playing, from time to time apply a small amount of Cork Grease onto the joints to ease assemble and protect the cork joint.

On keyed flutes, it is important to inspect the cork pads from time to time and ensure that they are seating correctly and not ‘losing air’. take special  care at all times not to bend the keys.

After each use, clean out the bore of your flute and remove any moisture or dirt that has settled there. This can be done with what is called a ‘pull through’ you can make simple pull through with a thin piece of string or nylon cord with a tiny lead weight on one end and a piece of lint free rag on the other end. the rag can be impregnated with a drop of almond oil to oil the bore as you pull through. You can also use a manufactured flute mop which is made from lint free wadding held in position by thin wire that is wrapped around it and also forms a long shaft and handle.

Wipe over the outside of your flute from time to time with a lint free rag impregnated with a small amount of almond oil, take care not to bend any of the keys. Do not use excessive  amounts of oil each time you clean your wooden flute, a small amount is sufficient keep the timber from drying out.

Please Note: Never use any other kind of oil other than ‘edible’ oil on your flute. Industrial type oils can poison you.

Always put your flute back in its case when not in use. Eagle have dedicated Extreme Protection cases for flutes and whistles.

Published by: | On 08/01/2013

Posted In Flute & Whistle |

Flute & Whistle buyers guide by Eagle Music including explanations of types and makers

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Flutes and Whistles by George Ormiston, Desi Seery, Dixon, Brian Howard Low Whistles, Chieftain, Generation, Shaw Whistles, Clarke’s, Susato. Our choice of woodwind instruments at Eagle Music Shop is second to none and probably the finest in the UK.

We offer an excellent range of flutes and whistles from some of the world’s most respected makers. Many of the greatest flute players started out by learning to play the modest Generation or Feadog type ‘D’ tin whistle. It is one of the most compact and easy to learn instruments. Here at Eagle Music Shop we carry a superb range of other whistles including Susato high whistles and low whistles from the USA, Chieftain high and low whistles, Clarke’s and Shaw conical tin whistles, Clarke’s Sweetone and other simple models from Waltons. Low or Tenor whistles have become very popular over the past couple of years or so and we offer handmade whistles from Brian Howard and the world-class range of Chieftain high and low aluminium alloy whistles that are chosen by many professionals.

Within our range of flutes there is a model for all levels of player. From the simple system ‘D’ practice flute to handmade silver keyed models hand built in Scotland by George Ormiston. We also carry the range of ‘space age’ Irish made Desi Seery flutes that are turned from high impact Dupont Delrin Acetal Resin. The superb range of Rhiannon bamboo flutes are available to order. We carry many tin whistle tuition, flute tuition and tune books. Videos are also available from Eagle Music Shop giving you a one-to-one lesson with some of the worlds greatest tin whistle players. Also please check out our fabulous range of exclusive ‘Extreme Protection’ gig bags and cases custom designed for flute and whistle.

The ‘Tin’ Whistle – Simplified Explanations

In these notes we shall just refer to this musical instrument as simply a ‘Whistle’.

Many names are used to describe a whistle, tin whistle, Irish whistle, feadóg stáin, flageolet, penny whistle etc.

A brand of traditional  ‘Tin Whistle’ was made from  tin, and it was also called the ‘Penny Whistle’ because in the early part of the 19th century you could buy one for an old penny!

The most popular whistle to start playing is a High whistle in the key of D This is the whistle that is predominantly used in Irish traditional, Scottish and english folk music.

Modern whistles are made from all different materials including tin, brass, copper, aluminium, plastic, bamboo and all different kinds of wood. They come in many different  musical keys. The key of the whistle (musical pitch) determines what size the whistle will be.  ‘High’ whistles are generally small and short and ‘Low’ whistles are generally long.

A whistle has six holes that you place your fingers on and off to play musical scales as you blow down the whistle, it also has a hole at the bottom of its body (because it is cylindrical) it also has two holes in the mouthpiece (the mouthpiece is also called the Fipple) one hole that the player blows through and another hole that you must not cover when playing.

Most Popular Size and Key

The  most popular size is the HIGH WHISTLE range. Within this range are soprano and mezzo soprano whistles. You will find D E F and G (soprano) and  Bb B C (Mezzo soprano .The G soprano whistle is the smallest and the Bb (mezzo Soprano) is the largest in the Generation range. The best quality makes to choose from within this range include Generation,Tony Dixon, Shaw, Clarke’s, Feadóg

Mezzo Soprano Whistles

This range of whistles is slightly larger that the standard high sopraon whistle range and within this range you can buy a whistle in the key of A which is popular for playing Scottish music. Much Scottish music is written in the key of A. The keys of C and Bb are also available in the Chieftain mezzo soprano range.

Low Whistles

Low or Tenor whistles are available in the keys of Eb E C D (Howard) and D F and G (Chieftain)

Tunable Whistles

Tunable whistles have a sliding head or are made in two parts so that you can slightly change the pitch to bring yourself in tune with other instruments.