Thanks, bob. The wooden "whistle" type would be the most convenient for me to use, if it's somewhat plausible. The audience here isn't going to be folklorists or even folkies, however, not wanting to "dumb it down" either. Just trying to play by the "keep it simple" rule. :) The boy is going to catch onto the tin whistle very easily, because it is very much what he is used to playing, only not wood. So if that is plausible, then it will work.

Also, if anyone has ideas for other folk instruments during that time period, that would be very helpful. The scenes in the stories will be your basic variant of a folk club or front porch session, with a very limited number of instruments from the present time (one five-string banjo, one modern guitar) and any 1630s German common folk who want to join in on whatever will make music. :)

Thanks,
T