I recommend highly the Bill Ochs "Clarke Tin Whistle" Book, recently re-released with a CD instead of the tape that came with the prior edition. Bill has a love for the music and a feel for the traditions that, taken together, have gotten a lot of beginners over the initial hump from hacking to playing nice music. As far as whistles are concerned, I do not think there is a better low to medium priced whistle than one of Thom Larson's 'Tweaked' Clarke D whistles. Thom takes a standard Clarke conical whistle and fools around with the mouthpiece a little (actually, narrows the windway and performs some other subtle modifications)and gives you a great beginner whistle. Thom can be contacted at THEWHISTLESHOP.COM. Thom also offer a cut fipple, but I do not prefer that. I like the wedge shaped fipple the Clarke comes with. These are good beginning whistles at around or under $25.00.

I would avoid a low whistle at all costs until you have a few years of the 'regular'whistle under your belt. I'm only at this seriously for about two years, and have a few more pricey whistles. In the end, the Clarke is a great beginnig whistle.

The whistle has been a source of great joy to me, and I wish you luck in this regard.

Tom D.