Chiff and Fipple Forums

Just wanted to chime in that I have been extremely happy with my Susato whistles for a number of years now. The intonation is flawless, and if you work out the correct fingerings in the second octave, they tone improves dramatically. Absolutely worth the work of the fingering changes. I find that if...

Just to put my two cents in:
Take Up Thy Cross (old English) is a great piece on whistle, high or low.
Kindly,
Mark Sackett

Please know I will add her to my prayers.
Kindly,
Mark Sackett

I just checked their webiste, and telephoned their San Francisco store. Lark in the Morning neither carries Sindt whistles, nor do they know of any plans to carry them. For the most part, their prices seem fair to me. Some of the long-wait items (such as Ormiston flutes) are certainly higher than Mr...

A couple of thoughts: Brand confusion doesn't really seem to be an issue here. It doesn't take much research to see that the Chieftain whistle and "The Chieftains" are not related. It never entered my mind that the two were related, even when I started out on whistle. The odd thing is that...

Hello- If you are talking about a concert flute, I might suggest Yamaha, Pearl, or Gemeinhart. I've even played a pretty good Emerson. Any of these will have good intonation, and will challenge you for a good while in terms of sound. The only "non-brand" recommendation I would make is that...

Your cleaning rod will have a "mark" at the end opposite the eyelet. If you (gently) insert the cleaning rod with this end first, and line up the mark in the middle of the embrochure hole, this should give you a pretty reasonable tone and intonation combination.

Best of luck,
Mark Sackett

Wanted to voice support for both the Dixon and the Howard. The Dixon is by far the easiest to finger of the low D's I own. The Howard has a sound that I've never heard duplicated by another low whistle. It's truly beautiful, and I find myself constantly going back to it. It is, however, a bit more d...

Hello Dale: Glad your website is getting some well deserved attention. Though my children are a bit too young to drive yet, I have passed along your site to friends, and plan to use the site when my young'uns are old enough to operate a vehicle. As to the answer to your question, "What are the ...

You know what they say...
When you swallow a whistle, it hurts.
And it hurts twice.

-Mark Sackett

Hi All: In the jazz world they say "Ballads are the most difficult thing to play". I've often thought that the content and intention of what you are playing is most important. There's no hiding behind the flashy aspects of speed. Side note: There is also a common classical method of practi...

Hello Phil:
So sorry to hear about your mother passing. It sounds like it was a peaceful end.

Will be holding kind thoughts and prayers for your family and community on Monday.

All the best,
Mark Sackett

When I first got my Howard low D, I faced the same difficulty in getting a second register A or B. Someone (probably was through C & F) told me about a "standard" fingering for Howards: B XOOXXX C# OOOXXX These have made a huge difference in my level of enjoyment on the Howard. As I am...

Just wanted to state publicly that I am, in fact, a nosy basmati. Glad you all found each other.

Going on to another thread now. Clearly no photos of Andrea Corr here.

-Mark Sackett

Cat allergies.

-Mark Sackett