Pearson whistles is a one man home workshop in Dunedin New Zealand producing hand crafted Irish whistles in hardwoods and aluminium, with brass features, and also wooden Native American flutes. The instruments are individually hand crafted and carefully tuned to specific keys.

 

To  purchase whistles/flutes or for inquiries

email  brucepearson@slingshot.co.nz

Or phone  NZ 0274728552

 

I have several whistles/flutes in stock, otherwise made to order.

Enquiries are welcome.

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Tuning slides enable a small amount of adjustment to either sharpen or flatten the pitch if needed. Aluminium tunable whistles have cork joint seal.

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About Irish whistles

Irish whistles are simple 6 holed diatonic woodwind instruments. They are a type of fipple flute and are in the same category as recorders and Native American flutes. To make a sound you blow air through a mouthpiece airway which directs it on to an edge creating oscillating pressure that resonates inside the instruments internal chamber.

In the making of whistles the mouthpiece requires exact measurements and adjustments, even very small differences can alter the voice of the instrument drastically.

Each whistle is tuned to a specific key, the most common being D, G or A, followed by C, F, B-flat and E-flat. The key indicates  the bottom (or fundamental) note.

Diatonic instruments have a scale of 7 successive natural notes (Do Re Me Fa So La Ti ). Other notes can be played by cross fingering or half covering of finger holes.

Whistles and wooden flutes need to be warmed up before they will play properly, and will play a little flat until warmed.

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Caring for your whistle

Cleaning aluminium whistles

Clean occasionally with warm water and mild dishwashing soap, rinse through the inside and wash the outside.

Dry with a dry lint-free cloth, wrap the cloth around a wooden dowel or similar rod (make sure the cloth covers over the tip of the rod so it wont damage the inside of the tube) then carefully slide into the tube. Be caefull not to damage the fipple area, be gentle.

 

Wood whistles

1. Acclimatizing the whistle

Before playing, let it come up to room temperature. Blowing warm moist air into a cold whistle can cause wood swelling and possible splitting.

For the first two weeks play for approx 10 minutes at a time so as to let it acclimatize to its new environment (temperature, humidity)

Dont leave in direct sunlight, near a heater etc or inside a car on a hot day. 

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2. Drying

After playing,dry bore with a clean dry cloth wrapped around the cleaning/oiling rod.

Leave whistle uncovered at room temperature to dry before putting away in its case or bag.

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3. Oiling

Lightly oil once a week for the first month then once every month or two after that. Dont over oil. Sweet Almond oil is what I use.

A. Wrap a strip of cloth (tee shirt material is good for this) around a cleaning rod (wood dowel with 20mm slit cut into one end) Insert one end of the cloth into the slit then twist around rod until its the correct thickness to slide inside the bore. Make sure the cloth covers the rod end so it wont damage the bore.

B. Coat the cloth with oil and carefully slide into flute bore, twisting rod around to completley coat the whole bore.

C. Leave for 5-10 minutes then using a dry cloth on the rod dry off excess oil from the bore.

D. Coat outside of flute with oil, leave for 5-10 minutes then wipe of excess oil with clean dry cloth.

 A blend of bees wax with a little almond oil can be applied to the outside if desired, avoiding the finger holes.  

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Cleaning wood whistles online

https://www.busmanwhistles.com/care-of-wooden-whistles/

 

Irish (wood) Flute Maintenance: Oiling and Care

whistletutor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z-nOBIvkkA

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To  purchase whistles or for inquiries

 

email  brucepearson@slingshot.co.nz

Or phone  NZ 0274728552

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Payment is required before dispatch.I will send you a Paypal invoice or online banking details.

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