- What tin whistle should I get?
You will want a whistle in D, often called a high whistle. A whistle in D from makers such as Generation, Feadog, Waltons, and the like will be a fine whistle to get you started.
The Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music does have some whistles for sale for $10 each. Please contact us to confirm that we have them in stock.
- What's a good step-up whistle?
There are some great whistles being made at very affordable prices these days. Here are just a few options:
Tony Dixon Trad Whistles - these are great beginning whistles as well as a nice upgrade for those playing Generation type whistles. The Dixon Trad sells for $27 to $32 for the high D version.
Jerry Freeman's Tweaked Whistles - Jerry Freeman takes stock mass-produced whistles and turns them into great playing instruments! His tweaked Generations and Mellow Dogs are good choices for beginners.
High end whistle choices are wide open. These include Michael Burke, John Sindt (his waiting list may be long), and others. When in doubt, ask your instructor about possible recommendations.
- Which Irish flute should I start out with?
We recommend starting out on a high quality, keyless flute. There are a number of makers creating great flutes out of both polymer (a synthetic material) and wood.
Polymer
Wood
- What bodhrán should I start with?
For a starter drum that is very affordable, we highly recommend a non-tunable bodhrán from Milwaukee maker Hamid Alwan (who used to run the local store, The Village Bazaar). Contact us and we'll put you in touch with Hamid.
There are a number of fine makers all over the world that build great bodhráns with advanced features (treated skins, tuners, etc.). Check with your instructor for recommendations and consult this list of makers from Bodojo.
Irish Fiddle Players Playlist