<![CDATA[Blog]]> http://www.whistleanddrum.com/blog/ Sun, 01 Aug 2010 09:15:41 +0000 Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Announcing the Light Line 2 By Art Bodhán!]]> http://www.whistleanddrum.com/blog/announcing-art-bodhran-light-line-2-by-christian-hedwitschak We are very pleased to announce that the Line Line 2 Bodhrán by Art Bodhrán / Christian Hedwitschak are in production!!! We have a couple in stock with more on the way. To get y'all salivating, Christian produced a couple youTube videos during the Craiceann Festival.

To grab one of the ones we have in stock or pre-order, click here.

The new LL 2.0 will be available in 3 sizes:

  • "Compact" 36x13cm for $169.95
  • "Classic" 38x11cm for $199.95
  • "Deep" 38x15cm for $229.95




]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:23:23 +0000 <![CDATA[Whistle & Drum - Now a name with a face! - '09 Ft. Collins Irish Festival]]> http://www.whistleanddrum.com/blog/whistle-and-drum-at-09-ft-collins-irish-festival ]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:41:44 +0000 <![CDATA[Latest Happenings...]]> http://www.whistleanddrum.com/blog/used-instruments-youtube-reviews-tin-whistle-lessons-reyburn-craiceann About to head out for a couple days of fly fishing in the little hills we like to call the Rocky Mountains. Wanted to bring you up to speed on the latest developments here at W&D...

All of ye:

I'm now starting to carry used (or as I like to call them "previously loved") instruments on consignment. Contact us if you'd like more information on that. Our first batch of used instruments are not yet on the site as I'm still writing descriptions, etc. but they will be soon. This'll be great both for those of you who have some instruments you'd like to sell and for those of you who are always looking for that next great find. Stay tuned on this as well.


Whistle & Flute Players:

1. I'm starting to do YouTube video reviews on our instruments. Just did my first one on the WD Sweet Model Irish Whistle by Sweetheart Flute Company....


2. Also, I'm progressing with my online training library for the tin whistle and Irish flute (online tin whistle lessons and Irish flute lessons) You can sign up for my free introductory course to the tin whistle & Irish flute at www.blaynechastain.com/i-teach I also now have an example master-class up on the tune "Trip to Killavil" (jig). More to come so stay tuned on that as well.

3. REALLY impressed with Reyburn Irish Whistles at the moment. I've been playing with a small bore high d (recorded my last master-class with it) and even though it's a sweet sounding whistle and not shrill on the top end, the bottom d is dead-on-strong. Video review sure to come.


Bodhrán Players:

1. Christian sent us a couple GPS model Bodhrans with "Spicy" DragonSkin skins. Very interesting. The "Spicy" yields a slightly brighter sounding drum - cool if you play in noisy pubs or need a brighter color to add to your bodhran arsenal. Thinking about getting one myself. You still won't be able to pry my hands from my MOS with regular DragonSkin though!

2. If you haven't checked these videos out already, Christian has produced a couple of stellar YouTube videos that show you his process in making his frames. Definitely a must see! Check 'em out...



3. The Craiceann ("Cracken") Festival is coming! For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Craiceann Festival is a 5 day bodhrán summer school in Ireland that takes place on Inis Oirr ("Inish ear"), the smallest of the three Aran Islands. This year's festival is from June 22nd to June 26th. All the top players will be there to instruct. I've not been myself (yet!) but from everyone I spoken to who attends, it's sure to be a fantastic time. Christian will be there as well so it'd be a great opportunity for you to "meet yer maker"! For more information, go to www.craiceann.com


Thanks all I can think of for now. Until then...

Enjoy your music,

Blayne Chastain
Irish Traditional Musician & Founder
Whistle & Drum
www.WhistleAndDrum.com

]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:47:53 +0000 <![CDATA[Exciting New Products / Latest Happenings]]> http://www.whistleanddrum.com/blog/exciting-new-products-latest-happening Hope this note finds you well and that you're enjoying the music.  Our weekly session here in Greeley is going strong, great players, new players & great tunes.
 
Wanted to give you a heads up on the latest happenings here with W&D so here goes...
 
New Products:

Reyburn Irish Whistles

Really excited about these.  Great players - some of the best.  The high D comes in both session volume and small ensemble varieties.  Pitches from High Eb to Low D.

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/reyburn-irish-whistles


Sweetheart Whistles WD Sweet Model in Delrin

These guys have been making whistles ever since I can remember.  They've just released the WD Sweet Model in Delrin which is sure to be a winner.  It's a refinement of their previous "Pro" version.  It's made  out of Delrin, which is a great synthetic material that sounds like wood but doesn't have the drawbacks such as cracking.  Reasonably priced at $150 to boot!  

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/wd-sweet-model-pennywhistle-in-delrin


Uilleann Pipe "Budget" Practice Set by Patrick Sky

Very excited about these!  These are for those of us that would like to add the pipes to our "bag of tricks" and don't want to spend the big bucks yet still want a pro-level instrument.  Awesome - just awesome.  For those of you familiar with Green Linnet Records, Patrick was one of the founding members!  He is now "living the dream" making pipes and performing with his wife and fiddle player Cathy Sky.

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/uilleann-pipes-budget-practice-set-patrick-sky


Hedwitschak Light, Basic & High End Lines in Stock - Tippers Too!

Nice to have a good selection in stock again.  We have 3 GPS that are not spoken for yet!

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=hedwitschak&x=15&y=10&limit=all

 
Hedwitschak Bodhran Bags 20% Off!

We got a ton of these things in stock so it's time to clear out some inventory.  Great quality.

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=hedwitschak&x=15&y=10&limit=all

 
Busman Whistles in Stock

We have a couple of really nice Busman High D whistles in stock.  Both are great players.

http://www.whistleanddrum.com/irish-tin-whistles/all?manufacturer=51


News:
Welcome back Gabby!

Gabby, who ran W&D while Deb and I were in Ireland is now back managing W&D and boy is she whipping us into shape!  She was managing a wholesale pet supply shop for a while (BIG company) and with all her experience is really getting us organized.  She's great fun to work with as well.  She and her husband Blake (who is a great bodhran player by the way) also own a cool deli across the street so she occasionally brings in smoothies and such!
Baby #2 on the Way!

The Chastains you might say have been busy.  We have a Boy on the way somewhere around May 20th.  Our 2 year old daughter Erin has been pretty funny about it... She looks at Deb's belly and says "Erin have baby too!" as she point to her own belly.  I'm sure she'll at some point get that there will be another person to factor into the family, share toys with, fries with, etc...  Crazy times.  Dad's hoping one of them plays the fiddle - gotta love fiddle & flute!


Well, that's all I can think of.  Say hi to your Whistle &/or Drum for me!


Ceol Agus Craic,  (Music & Good Times)

Irish Traditional Musician & Founder
Whistle & Drum
www.WhistleAndDrum.com


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